Glow Plugs..How long do they last??

The set on my first diesel lasted 160,000 miles when my ex totaled it. (seat belts worked!)

What year of car would help a lot!!! But over all were have very few failures. Why do you ask?

TDI's have two circuits going to the glo plugs and the relay monitors current flow to each. When they become different they generate a CEL. Reseating the connectors helps on the tdi's. The ones on my 99.5 jetta failed at 90k miles. On older non tdi cars you can tell when it gets cold. One bad it will start around 30f. Two bad, maybe not. You get the idea. Some consider it wise to replace all when one is bad.

Jo Bo

Bentley has detailed instructions in their manual on testing or you can do the following:

Plug the glow plug, hold the plug in a pair of vice grips and power directly off a 12 volt battery.

If it glows red hot in 7 -12 seconds, they are ok.

Always check the fuse line first.

You don't have to replace them all at the same time.

If you plug a plug and see the end is actually burned away, it's usually a sign that the injector is leaking.

Since plugs are electrical, you cannot say how long one will last but I have heard of people who have never replaced them after having the car for over 10 years.

My first one went out at ~55k. I waited a few months, then replaced them all. Dealer wanted ~$300-400.

1 glow plug $20.00 1 10 mm deep socket $3.50 1 multimeter to figure out the 'bad' plug $20.00 Labor to unscrew, test, replace bad plug 25 minutes Time to reset CEL code at Autozone 10 minutes Feeling of having $300 extra dollars in my wallet: priceless

2000 Golf/A4 TDI

Mike:

Can you elaborate on the "unscrew, test, replace bad plug" and "reset CEL code" tasks, i.e. steps for these tasks?

Thanks, AJ

1992 Jetta TD.

Read the manual, you remove them, check them ,as mentioned above with a battery charger, or do an amp check. and put the good ones back in. Right out of Bentley and chiltons........If you want to change them all, and have leftovers, fine, put em in your glove box for when you need one, but they are still good. But I will never put a used one behind the pump. The other

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Yes if all four are set in a ceiling fan.

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Actually one or more was bad before that and in milder weather it will start without one. But in very cold temps you need them all. Plus a good battery and the proper oil. I've learned this from my first rabbit diesel in 78, half a dozen or so a2 golfs and jettas. If you want realiability, replace them all. If you want cheap replace one now and one later...

Jo Bo