Does anyone have any pointers on replacing glow plugs? Everyone claims #3 is a PITA, but I can't find a write-up on replacing them.?? Any suggestions on special tools, what needs removed for accessibility, time involved, amount of beer required, etc., would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Billy

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56696

I'd say a six pack and some ibuprofen for afterward. I took my alternator off and had the Jeep on ramps for the job. The job took me about four hours taking my time and occasionally referencing some pics another member sent me.

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2006 CRD Limited
SEGR Mod
Saikou Michi Condenser -- Deleted
Samco Hose Kit
Fumoto 102
Etecno1 GX3123 Steel 7V Glow Plugs
GDE FT Eco and Hot Tunes
JBA 4.5 UCAs
OME Lift

Awesome! Thanks! The search function on this site apparently doesn't like me too well. I did check before posting this.??

Billy

It's not bad, but your best bet is to get stuff out of the way first.

1. Remove your battery completely - It's juts simpler and give you somewhere to set stuff.

2. Remove the Alternator Bracket - JUST THE BRACKET, do not even loosen the alternator bolts, just get the bracket out of the way or you're going to have to mess with the tensioner, and that's just more trouble than it's worth.

3. Remove the fuel head assembly & filter complete. Just disconnect the plugs, unscrew the large brass screws (watch out for those washers!), then remove the 2 small screws on the firewall.

4. EGR elbow. This one is the real pain in the hindquarters just because of the location of it all. I would recommend at minimum 2 wobble connectors just to make things simpler. You're going to need an extra set of small(er-ish) hands to assist possibly as I couldn't fit my meat hooks in there very easily, but you can lay on the ground and reach up to disconnect the back side bolts or you can actually also reach underneath and do them if you are small enough and have a delicate touch.


The Plugs aren't hard to remove, once you pop all 4 electrical connections, go ahead and soak all of the glow plugs in PB Blaster and walk away for 20 minutes.

Work them easily back and forth until they are not racheting your ratchet any more, then use a 3/8" (Radiator works) hose taped to a stick/straw/something firm and turn them the rest of the way out, the 3/8" hose will keep them from hitting the sides or falling out of your hand and breaking the efeminite tips off of the end of the glow plug and falling into your cylinder, which is really bad.

I would recommend anti-seize on the ones going back in.

Oh yeah, order one of these, you're going to need it: http://www.idparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2769

If you're getting the 7v drop in Etecnu's, then replace and reverse your process. If you are changing to 5v, this is where ship your ECU to GDE for the 5V tune or have your Jeep towed to the dealership for a flash & crash.

It really is that simple, it's too bad it takes a few hours to do.

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Silver 2006 KJ 2.8L CRD Limited:
GDE ECO Tune / Fumoto Valve / E-Tecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs / 2nd Gen Fuel Head / Mishimoto RED Hoses / Rockers/Lifters @ 114k / Hayden FC + 11 Blade Nylon / Sears P1 Battery / Transgo 45RFE-HD2 Reprogramming Kit / Timken Front Bearings

It really was not that hard, I just did it a few weeks ago. Just take your time, put down something to cover your foot tracks as you go from the jeep to the computer.... Yeah I have stains in my carpet from that... Live and learn though.. It really did help having a computer on and at the picture of the area that you are working on. I managed to finish it up in about three hours and that includes getting the gasket off of the elbow. I think that was the hardest part of the job. Just make sure that you get everything back and torqued to the specs and you should be ok. Just take everything off that is suggested before you start to pull any of the glow plug caps off. It makes the job so much easier to have all of that stuff away. It also helps if you have ever wrenched on a motorcycle and are used to figuring out how to get into tight spots

Sean

Yeah the forum search isn't the best. Tip, I usually use Google with a domain restriction using the site: syntax e.g.

site:lostjeeps.com glow plug replacement write up

will restrict the search to this domain.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

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Share your ideas freely at https://www.facebook.com/groups/libertydiesels/

I finally got around to swapping out my glow plugs. The old ones worked great, I just wanted to get the ceramic plugs out. I replaced them with the steel tipped ones.

You guys were right. The EGR elbow was a PITA. I would recommend removing the battery AND battery tray. It gave me soooo much more room to work and only takes 2 minutes to remove. I went ahead and replace the fuel filter also, since I had the filter head off anyway.

I had some major build-up in my EGR elbow. It was pretty bad. The Jeep had the MAF unplugged with no EHM when I got it. For how long is unknown.?? I have had a GDE EcoTune with an EHM for the last 10,000 miles. It ran great and got 32 MPG on the highway with the elbow like this. The build-up seem to be localized to the bend and neck on the intake. I felt inside the intake and it seemed fairly clean. I tried to post pics, but it appears I have to upload to a photo hosting site and link to that. I don't have time to do that so sorry for the lack of pics.

Billy

You chaps are indeed fortunate with free freight and the like...we pay through the nose - why not make a gasket for it using the age-old technique but well proven and can rescue you on the road. Gasket would take no more than 10 minutes to make.