Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sat 12 Apr 2014 13:59
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - E-Chen

2007 Focus with 92000 on clock. Engine System Fault showed glow plug circuit. Garage checked glowplugs and found all four were faulty. Took out 3 of 4 but Number 4 siezed in head. Tried soaking overnight but snapped off next morning when further attempt to extract. Special tool still could not extract remains so garage now saying they need to remove head and drill out.

Is there any other way to fix this without removing the head?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 12 Apr 2014 14:15
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - Railroad.
Not easily. Unfortunately this is what happens when you don't apply anti-sieze paste to stainless steel threads.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 14 Apr 2014 08:35
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - E-Chen
Not easily. Unfortunately this is what happens when you don't apply anti-sieze paste to stainless steel threads.

Thanks Railroad.

Should drilling out the old glowplug be within the capability of a garage workshop or is it a specialist job? I don't want to risk the head getting wrecked by someone not knowing what they're doing. The garage that has the car has been there for years and has done good work for me in the past.

Thanks

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 14 Apr 2014 08:58
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - elekie&a/c doctor

If there is no loss of compression from the cylinder with the broken glowplug,I would be inclined to leave it alone and just replace the 3 plugs that have come out ok.The engine will perform ok,but the warning light will be on.(possibly).This is not an mot failure.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 14 Apr 2014 09:10
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - jc2

Agreed-should start fine on three!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 14 Apr 2014 14:26
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - Railroad.
The primary purpose of glow plugs on a direct injection engine such as this is not for cold starting. In fact they don't even switch on for preheating unless the outside air temperature is below about 2 degrees Celsius. They switch on once the engine is running to provide for quieter running and reduced emissions, and stay on for a minute or so.
With regard to removal of the broken plug I would either follow the advice above or use a specialist. I would not trust this to any old garage. A helicoil may be an option, but in any case it's a job for someone with the right tools who knows what he's doing. Reference to my earlier post, apply a high temperature anti-seize paste to the threads when you fit the new ones.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 1 Apr 2018 17:26
Focus 1.6 tdci - Glow Plugs - edwoodt

Interesting reply, Yesterday I noticed that the glow plug icon dissapeared in under a second; temp outside was cool. Today I forgot to look this morning when it was cold, and this afternoon I didn't even see it at all.

Just bought a Focus 2005 II Hatchback 1.6 TDCi 110cv. 240000kms. My problem is rough starting and lots of blue smoke on startup. It dissapears within 10 seconds and then the engine runs smoother. Slight tapping like valve adjustment on gasoline engine. I assumed it was a glow plug problem. I haven't made the continuity test with a battery and digital tester yet, because I thought it might be a problem with the electrical system not providing juice to the plugs. But after reading this I'm sort of stumped. The only reason why I'm writing this here is because getting to the plugs is sort of a pain....

I wonder if anyone will see this....4 year old thread

Reply | Report as offensive | Link