Glow plugs 1997 E300 TD Estate

[jonejo]

Please can anyone confirm that I have a glow plug down.

Started the car this morning, was running a bit rough for a minute or two and then I noticed the glow plug light didn't go out. It is now on permanently so suspect a glow plug problem. Is it an easy job to do yourself ? I replaced them on my old 250D and that was a nightmare. Don't really want to do it on this one if difficult.

Thanks

John

 

[jonejo]

Glow plugs

Can anyone advise me on the best ones to buy ?

John

 

[mebobster]

hi there, you may want to check out my thread on e300TD misfire on cold start. anyhow, your problem definitely seems to be glowplugs. i would highly recommend you search some glowplug posts on the forum giving you advice & tips on replacing them. the last thing you want is a glowplug that wont come out, that happened to me & i had to remove the head. it appears tips include changing them when the engine is still warm & to spray the glowlugs with suitable lubricant (WD40?) leaving them overnight. it is not a difficult job if you know what you are doing, but judging from your post you dont seem 100% confident. if thats the case, i am aware that you can go to a decent mechanic who shouldnt really charge more than £100 to replace them if you supply them. as for the best ones? well, you get what you pay for, i wouldnt recommend a particular glow plug apart from advising you to get what merc recommend, i think its BERU, or perhaps you can stick with BOSCH, but the important thing is to see what glowplugs you have in the engine at the moment. by the way, i had a NIGHTMARE getting hold of 6 glowplugs of the same make, seems that most spares shops in my area only keep a stock of 4s! good luck...

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

John,
Buy Beru, thats what Merc fit.

I had a glow plug go down on me the other week. If you follow the golden rules of using penetrating oil each day for a week and then removing while engine is hot its no more difficult than replacing a spark plug. Torque up to 16-18Nm, no more. I only replaced the one that had gone, the car has 60K on it and the others may be OK for some time yet, bought 6 and put the rest aside.

Use a multimeter to check which plug has died. The faulty plug will have no resistance and the good ones about 9ohms.

Hope this helps!

 

[kotty]

Find a Mercedes specialist, someone who will have encountered this problem before, and take it there.

The plugs can normally be removed but it takes patience. Some people have used an impact driver and found that helps. Best to use a torque wrench, and NGK Laser Platinum Spark Plug

 

[vijilants]

On your car, the manifold needs to come off to get to the glowplugs....replace them all.

Don't just do the faulty one, because each time one of the others go, again the manifold and associated fittings have to come off. Glowplugs don't last forever.