testing glow plugs

Post by **domiles1** » 06 Apr 2006, 22:22

My van has always started instantly - until a few days ago when it decided to give trouble. It now takes a considerable amount of cranking over before it splutters into life and I'm suspecting glow plugs ???
Can anyone tell me how I test the glow plugs so I can decide whether to replace them?
Cheers,
Dom.

Post by **Cate** » 07 Apr 2006, 07:36

How old are the plugs? if they are getting on a bit then for the small £s they cost its probably better to just replace.

Post by **airhead** » 07 Apr 2006, 09:40

Handiest way to check them is to leave the key turned off, take the positive strip off the top of the plugs and take a length of wire and connect one end to the battery + and the other to the top of the glowplug. If you get a good spark, you know its working.

Post by **Mocki** » 07 Apr 2006, 10:27

or you could use a amp meter on each one after disconnecting the buzbar.......

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 07 Apr 2006, 22:19

another method - using a basic multi meter disconnect the feed and busbar and do a continuity check (resistance) on each glow plug thats between the terminal and earth any that are open circuit are u/s and high resistance on their way out they should be about 4.8 ohms from memory, if you find a duff one i bet its behind the injector pump.

Post by **DiscoDave** » 08 Apr 2006, 07:38

or you could just take them out and put power to em! if they glow they are fine it not they are frelled! about £4 each from euro car farce!

Post by **yogi** » 09 Apr 2006, 19:49

as disco says, take one jump lead, put one end on top of glow plug, the other on pos terminal, then touch bottom of plug to neg terminal, it should glow pretty quick, if it doesnt its had it, it only takes one duff one to affect starting