glow plug testing??

[normspanners]

Years ago I had a similar problem and I didn't know much about diesel engines so I took it to a diesel specialist. It only took him 10 minutes to carry out the following procedure, one of the glow plugs needed replacing and that's all he charged me for.


Only do this if your 100% sure you know what you're doing or take it somewhere if you don't.


Unscrew all of the injectors or one at a time and pull them back so you can see into the cylinders, this is only possible if you have enough play on the pipework without causing damage, you must disconnect the electrical connections for each injector.

Don't disconnect the pipework as the fuel pressure supplying them can be extremely high and dangerous.

Put the ignition on and you can see the glowplugs glowing through the holes where the injectors screw in.

I'm sorry but a diesel specialist would never check heater plugs like that for one if the injectors had electrical connections they would be common rail which normally have short pipes and you never try to bend injector pipes very far. Two, common rail injectors are usually very long and you would not get them out 20mm still connected.
Three, as stated most injectors are a bast***d to move AT ALL
Four, All that would take a LOT longer than ten mins .

 

[PTvor]

I always check glow plugs in position by disconnecting them and using a digital multimeter with one lead connected to the block and the other on the end of the glowplug.

If the resistance is more than 1 ohm, including the meter leads, they need replacing.

The resistance of a healthy glow plug may vary a bit from type to type, but it has to be very low for the battery to get it hot. Look in the manual or test a new glow plug to see what the resistance is of a healthy glow plug of the type you are using.

 

[pete23]

chgeers chaps.
a lot to go at there, some good some not so good, think i,ll have a crack at the wire off the poss term and see how it goes, dont really want to try and take all the plugs out as i know they can be a ****** to get out.

would,nt dream of taking the injectors to see if i could see the plugs getting hot or not!!! even if they did,nt have elec cons on!!

tar.

 

[brightspark]

disconnect the wires off them them and run a wire from the battery to the peg. stroke gently over it in an attempt to arc

if it arcs it working.

it may sound crude but it workswell i have all the test gear but its quicker to do an arc test. i do it on emersion heaters and nightstores all the time

 

[pete23]

i assume ive got to take the rail off all the plugs?? to try them one at a time??

 

[brightspark]

i assume ive got to take the rail off all the plugs?? to try them one at a time??

yep nothings that easy

 

[pete23]

yep nothings that easy

cheers, did,nt assume it would be as easy as that!! as said, just not to sure with elecs

 

[normspanners]

I have checked them quickly, when the engine is cold by slackening off each heater plug nut on a single row buzz bar in turn, and while somebody turns the key to bring in the heater relay, just move the rail a little if it sparks to the thread on the plug, then that plug is usually ok , do it for each plug in turn. it means that you dont have to risk dropping the nuts and losing them. you may need to do it a couple of times on each but it can be quicker method not quite as accurate but it does work, if all spark then it is not your plugs.
PS This method is best done in your garage or when going dusk to see the spark a little better.

 

[pete23]

cheers, makes sense.

 

[Robotstar5]

it may sound crude but it workswell i have all the test gear but its quicker to do an arc test. i do it on emersion heaters and nightstores all the time

Obviously using all the correct PPE for live working?

 

[brightspark]

Obviously using all the correct PPE for live working? [/QUOTE yes definatly rubber gloves vde insulated pliers rated to umpteen volts that your never likely to ever see never mind touch .rubber mat face sheld to protect my hansome looks all the gear and no idea

 

[merckx]

I'm sorry but a diesel specialist would never check heater plugs like that for one if the injectors had electrical connections they would be common rail which normally have short pipes and you never try to bend injector pipes very far. Two, common rail injectors are usually very long and you would not get them out 20mm still connected.
Three, as stated most injectors are a bast***d to move AT ALL
Four, All that would take a LOT longer than ten mins .

What a condescending attitude.

So you're saying I made all of this up then?

Everything I said is exactly as the diesel specialist did it.

I had just bought the van and had to get it fixed quickly so I called in to a local diesel specialist as my work took me nearby.

Don't presume I'm a novice with no experience as you couldn't be more wrong, you don't know the first thing about me.


1. My van wasn't common rail.

2. Didn't I say only do this if you're not going to damage the pipes?

3. My injectors didn't have electrical connections, I only said to remove the electrical connection as a precaution for those that do!

4. If you're having problems removing injectors you're using the wrong tools, in the years since and after buying the right tools I've had no problems at all.

 

[pete23]

hmm spit ones dummy!!

cheers chaps, done the thingy with the wire from the battery, even put a 12v bulb holder and bulb in it!!! worked a treat, even the plug came out as if it were a new one!!

thanks.

 

[zx9]

hmm spit ones dummy!!

cheers chaps, done the thingy with the wire from the battery, even put a 12v bulb holder and bulb in it!!! worked a treat, even the plug came out as if it were a new one!!

thanks.

Well done, always good to hear a problem solved.

 

[octo0072000]

hmm spit ones dummy!!

cheers chaps, done the thingy with the wire from the battery, even put a 12v bulb holder and bulb in it!!! worked a treat, even the plug came out as if it were a new one!!

thanks.

so same as the pajero runs on three without the with a plug off a lot of people say this is rubbish but on idi diesels with the full heat and up to a minute on half heat heater plugs seems to be correct
but on di and common rail should run ok without the plugs