Glow plugs

[stuc]

Is there a glow plug which is easy accessable to take out and check the size before ordering new ones.

[321Away]

short answer: NO!

Julian

[Northern Bongolow]

you dont need to remove them to size them as the difference is all above where the main thread finishes. this thread is visible.

long ones have about 37-8mm above the last thread.
short ones have 27-8mm above the last thread to the tip.

[stuc]

Cheers for that I will have a look and measure before I buy.

[stuc]

It looks like I need the long ones, but there is more than 37-8 mm between thread and tip of plug.
I did notice in all the service history stuff there had been a set fitted about 5 year ago and they used Suzuki Vitara glow plugs-2.0TD but it doesn't say what year, does anyone know of using these before.

[Diplomat]

I took the precaution of keeping one of the dud ones for reference the first time I changed them. I'm now on the second set fitted by me. Getting three winters out of a set seems to be rather optimistic.

Almost doing it blindfold now, don't think I moved that many things out of the way last time, either. It crossed my mind to start offering my skill to the less confident for £50 labour plus parts!

What also crossed my mind was replacing the bus bar with individual heavy duty leads to each plug so that they could be tested one at a time easily. As they are, the parallel resistance and the individual resistance when cold are both so low that most ordinary multi meters would find it hard to spot that one or two were open circuit.

Also meant to get around to doing the mod which was posted some years ago to switch them out of circuit for all but the first cold start of the day in order to prolong their life. When I only had one left intact it would just about start from cold with a high ratio of veg oil but every restart was no problem.

When they all failed I had to resort to a starter aerosol which sounded like the engine was exploding so I soon grasped the nettle and put new ones in. That was in August so not sure how I would have fared now it is much colder outside.

Frank

[stuc]

Mine is still starting with a cloud of smoke but is getting more difficult, so new ones needed asap.

[Diplomat]

If you don't get the plugs asap it might well be worth sourcing an aerosol, just in case there's only one good plug left and that goes as well!

Frank

[the laird]

Watch what you're doing with easy start as the engine can become addicted to it. And gets lazy to start without a shot of ether,,,get plugs in ASAP trust me

[Diplomat]

Watch what you're doing with easy start as the engine can become addicted to it. And gets lazy to start without a shot of ether,,,get plugs in ASAP trust me

Yes, that's what I was told.

I only started it twice using the aerosol because the alternative would have been a flat battery and still no start. My neighbour heard my repeated cranking and come over with a can.

The clattering sound was enough to send me to the motor factors pronto and change the plugs two days later. The second start was to get me to a more convenient working environment to do the job.


Frank

[stuc]

Finally got a plug out to measure and guess what? It is the long ones, been to all local suppliers and no-one could match it up. So quick look on Ebay and new ones ordered.
I took out the plug nearest the front and it was quite easy, just undid 3 of the four nuts on the busbar and lifted it up and forward, undid the earth( disconnected battery first job though) and removed the glow plug. The whole job looks easier than I was expecting.

[stuc]

Plugs changed, nice easy job, if anyone is thinking of doing it give it a go.