merc 3.0 glow plugs

[hairyben]

have the 3.0 v6 in the van (vito, 7 yrs old 55k) not starting on the button & glow plug light staying on

Mechanic (trustworthy guy) tells me an absolute horror story of them being a nightmare to change and it's a half-the-engine-out job if one breaks.

are they really this bad? Had a seat van (1.9 vw) some cretin broke the glow plug thread on 12 years ago, think he superglued it or something as I went about 300 yards before it started going tst-tst-tst-tst loudly (air escaping) and of course garage denied any knowledge/liability...

[mr TICKHILL]

its a crap job on a straight six w124 I wouldn't want to try it on a v6 van, sorry i'm not being more encouraging

[johnoz]

hairyben said:

have the 3.0 v6 in the van (vito, 7 yrs old 55k) not starting on the button & glow plug light staying on

Mechanic (trustworthy guy) tells me an absolute horror story of them being a nightmare to change and it's a half-the-engine-out job if one breaks.

are they really this bad? Had a seat van (1.9 vw) some cretin broke the glow plug thread on 12 years ago, think he superglued it or something as I went about 300 yards before it started going tst-tst-tst-tst loudly (air escaping) and of course garage denied any knowledge/liability...

Just had the same problem on my 319 V6 Sprinter! glow coil light staying on.
I had all 6 plugs all changed, 2 broke off and were removed (I did not ask how!) 4 were ok, however the problem was still there.
With the sprinter you also need to change the glow plug relay, so had that changed and all is now working fine.

Search youtube for Mercedes glow plug removal tools, it is an amazing bit of kit!

good luck

[hairyben]

johnoz said:

Just had the same problem on my 319 V6 Sprinter! glow coil light staying on.
I had all 6 plugs all changed, 2 broke off and were removed (I did not ask how!) 4 were ok, however the problem was still there.
With the sprinter you also need to change the glow plug relay, so had that changed and all is now working fine.

Search youtube for Mercedes glow plug removal tools, it is an amazing bit of kit!

good luck

thanks that looks useful I'll run it by him.

[MG CHRIS]

hairyben said:

johnoz said:

Just had the same problem on my 319 V6 Sprinter! glow coil light staying on.
I had all 6 plugs all changed, 2 broke off and were removed (I did not ask how!) 4 were ok, however the problem was still there.
With the sprinter you also need to change the glow plug relay, so had that changed and all is now working fine.

Search youtube for Mercedes glow plug removal tools, it is an amazing bit of kit!

good luck

thanks that looks useful I'll run it by him.

The garage I work in has recently bought that bit of kit after snapping a few glow plugs in the similar engine in a huge camper well more like a bus. Impressive bit of kit not a job I would want to do tbh.