My trusty old GV 2.5 CRD still runs perfectly fine with 325.000km on my counter but now since the weather gets colder starting is getting a bit troublesome.
In the morning (when its like 0 degrees celsius) it doesn't matter how long I "glow" but it always takes like >10 seconds before my engine starts... Luckily I have a good battery but I think my luck will run out when it gets even colder.

Now I ordered 4 new glowplugs but I read on various topics that the #4 glowplug behind the alternator is a pain in the a$$ to replace..
Does it matter if I only replace the 3 "easy ones" ?

 

HiYa Vmaxxer,

4 better than 3 - but - 3 better than none. The heater plugs are 'live' for 30+ seconds, its only the warning light that is limited to a few seconds only. So if you wait 10-20 seconds before you activate the crank that's how many seconds 'glow' you will get.

 

If I let the plugs glow for 30 seconds it isn't any better as with 5 seconds so I think they need replacement anyway.
I'm curious how it will be with 3 new plugs.. I report back as soon as I'm done replacing (next week orso)

 

Leakback on the LP side, fuel rail on the HP side, compression on high-milers it could be anything either way the plugs can be a pig to move so give em a squirt the night before and again just before you start. A 'wobble-end' on a 1/4 drive can be useful at getting at the awkward one. Best of luck.

NOTE : 10 seconds is far far to long but suggests good aH and CCA on the battery.

 

Yeah I got a badass big battery

 

You could test them to see how many are away, hoping the hard to reach one is ok.

I changed them all on my first GV, I think I used a universal joint to get into the hard to reach one. Also think it involved unbolting some of the mounts around it too.
Perhaps the power steering bottle mounting bracket and the plate over the altenator.

Testing's just on ohms, remove the electrical connection from the top of the glow plug and put one end of the lead to the top of the glowplug, the other end to the engine block somewhere you'll get a good connection. Looking for a low reading, around 1 ohm or less, you could check a new one first since you'll have them any way (top of plug to the main body of the plug).

 

thx for the testing advice but since the plugs cost like € 12,- each I dont bother testing them. I bought 4 new ones and hand them over to my mechanic guy during the 20K Km maintenance job (I'm lazy )