smoke and clatter on start up

[KMJGSS]

Hello to all from sunny Somerset. I'm looking for some advice.
I've had my P reg Freda since early Nov. On each of the two occasions when the vehicle was back with the dealer for (minor) warranty niggles a glow plug was changed to address the problem of excessive noise and smoke on a cold start - it was all sounding a bit 'industrial' till she'd warmed up.

The problem has now returned so I'm wondering if this suggests an underlying issue or whether it's simply time to change yet another glow plug? Is it usual to change the plugs one at a time, as appears to have been done with mine, or would one normally change the set?

Any advice woukld be gratefully received. All the best.
M

[mikexgough]

I would have changed the set.....it's best practice to....

[KMJGSS]

thought so - so was my reputable dealer being less than generous do you think?

[missfixit70]

Most definitely, glow plugs don't exactly break the bank, make sure he's putting decent ones in too, NGK seem to crop up as being the one to go for.

[KMJGSS]

Hi Missfixit - thanks for your excellent advice on my Aircon actuator(?!) the other week - the photo was very useful.
Do you reckon this is probably just a glowplug issue then rather than anything else I should be concerned about?
M

[Alacrity]

Sounds like mine. I fitted a set of Blueprint ones some 9 months ago & have just replaced them with NGK's as the problem returned worse than before. The Blueprint ones went back under warranty but that was about 6 weeks ago so I am not holding my breath. We shall see in time if the problem re-occurs.

[missfixit70]

It's the first thing to check, make sure the rail is getting voltage too, could be the glow plug relay or there's a fusible link on the battery that may have gone, some people have replaced it with a normal fuseholder & fuse, but if one glow plug's been changed & the rest weren't, same as with anything, if they're the same age, than they're just as likely to go, so it seems daft to me not to replace the lot. Make sure all the connections are tight & nothing is shorting out after it's been done, especially if shorter glowplugs have been fitted when there were longer ones in before.

[bigdaddycain]

That's pretty bad practice from the dealer! Would he only replace one disc brake if it was worn too?

[teenmal]

Sounds like mine. I fitted a set of Blueprint ones some 9 months ago & have just replaced them with NGK's as the problem returned worse than before. The Blueprint ones went back under warranty but that was about 6 weeks ago so I am not holding my breath. We shall see in time if the problem re-occurs.

Hi Alacrity,

How did you get on with your warranty on the Blueprint heater plugs.

Cheers Mal..

[Diplomat]

Just wondering if it is such a good idea to replace all the plugs at the same time.

Wouldn't that increase the chance of them all failing during the same winter and forcing a repair at an inconvenient time?

I've recently been toying with the idea of deliberately staggering replacement.


Frank

[Doone]

Generally one or two will fail and you know it's time to change them all. (I'd prefer not to repeat the job several times during the winter, or any other time.) As the plugs have a limited life, when one fails, generally the others don't last much longer... but there will be exceptions to that. And if you pay a garage to do the job, it's more costly to pay for the 'labour' several times.

[mister munkey]

Just wondering if it is such a good idea to replace all the plugs at the same time.

Wouldn't that increase the chance of them all failing during the same winter and forcing a repair at an inconvenient time?

I've recently been toying with the idea of deliberately staggering replacement.


Frank

False economy Frank. If ones gone, chances are the rest ain't far behind, thus putting you into a self imposed Staggered Replacement as the others follow suit.

As the NGKs appear to last (mostly) around 5 to 10 years, it makes sense to do the lot at the same time, thus reducing the risk of future failures.

I'm slowly starting to learn that Bongo ownership is all about careful maintainance & risk management techniques.

[mikexgough]

I'm slowly starting to learn that Bongo ownership is all about careful maintainance & risk management techniques.

Same applies to all cars...... BUT the British motorist has got out of the habit and the attitude for preventative maintainance rather than reactive maintainance.......

[dandywarhol]

Would you replace only one brake pad because it was a bit more worn than the rest.....................? Nah, didn't think do.