vito 110 cdi glow plugs just spinning

[jazzcat]

Hi all
steve here, i have a 2000 vito 110 cdi.
glow plug light on .
i have replaced 2 and 3 glow plug.
But 1 & 4 plugs wont come out .
i unscrewed the plugs carefully , but i cant get them to come out of the head.
they are just spinning in the head.
Help !!!
Any advice welcome please.
steve

 

[nick mercedes]

Hi all
steve here, i have a 2000 vito 110 cdi.
glow plug light on .
i have replaced 2 and 3 glow plug.
But 1 & 4 plugs wont come out .
i unscrewed the plugs carefully , but i cant get them to come out of the head.
they are just spinning in the head.
Help !!!
Any advice welcome please.
steve

A very common problem.

 

[jazzcat]

oh .
can u tell me what i need to do.
thanks steve

 

[jazzcat]

Any advice very very welcome and needed!!!
thanks steve

 

[Dieselman]

Have the threads actually come out properly and it's just the plugs stuck in by carbon.?
If so start the engine and leave idling and using a socket unscrew the plugs. When the plug releases it will come out with a bang and a flash, but no damage will be done.
Clean the seats out properly then fit new plugs using coppa-slip anti seize compound on both thread and seat.
It's best to run a tap or cut thread glowplug down the threads to clean them out before fitting new plugs.

 

[jazzcat]

Thanks for that.
on a vito i have taken the top part of the inlet manifold off to get to the plugs .so i dont know if i can start it .
the plugs have unscrewed and are spinning in the head.
i tried doing them back up but the just spin and dont seem to catch the thread?
thanks steve

 

[Dieselman]

Thanks for that.
on a vito i have taken the top part of the inlet manifold off to get to the plugs .so i dont know if i can start it .

Yes you can.

 

[nick mercedes]

oh .
can u tell me what i need to do.
thanks steve

There's a few options, none of which are much fun, basically the body of the plug comes adrift from the lower bit, meaning that the top turns, but the threaded bit does not, sometimes a head off job...

 

[Dieselman]

There's a few options, none of which are much fun, basically the body of the plug comes adrift from the lower bit, meaning that the top turns, but the threaded bit does not, sometimes a head off job...

I thought the o-p's problem wasn't a snapped plug but stuck in by carbon on the tip.

If it's snapped then the best way is to rent a drilling kit from united diesel and drill them out. That way the head won't be damaged.

 

[jazzcat]

i dont think they have snapped .
they have unscrewed but i cant get then to come out.
TheY are loose but just turning in the head .
they are still in one piece.
they just seem to be stuck
any help please.
steve

 

[Dieselman]

Back to post #5.

 

[jazzcat]

I cannot get the plugs to screw back in atall .they are just spinning.
will they shoot out if i start the engine.
will it start.
sorry for being thick
steve

 

[jazzcat]

thanks for all your help .
this is much appreciated.
i am worried sick that this is going to be a nitemare.

 

[jazzcat]

so what do you think i should try next then ?
can i start it with plugs loose ?
will they shoot out ?
i was thinking of putting a socket and extension on each plug
then holding them in place with a ratchet.
then getting someone to start the engine .
then hopefully they will come out.
but not shoot out like a bullet.

sorry 4 all the questions.

 

[spock500]

Lots of penetrating fluid and lots of patience -

Soak the plug in the fluid and keep twisting but you need to exert as much 'pull' on the plug as possible so I would suggest mole grips -

Keep doing this and eventually they will come out

 

[jazzcat]

do i need to get them drilled out'
is this a nitemare

 

[jazzcat]

Update
took number two glow plug out to see how high i sits when undone.
mmmm 1 & 4 plug sits in the head the same height as 2&4 done up in the head .
so they dont appear to of unscrewed atall .
they def did not snap or break as i eased them back and forth slowley.
any help welcome .
thanks steve

 

[jazzcat]

ok it appears 1&4 glow plug are the same height in the head as 2&3 that are screwed in the head and replaced.
so have 1&4 not come undone atall ?
they def did not snap or break on me .
they appeared to unscrew gently.
now they just spin in the head .
i have tried pulling them out with mole grips.
i have tried running the van to see if they come out but nothing.
all advice welcome .

feeling really down now .
steve

 

[nick mercedes]

ok it appears 1&4 glow plug are the same height in the head as 2&3 that are screwed in the head and replaced.
so have 1&4 not come undone atall ?
they def did not snap or break on me .
they appeared to unscrew gently.
now they just spin in the head .
i have tried pulling them out with mole grips.
i have tried running the van to see if they come out but nothing.
all advice welcome .

feeling really down now .
steve

http://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/tips_docs/6041740-00-ENWEB.pdf

But don't forget that Cdis start allright without glowplugs, so being 2 down is not that much of a nightmare

 

[spock500]

It maybe that someone has had a go before which is what happened to mine - can you see the hex ring where the socket fits onto? if so take a good close up picture and post here -