Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
- clift_d
- Registered user
- Posts: 3399
- Joined: 04 Oct 2012, 23:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 11695
- Location: Hackney innit
Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Quick question just in case I've missed a trick. I'm getting classic starting problems when cold - unburnt fuel in white smoke which disappears when everything warms up. Glow plugs are the obvious candidate to try to resolve it - the injectors are reasonably new so probably not the issue, and I don't want to consider the pump just yet.
My question is, is there any trick that will allow me to change them without removing the injection pump, timing belt, etc? I'm guessing not, but just wanted to check first.
My question is, is there any trick that will allow me to change them without removing the injection pump, timing belt, etc? I'm guessing not, but just wanted to check first.
1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker Hightop syncro
- Oldiebut goodie
- Registered user
- Posts: 7482
- Joined: 18 Apr 2008, 01:19
- 80-90 Mem No: 11135
- Location: Eastern Angle
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Small hands - you don't need to remove anything other than the busbar. Piece of rag to catch the nuts when you drop them. I have big hands and have never removed anything to change them. One by the injection pump - use the bar loosely fitted to hold it in position to insert.
1.6D 2019 VW T-Cross
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Yes good description by OBG
I'd just add:
Care & patience.
Plenty of time - dont try to break records
A wide range if spanners and sockets and rod magnet you can drop down inside a flex ratchet head or hold alogside an open ended.
The pump on my AAZ is a left batard but can be done with patience. I do remove the odd pipe sometimes.
I'd just add:
Care & patience.
Plenty of time - dont try to break records
A wide range if spanners and sockets and rod magnet you can drop down inside a flex ratchet head or hold alogside an open ended.
The pump on my AAZ is a left batard but can be done with patience. I do remove the odd pipe sometimes.
The 80-90 Tech Wikipedia Your 1st port of call

1.9TD Syncro Doka / Syncro Kastenwagen / 16" Kombi Camper
Syncronaut No. 1
- clift_d
- Registered user
- Posts: 3399
- Joined: 04 Oct 2012, 23:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 11695
- Location: Hackney innit
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Okay. Thanks for that. I foresee an evening or two of frustration ahead. 

1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker Hightop syncro
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 803
- Joined: 03 Jun 2013, 19:18
- 80-90 Mem No: 8868
- Location: Ballyclare Northern Ireland
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
changed both sets on our syncro 16td and komet 1.7, fiddly just give yourself the time to do it,we used some blutack on the tip of a long
screw driver to hold the nuts when putting the bar back on, worked fine, but yes skinned knuckles, in the end my wife was great help getting the last one in as she could just get her hand up under the pump.
screw driver to hold the nuts when putting the bar back on, worked fine, but yes skinned knuckles, in the end my wife was great help getting the last one in as she could just get her hand up under the pump.
1967 RHD WALKTHROUGH SPLITSCREEN
1971 RHD BAY
1993 MK1 GTI CABBY RIVAGE
1989 T25 KOMET
1991 T25 SYNCRO PANEL VAN
1971 RHD BAY
1993 MK1 GTI CABBY RIVAGE
1989 T25 KOMET
1991 T25 SYNCRO PANEL VAN
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Under the pump.. ! Crikey wouldn't get a spider under mine
The 80-90 Tech Wikipedia Your 1st port of call

1.9TD Syncro Doka / Syncro Kastenwagen / 16" Kombi Camper
Syncronaut No. 1
-
- Trader
- Posts: 17196
- Joined: 08 Jun 2009, 09:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 6908
- Location: Surrey Syncronaut #156
- Contact:
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
A telescopic "magnet on a stick" is your friend on this job. I changed the candles on a friends jx (under duress, I am not a diesel man) and the whole job took 2 hours with a tea break on a Saturday morning in the drizzle.
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Yes a magnet of some sort is useful...
The 80-90 Tech Wikipedia Your 1st port of call

1.9TD Syncro Doka / Syncro Kastenwagen / 16" Kombi Camper
Syncronaut No. 1
- Oldiebut goodie
- Registered user
- Posts: 7482
- Joined: 18 Apr 2008, 01:19
- 80-90 Mem No: 11135
- Location: Eastern Angle
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Babe magnet any use? 

1.6D 2019 VW T-Cross
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶
- clift_d
- Registered user
- Posts: 3399
- Joined: 04 Oct 2012, 23:51
- 80-90 Mem No: 11695
- Location: Hackney innit
Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Well I gave it a go, but in the time available I could only manage to get the outer two changed without removing any of the injector pipework. That might be enough to resolve the problem. If not then it'll need to set aside a longer session to do all of them, in which case I'll probably remove the injector pipes to get more access.
1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker Hightop syncro
Re: Changing the glow plugs in 1.6TD JX?
Its fine to remove the injector pipes to get access. Keep them clean and inspect for damage. Keep dirt away from the open end of the injectorrs as well.
When you put them back fit them and leave them finger tight and crank a bit till fuel is seen on each and nip up.
The system self bleeds but do consider fitting a inline bulb hand pump in front of the filter. Got mine off ebay and filter changes are a doddle.
When you put them back fit them and leave them finger tight and crank a bit till fuel is seen on each and nip up.
The system self bleeds but do consider fitting a inline bulb hand pump in front of the filter. Got mine off ebay and filter changes are a doddle.
1988 16TD Hightop | 1970 Bay Window Dormobile Project | T4 2.5 TDI Panel Daily