220 CDI glow plug change

[Parrot of Doom]

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=205418&e

That is a very informative thread, which I recommend anybody changing their glow plugs on a 606 engine should read.

In short, to remove them, use an impact wrench and do not exceed the design strength of the plug (one user in that thread tested a plug in the vice).

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Finally got round to identifying a faulty glow plug that went just before xmas.

Thanks for all the information posted on this thread it helped in extracting a stubborn plug without any trouble. Used penetrating oil daily for a week and removed said plug with hot engine without any trouble.

An interesting point is that the replacement plugs were purchased from Inchcape Oxford and were made in Ireland by Beru and are not nickel plated. The original plugs fitted to the car (from new) were made in Germany and are nickel plated. We shall see how the new plugs perform (hope the bean counters arn't at it again).

Incidentally although I only replaced one of the plugs (I did buy six) as i don't see the point of changing something that isn't broken.

Thanks for an excellent thread David P.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Did you ream the holes?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi Parrot,
No I didn't ream the holes as the new plugs went in with not much more than finger tightness and the threads looked clean. I did use the injector grease supplied by Inchcape, hopefully this will stop any corrosion.

 

[touchwoodsden]

Thank you

Ironic. All the buses come at once. I just spotted this thread on the same page as my recent post. I guess I was just getting desperate for a solution. Sorry guys.
I just didn't expect faulty glow plugs to light the light! On my old Ford, the bugger just wouldnt start! No lights stayed on. hence I didnt read the how to replace, the contenst of which also gave the prob.
Thanks again.
TwD

 

[Nuclear Bob]

Good info here - I have the same problem with my W203 coupe - light stays on for 30 sec - but on contacting my local specialist he says the glow plugs are not necessary for starting the engine - just to keep the noise down after start. So should I bother to take the risk and replace the faulty plug? Any other use for the plugs?

 

[mattkh]

but on contacting my local specialist he says the glow plugs are not necessary for starting the engine - just to keep the noise down after start.

Hi
The glow plugs are definitely needed for the first start each morning. A diesel engine ignites diesel with the heat generated in the chamber by the high compression ratio and any heat in that area is very handy.

 

[hmang]

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=205418&e

That is a very informative thread, which I recommend anybody changing their glow plugs on a 606 engine should read.

In short, to remove them, use an impact wrench and do not exceed the design strength of the plug (one user in that thread tested a plug in the vice).

personally I'd be keeping the impact wrench well away from glow plugs...and spark plugs for that matter.

 

[W203-C220]

It will matter over time...

Good info here - I have the same problem with my W203 coupe - light stays on for 30 sec - but on contacting my local specialist he says the glow plugs are not necessary for starting the engine - just to keep the noise down after start. So should I bother to take the risk and replace the faulty plug? Any other use for the plugs?

IF you have one (or several) glowplugs open circuit you'll be able to start it but the extra sooty deposits will eventually foul or block the pre-cat as it did on mine. There were 2 plugs out when I bought it from a neighbour. Back pressure had burst the turbo to pre-cat clamp causing fumes to escape into the cabin on cold starts. A replacement cat was big money, Beru Glowplugs were £6.99 + vat from GSF and may have avioded the problem.

I know I'd replace one if the light come on again

 

[Frontstep]

Glow plug removal tips

A late find by me but my tips for tight glow plugs are as follows ;
1,Get well fitting socket and small t bar not too long as it makes it to easy to break.
2.Soak with penetrating oil for as long as possible.
3. Get engine hot.
4. Spray plug with freezer spray, chewing gum remover etc a good long spray with cloth round plug to keep it cold as possible.
5. Turn clockwise first as if to tighten as small an amount as possible that's where the T-Bar comes in more control.
6.Then once "cracked" rock the bar clockwise and anti-clockwise in very small increments lubricating as you go all the way out.
7. Clean thread in block with reamer gently, coat plug with heat proof ant-seize and fit.
8. Eat biscuit drink tea.

 

[turbopete]

ive heard of the heater plugs snapping being common in the cdi engines. i recently had the same problem with my E300 TD. a local engineer managed to extract the remains and advised a thin smearing of coppe grease on the replacement plugs, particularly on the plug shaft between the threads and the heater element part of the plug to help avoid carbon deposits building up on there and the plug getting stuck on the carbon even if the threads unscrew ok. he also said a smearing on the threads wouldnt harm either.

 

[glastry]

A late find by me but my tips for tight glow plugs are as follows ;
1,Get well fitting socket and small t bar not too long as it makes it to easy to break.
2.Soak with penetrating oil for as long as possible.
3. Get engine hot.
4. Spray plug with freezer spray, chewing gum remover etc a good long spray with cloth round plug to keep it cold as possible.
5. Turn clockwise first as if to tighten as small an amount as possible that's where the T-Bar comes in more control.
6.Then once "cracked" rock the bar clockwise and anti-clockwise in very small increments lubricating as you go all the way out.
7. Clean thread in block with reamer gently, coat plug with heat proof ant-seize and fit.
8. Eat biscuit drink tea.

excellent summary-If i could add just one note.
Use a 6-point socket,a 12 point socket can round off the corners and
give you a fright.(it feels like you have sheared the plug)
It can cause stress and unnecessary delay in getting to the tea/beer tent,
and i hope it is worth a mention.!!

thanks all-this is a magic forum

 

[Volson]

HI WE HAVE A 1982 350 SL We are have a problem with it if anyone can help it would be great. It starts hard have to pump it and after it has ran for awhile it is really hard to start. It also blows out black stuff al over the floor. What can this be thanks

 

[zeaphod]

W202 glow plug change

Thought I'd just add my experience of changing the plug on a '94 C220.
I had found the plug to be really tight and asked my local indie to have a go. He mentioned the risk of shearing off and the cost of removing the head etc.
This put me off a bit, so I decided to have a go myself - after all, any monkey can shear a glowplug!

I applied penetrating oil daily for a week and made sure the car was well warmed, which is difficult as the 220 runs cool. After a run, I covered the front of the radiator with cloth and left the engine running for 10 mins. This got the temperature up to 85 C.

In the 220 you need a 12mm deep socket. I rigged this to an impact driver and was able to loosen the plug easily, appling further releasing oil every couple of turns. Once a few turns are made, the normal ratchet worked fine - although it was never loose enough to turn by hand.

Lots of money saved and a warm feeling of a job well done.

 

[Marxs1]

And I'll add my experience. At first I did the test light test. Hold one end of the test light to the positive terminal and the point to the glow plug. Two failed to light the test light. Put the penatrine oil in them overnight ran the car the next day and they came out without a problem. Then I decided to learn how to use a multimeter, the two new ones tested good as expected at around 0.9 the third was good, however I tested the last one and it tested a 35.4 not good. Down the parts shop again and decided to replace the two remaining even though one tested good. The dud one came out easy, however the good one was a swine, it came loose ok but was very difficult to remove from the block. Once out, on inspection it was a little corroded at the end of the shaft and slightly swollen. Glad I replaced it before it got worse. My w203 C220 now runs a lot smoother. Cheers.

 

[cc260E]

Glow plugs exchange

hello every body,

I had the alternator and the 4 glow plugs changed by dealer on my car 220 CDI coupé sport , W203, Year 2002, two weeks ago.

3 where damaged. I tested them at final preheat stage/relais.

Before the intervention made by dealer car was starting excellently fine what ever outside temperature was. After starting was very difficult and got worse and worse. Now the car does'nt start at all. and I got default message on dashboard "Engine management , go to Workplace, EPC"

Can someone explain/ imagine what could happen?

Thanks in advance, urgent reply would be very much appreciated

P.S unfortunately I did not meet this very usefull Post before,
It could have saved money to me and no problem I think thanks to all

 

[horatio]

I'm about to try this job on my W211 E220 - it's a facelift model which I believe uses even more fragile ceramic glow plugs. Does anyone know the torque setting for these?



Thanks

 

[horatio]

This thread is still a classic nearly a decade later!

I was filled will trepidation attempting this job but they popped out easily using this tactic. Is 15nm about right for the ceramics?

 

[horatio]

By the way, Screwfix sell huge cans of penetrating oil for £2.99. I think it worked wonders as I could see it worked down the threads nicely and the plugs were pretty old.

 

[Tilly]

I had the injector seals replaced on the C220, and was told by the mechanic never to use copper slip on injectors or glow plugs. Always use the white ceramic grease.