How to replace glow plugs?

If you're having trouble starting your diesel car, or worse, it won't start at all, the problem is most likely with your glow plugs! If you need to replace your glow plugs yourself, here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Remove the engine cover.

The engine cover must be removed to gain access to the glow plugs. This engine cover is usually held in place without any mounting screws, so be careful when removing to avoid damaging the mounts.

Step 2: clean up the area around the candles

To avoid contamination of the cylinders during disassembly, it is advisable to clean the periphery of the spark plugs. To do this, you can use a cloth or even a compressed air bomb.

Step 3: Remove the electrical connector

Disconnect the power cable from the glow plugs by pulling on the cap. Do not pull on the wires directly to avoid breaking them.

Step 4: Loosen the glow plugs

Using a spark plug wrench, unscrew the various spark plugs from the engine. For your information, there are as many spark plugs in your car as there are cylinders.

Step 5: remove the candles

After unscrewing, you can finally remove the spark plug from the cylinder head. Make sure the spark plug housing is free of grease or dust.

Step 6. Replace used spark plugs.

You can now insert the new glow plugs into the cylinder head next to the injectors and start hand-tightening them.

Step 7: Screw the glow plugs back in.

Screw in the spark plugs completely using the spark plug wrench. Be careful not to tighten them too tightly (20 to 25 nm if you have a torque wrench).

Step 8: reconnect the electrical connectors.

You can now reinstall the electrical connectors on the spark plugs. Make sure you insert them.

Step 9: Replace the engine cover.

Finally, refit the engine cover, being careful not to damage the mountings.

That's it, you just changed glow plugs myself. For information: glow plugs are changed approximately every 40 km.