Glow Plugs

[oldhamfan]

I have a diesel VW as most of you will know, with me asking repeated questions about it! Just another quick one, which I've forgotten to mention in previous naggings.

I always try to remember to allow the glow plug light to extinguish before starting the engine, which is only a second or so. I have occasionally forgotten.

Will it do the car any harm in the long term if I forget? I had a Seat Leon company car a few years ago that became hard to start (same engine) but that car had a hard life in general!

[TWR]

Hi, the only thing thats going to suffer is the Battery, other than that no problem.

[oldhamfan]

Thanks very much for that.

[chas2008]

doubt if many drivers do wait for it to go out, probably more noticable in the real cold weather..but they are a wear and tear item and will need replacing sooner or later

[TWR]

On a point of what Chas has said, if they start to give trouble replace the lot.

[oldhamfan]

Are they expensive? No trouble at the moment but having had it in the past I will know when it's in the post!

[TWR]

Hi, you can either get off EBay or your local Motor Spares shop, DO NOT go to the dealers unless you have plenty of money lol, it's a while since I had a dev car but as of now the wife has a 206 derv. You will be in the region of £40+ a set of 4. but as said, if they start to go, your indicator will be, when the Orange light goes out & you try to start the car it will obviously take longer than usual.

[TWR]

Just checked, set of 4, £18 +

[Bob69]

Paid £14.99 for 4 off ebay on wifes peugeot 306, good value.

[oldhamfan]

Excellent answers all, thank you very much.

[AlBags]

What anyone has failed to mention is that if you buy CHEAP glowplugs, they will have a cheap life .. nearly always.

Make sure you buy Beru or Bosch if poss. They last much much longer.

[chas2008]

Sorry to disgaree with Albags, but most of the cheap ones are Lucas or Bosch, same as fitted a standard, just not dealer prices

[AlBags]

There are Chinese ones Chas ... on eBay.
I run a banger for carrying work stuff ... Ford NA 1.8 diesel. Beru/Bosch have lasted 4 years, 2 plugs still going strong. Set of four cheap ones .. eBay ... 2 packed up less than a year. The trade guys know this. So pay a bit more for a brand name you know!

[razza]

Albags is correct,in my experience people who buy cheap plugs usually change them within a year.There are odd exceptions,but as the saying goes,you get what you paid for.