Opinion needed on glow plug repacement

jeepdan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:20 pm

Assuming that my jeep makes it to the 100,000 mile service without any glow plug issues, should I replace them at that time while under the hood with the newer metal plugs? Or just leave the ceramic plugs alone and keep fingers crossed.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:37 pm

jeepdan wrote:

Assuming that my jeep makes it to the 100,000 mile service without any glow plug issues, should I replace them at that time while under the hood with the newer metal plugs? Or just leave the ceramic plugs alone and keep fingers crossed.

Only if it's after the current confusion/lack of knowledge is over with :banghead:

bhc04 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:20 pm

IMHO, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Just my $.02

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:53 pm

Unplug you master plug to your GPC between the battery and master cylinder. There are four red wires in the same row with four different color stripes. FSM states less than 0.8 ohm is OK (at room temp), but the colder they are the lower the resistance and hotter they are the higher the resistance. If they all check out, you have no codes, and you have no shaking starts, don't mess with them, plug the GPC back together, smile and keep driving. If you don't get consistent resistance, check the harness before you go for it. THe glow plug swap job is a PITA and you need to treat the ceramics like you are working with nitro (hint). Half warm the engine and leave your block heater plugged in if you are doing the job in the winter.
Life of glow plugs is related to warm up cool down cycles, not miles. If you live in the North and do a lot of short trips where the engine cools down your glow plugs won't last as long as if you live in the South and take long trips.
With the metal plugs, Chrysler does not have their act together yet, it took VW two years to get their act together and the produce more diesels than Jeep.

jeepdan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:16 am

Thanks, With 5 years of age on them, my main concern is having one break off and fall into the cylinder while driving. What are the chances of one breaking while removing them?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:54 am

Dealership did that on mine - they ended up pulling the head to recover.
they were just trying to change the glow plugs

Sunazur · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:18 pm **Posts:** 33

You are lucky :shock:

, I left my KJ 3 days on -10 C and once switched on the engine , one got dead (it seems the #4)

fastRob · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:10 am

I am ordering parts for the 100k mile tune and ordered glow plugs. If I get a good mechanic on this it would be nice to have parts on hand.
For the first time my diesel did not want to start on a cold day last week. It was veryCOLD and there were no additives in that tank of fuel
The battery was recently replaced.
The Jeep dealer I got the glow plugs from was surprised that the new glow plugs did not have a different number reflecting a change (aa to ab and so on..). They are the metal tipped rascals.
We both laughed at what would be coming out next from Fiat, Daimler, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Government Motors.
Please let us know how you go.

yakers · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:54 pm

jeepdan wrote:

Thanks, With 5 years of age on them, my main concern is having one break off and fall into the cylinder while driving. What are the chances of one breaking while removing them?

What are the chances?

I am interested in this question. IIRC one CRD had this problem and it messed up the engine, another had a bit break off while being serviced and had to have the head removed to prevent damage. Are these the only cases? If only one has broken off while in use then it seems uncommon and I am not crazy for me to keep driving my CRD with a bad #3 GP until the situation for parts & service is sorted out. I am in a warm area (southern California) and don't need GPs for starting, could just disconnect them if that is possible. As it is I ordered the new GPs from the local dealer over a week ago and they have no idea when they will come in. They have no information on a reflash requirement. They have no idea about a power control unit and although they work on Dodge diesel pick ups they have not worked on a KJ CRD. Then I have to figure out how to get the GDE Eco tune upgraded.

Since I have 85K miles I am thinking about having a major service for TB, WP, balancer and pulleys & tensioners and have the GPs done at the same time. Just wondering how to get all this done and how long I have to wait to get the parts/service issues sorted out.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:36 pm

Most of the Ceramic Glow Plug breakage on the TDIs was due to rough handling or forcing them out when they did not turn free. Most competent techs that work on Diesels know to treat the ceramic glow plugs more genital than an egg when they remove them and don't try to do it with a cold engine. Also they will use a penetrating oil to help work out the stuck ones after they turn them a fraction of a turn and work them back and forth. Then there are stupid techs who use air ratchets or impact wrenches when a glow plug comes out hard, just like they do with spark plugs so they can beat flat rate. :banghead:

Since the Laws of Physics and Human Nature apply to both TDIs and CRDs, careful glow plug removal is better than fast lets beat flat rate glow plug removal.

Opinion needed on glow plug repacement

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