I took my car into the dealership because the check engine light was on, and I noticed the glowplug light has been staying on longer than usual.

They said there is a bad one and they want over $500 to replace it. They said part of the reason is that they have to remove the intake manifold and there is a lot of labor involved.

My question is: Can I do it myself?

I am very compotent at mechanics and was a diesel mechanic on big rigs for a dozen years. I have a lot of tools but no special "mercedes tools".

Also, is this a case of "While you are there, just replace them all"? or just replace the bad one?

Advice would be greatly appreciated. It is a 2005.

 

You should not need to remove the intake manifold when replacing glow plugs from this engine.

But the plugs may be tight, actually so tight that they break, the hexagon breaks off. You would then have to drill the rest of the plug off and that doesn't work well without very special tools.

There are different views about changing all or just one, I would change them all.

$500 is expensive if the plugs come out easily but if they break, 500 would be very cheap for the task.

 

It happen twice.
First, dealer took care of it under warranty.
Second time I did it myself since the warranty was gone.
It took me 10 minutes.
You have to take engine cover off. The glowplugs are accessible, right in top of the engine.
30 sec with a tester to find the bad one.
Overall easy process.
I would say: try it first.

Good luck

 

mercedesshop.com for the diy or alldatadiy.com or get a one day subscription to http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/
for the factory WIS get the proper glow socket spray it down with kroil from kano labs and replace them all per the wis.$500 is insane and typical of the dealers.

 

I've had one replaced uner warranty.

 

211.026

Warranty:

(1) DTB P-B-15.20/66 JUL08 Check engine light illuminated with glow plug fault codes check the glow plug electrical line. If no fault found in wiring, replace all glow plugs.

(2) Long shot, is your vehicle within VIN range A530155 – A835762?
https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....7&postcount=28

DIY

MB recommends replacing in sets (6): part #A0011595101 ($30 list / 24 net). Procedure: https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....2&postcount=13 (WIS AR15.20-P-4111T Remove/install glow plugs)

 

I don't even remember posting that...

 

Looks like Palanuk has not posted on this forum since the question in this thread.

He mentioned one of the plugs was bad, I guess at this time we would know how it got fixed if he wanted to let us know, I doubt he has been waiting this long for the advice.

If it really was bad, I doubt he would have managed with $500 if doing it himself (it would need expensive tools worth more than $500).

 

I had the check engine light come on. Took it to the dealer, they said #4 glow plug was bad, but not to worry about it, it would be OK. I went to the local NAPA dealer, and got all 6 glow plugs for $18 each, and did it myself. it only took about 30 minutes, no special tools required, other than a deep socket, extension and ratchet. Car had about 70,000 miles at the time.

 

Chalk me up on the list of #4 going bad also.

 

Does anyone know how to get the connector off the glow plug? I pulled and am afraid its going to break it. Does it have a lock?

 

Thanks. I used a pair of angled needle nose and after the first one came off all was well.

I replaced 3.

 

how hard i have to squeeze the connector tabs in order for it to come off?

 

The connector just pulls off. You squeese to make sure your pulling the connector and not the wire.

 

how hard to pull it? Can I use my hand to pull? Sorry for being noob!

 

You can but you run the risk of separating the connector and the wire. Some have more access than others. I bought special pliers to pull it

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sprinter-Glow-Plug-Plier-/131208123506?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8c9d1472#ht_44wt_1264

 

On my 2007 CDI, my number 2 glow plug failed at 20,000 miles and today I got another fault at 130,000 miles for the same glow plug.

Could this be a wire problem and not a glow plug problem? I'll go ahead and measure the resistance on all of them and see if the #2 is really faulty.

Peter

 

Sorry, it isn't very exciting as the car sat unsold for a while so it had 20,000 miles on the ODO January 2010 so it was really only four years ago (and 100,000 miles ago) that #2 glow plug failed.


Curiously, I traded a 1992 300TE for it in 2009 with 340,000+ miles on it. That car was stolen and turned up three weeks later with bullet holes in the dash. I assume during some illegal activities.


Oh, it also turned up with extras, (half a box of condoms).

 

It’s now 2020

 

Glow plugs are kind of like spark plugs in their installation and shape. I have had a few more fail since 2014.

2014 glow plug #2 failed and replaced
2015 glow plug #1 and #3 failed so I pulled all of them and put on anti-sieze
2016 glow plug #5 failed and replaced
2017 glow plug control module failed and replaced
2018 glow plug #6 failed and replaced

I also got some leaks around the fuel injector seals (copper washer looking things) that filled the injector holes with stinky diesel sludge. I used a face reamer to clean the seating surface and put new seals in. The seals are probably the least expensive thing Mercedes dealerships sell. Something like $0.20 each.

The car still runs so well at 230,000 miles, I just had the front repainted. Looks like new.

Peter

 

Talk to you in 2026.

 

Drat. In the last two days, I had another glow plug failure. Oh well. I guess it might have been due.

Ha!
Peter