Broken glow plug

[EdmundIJones]

So, I've had the little coil light come on and stay on for longer than normal recently so I thought I should change the glow plugs - they we're due a change anyway. I took the engine cover off, and worked from the back of the engine to front as I remember that plug number 5 (closest to the windscreen) is in a rather tricky position. Having very easily for all the plugs out and replaced each as I went I got to plug number 1, it was stiff but was moving slowly, I kept going.
... and going .... and going and after what seemed like a long time and progress as I could see most of the thread I thought, this is odd.

I took a look and bear in mind you can't see a lot it appears the glow plug has snapped below the thread, the thread is full exposed but the bottom section is still in the whole and the top part sort of wobbling on top.

Not wanting to make matters worse I just left it and checked the car still starts. Yes it does, just like normal but with a mostly exposed plug and sheared under the thread.

Now, is there anything that can be done? I have a mate who is a specialised mechanic who I'll show it too next week but in the meantime what would the normal cause of action be other to stick my head in the sand and hope it doesn't cause any problems....

Ed

 

[AMG19]

If its snapped right at the bottom it will need to be drilled out. A job for the professionals im afraid

 

[EdmundIJones]

Yep, that's what I thought.

 

[EdmundIJones]

Now sorted, as suspected the plug was snapped below the thread with the lower half stuck in the block. After a bit of driving the force of the engine ejected the glow plug with considerable force. the thread is a bit worse the wear but a replacement plug is now in and tightened enough without any blowing.

I had decided that if the threads were stripped I'd just have to scrap the car but it's now going to have some minor work to pass it's MOT and it's good for another year. Nearly up to 200,000 miles. Happy days.