Sprinter 313CDI 4 cylinder 2.2ltr stuck glow plugs

[garrick]

Urgent Help please.

I have a Sprinter 313 CDI (4 cylinder 2.2 litre) LWB High Roof I have converted into a very comfortable motorhome.

I have just taken (yesterday 18 Oct) it to the local Daimler Benz dealer to have the glow plugs replaced. The dealer contacted me yesterday afternoon and advised they have undone the glow plugs but cannot remove them from the cylinder head because of carbon buildup on the glow plugs. They are quoting all sorts of very high costs to remove these glow plugs, and quite frankly I cannot really afford this.

I have a substantial engineering background and a good understanding of these sort of problems, so I visited the dealers workshop and inspected the situation to get an appreciation for the problem. The dealer claims they had no problem in loosening the glow plugs and they feel as though they have come as far as can and are clear of the thread. They turn quite easily in the cylinder head, but you cannot remove them.

I asked the dealer if there is a special tool that can get hold of the glow plugs to pull them from the cylinder head, and they advised there isn't. I also asked if there was a Mercedes factory procedure for removing these glow plugs when they are stuck like this, and they again said there isn't.

The dealer said this also a problem that is fairly common with this engine.

While I respect there advice, I find it very hard to believe there isn't a procedure for remvoing these glow plugs so I seek advice from anybody that has had similar experience, and whether they found a suitable way of removing the glow plugs without having to resort to removing the cylinder head.

Thank you in advance for any assitance

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

This is a new one. The usual problem is that the plug is seized into the head and when pressure is applied to remove the offending item.......... snap.

I find it hard to imagine that a build up of carbon would occur in an apparantly healthy engine to the extent that would cause this problem (I wait to be corrected). Has there been a fault on the timer circuit because I seem to think that glow plugs can burst slightly which could be the reason for their reluctance to see the outside world.

Whatever the case is I would be tempted to take the head off as any hard carbon debris dislodged during removal will remain in the cylinder and potentialy wreak havoc with the piston rings and bores once the engine is running.

In my early days I replaced a few sets of glowplugs in an old 307D and never had any problems other than accessing the rearmost plug in the confined space. What has changed as this is a recurring subject on the newer engines?

 

[ishyz]

Hi i have the same problem on my 313cdi, you can see my postings on 'spinter (died)' thread.
My injector were realy badly stuck with carbon, two days the garage were fighting with them to take them out. they got them out yeasterday but i have to replace the rocker cover,4x injectors,gaskets,seals,bolts and clamps this costing me £1000. and i am still waiting for it to be completed today and have my van back on the road. The injectors can be taken out but with a fight but dealers wont want to do that as they wanted to replace my engine.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Hi i have the same problem on my 313cdi, you can see my postings on 'spinter (died)' thread.
My injector were realy badly stuck with carbon, two days the garage were fighting with them to take them out. they got them out yeasterday but i have to replace the rocker cover,4x injectors,gaskets,seals,bolts and clamps this costing me £1000. and i am still waiting for it to be completed today and have my van back on the road. The injectors can be taken out but with a fight but dealers wont want to do that as they wanted to replace my engine.

The injector problem is slightly different to the Glowplug scenario but can be just as damaging to the head. The new engine with a 2 year warranty will seem a much better proposition if the new injectors go wrong again (lets face it they have already been fixed once before you got the van) Hopefully not but these things can be stubbornly difficult to cure.

 

[garrick]

Update a seized Glow Plug Problem

Just a quick update of the original problem which fortunately has now been solved,

What had happend to all 4 glow plugs was that they had snapped into two pieces, and the top part with the thread was being held together by the internbal probe, and the outer casing was seriously seized into the cylinder head by carbon deposits.

This is why it was easy to turn the head of the glow plug, but it wouldn't come out.

Eventually, the threaded section broke off, and we were left with the seized tube section still in the cylider head. These seized sections were carefully drilled so as to reduce the wall thickness of the tube, and an "Ezi Out" (broken stud remover) was inserted into the drilled hole which when turned managed to collapse the thinner wall of the broken section of the glow plug, and we could then pull the broken pieces out.

Pleased to say it was quite successful and the whole operation only took about 1.5 hours.

I am still very surprised that Mr Mercedes does not have a tool or procedure for fixing this problem, because it is obviously a fairly common occurence.

 

[MW]

I was in Euro Car Parts yesterday getting some brake pads etc. They were advertising on a poster, a machine for the trade at £999 +vat that is designed to vibrate sticking glow plugs out. I suppose it is a question of finding a garage which has this kit.
Cheaper than having the head off.

 

[baldeagle]

I'm in the process of buying a sprinter which has a glow plug light on. I'm now told it has been fixed (or I won't buy) but as the plugs are so cheap would it not make sense to change them every service before the carbon build-up problem. A set on Ebay is less than £20 with postage.

 

[exeng]

I have the tool which vibrates the glow plugs to enable removal it works very well on the 10 m/m and 8 m/m threaded plugs also there is a tool for drilling broken plugs and pulling main body out of the head

 

[paulcheney]

Just a quick update of the original problem which fortunately has now been solved,

What had happend to all 4 glow plugs was that they had snapped into two pieces, and the top part with the thread was being held together by the internbal probe, and the outer casing was seriously seized into the cylinder head by carbon deposits.

This is why it was easy to turn the head of the glow plug, but it wouldn't come out.

Eventually, the threaded section broke off, and we were left with the seized tube section still in the cylider head. These seized sections were carefully drilled so as to reduce the wall thickness of the tube, and an "Ezi Out" (broken stud remover) was inserted into the drilled hole which when turned managed to collapse the thinner wall of the broken section of the glow plug, and we could then pull the broken pieces out.

Pleased to say it was quite successful and the whole operation only took about 1.5 hours.

I am still very surprised that Mr Mercedes does not have a tool or procedure for fixing this problem, because it is obviously a fairly common occurence.

Hi m8 im new to this site so hope u get this reply ive got the exact same problem as you with 2 of my glowplugs would be really grateful if u cud give me a call regarding this problem as soon as possible or text me on this number 07795955265 and ill fone u back thanx everyones telling me im going to have to remove the head but u seem to have managed it without doin so cheers