Glowplugs - AGAIN!

[Alacrity]

When I bought my current Bongo it was rough & smoky (white) on cold start-up which cleared within a minute. Glowplugs sez I & fitted a set from the factors across the road. Sorted.

Six months later it was worse than before, culminating yesterday in it needing about 4 attempts to get the beast to fire up accompanied by clouds of white smoke. Again within a minute all was well albeit a bit 'missy' on initial pull away. Power was getting to the plugs as it should so it fitted another set of plugs yesterday - this time NGK @ £27.00 + vat for the set (Blueprint last time) & it is perfect again. It was just above freezing this morning when I started it & it fired up instantly without a hint of smoke & no misfiring on pull away.

So we shall see what gives in six months time although I can't see what else the problem could be other than duff glowplugs.

[rita]

When I bought my current Bongo it was rough & smoky (white) on cold start-up which cleared within a minute. Glowplugs sez I & fitted a set from the factors across the road. Sorted.

Six months later it was worse than before, culminating yesterday in it needing about 4 attempts to get the beast to fire up accompanied by clouds of white smoke. Again within a minute all was well albeit a bit 'missy' on initial pull away. Power was getting to the plugs as it should so it fitted another set of plugs yesterday - this time NGK @ £27.00 + vat for the set (Blueprint last time) & it is perfect again. It was just above freezing this morning when I started it & it fired up instantly without a hint of smoke & no misfiring on pull away.

So we shall see what gives in six months time although I can't see what else the problem could be other than duff glowplugs.

Hi,
I think Blueprint do a 3 Year Guarantee,take them back to the factors.

[Alacrity]

I think Blueprint do a 3 Year Guarantee,take them back to the factors.

Yes I have, but the factors don't appear to believe that they are the problem although they accept the problem is sorted but they 'will return them & see what the suppliers say' hmmm. Difficult for me to see what else it could be . . .

[dave_aber]

Surely you can bench test them to prove that they are duff - or are the factors considering that somehow the Bongo has put them under some sort of excess stress and done them in?

Unless they were physically damaged, i.e. bent, then all that can happen to them is that they get a full belt of 12v - and the current through them is regulated by the resistance / wattage of the plug itself - 10-15 A each?

[Alacrity]

Surely you can bench test them to prove that they are duff - or are the factors considering that somehow the Bongo has put them under some sort of excess stress and done them in?

Unless they were physically damaged, i.e. bent, then all that can happen to them is that they get a full belt of 12v - and the current through them is regulated by the resistance / wattage of the plug itself - 10-15 A each?

I thought that after I had returned them to the factors Dave & I think what you said is exactly what they are inferring. There is no physical damage to them. We shall see.