Glow plugs

jonb · Post by **jonb** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:47 pm

We've owned our Bongo for 3 years now and have found that, generally, it's a fantastic vehicle. We use it as an everyday vehicle as well as taking it on holiday in the UK and abroad. One gripe I have however is the length of time the glowplugs last which is almost exactly (to the day) one year. Having read the factsheet on glowplugs in the members area I now understand why they last so little time and that there is a mod that can be done to encourage them to last longer.

Has anyone done this mod and noticed an increase in the time span between glow plug changes before I get the crimpers out.

Cheers

Jon

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:00 pm

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you know when the glow plugs give up the ghost?
do they all go at the same time?
have had our Bongo two years and never even checked them.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:50 pm

You can tell if the glowplugs are failing because it will be difficult to start, especially in cold weather.
There is a fact sheet on glowplugs in the member's area - the last part shows how to stop them switching on and off until the engine is hot. It's a simple mod that I have done - can't say if it does extend the plug life, as I've only had mine for a year, but if Ben Bruce says it works, I'm sure it does.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:48 pm

This is one of the first mods I did. The glowplug relay is behind the drivers side battery on the wheelarch bulkhead. It is covered with a plastic cover. Remove the relay from the bulkhead and cut the feed wire, Put a switch with a light in it into the circuit and you will see why the plugs dont last. There is a fact sheet on how to do this very worthwhile mod.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:04 pm

Oh dear, something else on my growing list

jonb · Post by **jonb** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:50 pm

Here's how I can tell when the glow plugs are starting to fail on our Bongo (well at least the last two years anyway). Round about mid October I start to notice that, on start, she is only firing on 3 cylinders (i.e. roughly). It gets progessively worse over the next couple of weeks until, she fails to start at all by the start of November. New glow plugs sorts all!

Cheers,

Jon

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:59 pm

I also did the mod and my plugs are still ok but I think there are glow plugs and there are glow plugs - cheap ones don't last!

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:25 pm

In all my years of diesel car driving (just worked it out 1992-2007 = 25 years) I have never had a glow plug fail.

Most of my cars have been new, and generally swapped at about 60-80k miles.

Our Bongo is now up to about 50k miles and we expect to keep it a while longer. The glow plugs were the ones which it came with from Japan a couple of years ago, and although I have the full service records my Japanese isn't up to telling whether they have ever been replaced, but they certainly look like they have been there for a while.

AlanHunter · Post by **AlanHunter** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:47 am

I have changed glowplugs about 4 times in the last 2 and a half years using ADM5 1805 each time. I am considering doing the mod to switch them off, but my local auto electrician says that constant switching on and off of glowplugs for emissions is fairly common on Japanese vehicles and if I use genuine glowplugs (built to withstand greater use) I should have no problems.
If there are glowplugs and glowplugs, which are the ones which are made for the job?

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:47 am

trevd01 wrote:In all my years of diesel car driving (just worked it out 1992-2007 = 25 years) I have never had a glow plug fail.

Most of my cars have been new, and generally swapped at about 60-80k miles.

You should replace with a new calculator too trev... That's only 15 years mate

I've been meaning to do this mod for ages now (not the calculator

)

I can't believe i forgot to incorporate this simple modification into the glowplug circuit when i had my glowplugs replaced recently...

Alan? I suspect the heavier duty glowplugs will be the versions available from your mazda dealer (standard bongo items) Which probably means that its cheaper to replace with "cheap & cheerful" plugs annually for 5 years or so...

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:11 pm

Why not see how much genuine ones are from a Ford dealer - surely Ranger Pick-up ones would be the same?

Or try http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk for NGK ones which should be a heavy duty as any.

for

Manufacturer MAZDA Model B2500 PICK UP
Engine Size 2.5 Engine Code WL,WLT -->104832
Production Year 03/98-->03

Part Number Y-701J

Price (£) Per Plug £7.30 +vat

Qty Per Set 4

Which cross checks with the Ranger exactly.

Manufacturer FORD Model RANGER
Engine Size 2.5 Engine Code WL, WLT
Production Year 05/99-->02/02

Part Number Y-701J

Price (£) Per Plug £7.30+vat

Qty Per Set 4

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:59 pm

Some great info there scanner

Are they mazda/ford dealer specific prices? I'm very suprised that the Mazda dealer quote isn't 20% more expensive than ford's....

Mind you,identical parts used in the newer jags (which use the same parts as the mondeo) are generally cheaper from a jag dealer,than they are from ford

They even have the original ford sticker underneath the jaguar one! (but with different part numbers)

Those plugs are MUCH cheaper than i anticipated

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:12 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:Some great info there scanner

Are they mazda/ford dealer specific prices? I'm very suprised that the Mazda dealer quote isn't 20% more expensive than ford's....

Those plugs are MUCH cheaper than i anticipated

They are the prices off the "sparkplugs" website - I've no idea what dealer prices are.

That site also gives a choice of makes of Plug - also Champion and another I can't remember - might be "Beru".

mick · Post by **mick** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:28 pm

AlanHunter wrote:which are the ones which are made for the job?

NGK Y701J . Definitely quality plugs

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:06 pm

Well what a coincidence, they are the ones on that site for £7.30 + vat each.