A few important things to understand before we start.

If your vehicle requires new glow plugs, there are some things that you need to be aware of before
work commences. Modern glow plugs are generally less physically robust than those seen in vehicles with old technology, so there is a greater likelihood that breakage can occur as a result of the weaker design. Although we take the greatest care and have invested in the latest cutting edge technology to deal with safe extraction of the glow plug, it must be understood that breakages can, and do, still occur from time to time. Older, higher mileage vehicles tend to be more susceptible to glow plug breakages, but age alone is not the only factor. Harsh environments (wet climates) and poor maintenance or historical defects, such as exposure to coolant, or road spray, or rain water, can also lead to corrosion and thinning of the plug construction.

There are many factors to consider when dealing with the challenge of removing the remains of the broken glow plug. Factors such accessibility and the nature of the break. For example, has the plug broken off and left the threaded body stuck in place? Or has the glow element tip itself remained jammed deep inside the cylinder head? The answer to each of these questions presents different challenges and requires different approaches to solving the issues.

We are usually able to deal with the aftermath of a broken glow plug. However, the fact that it has broken, does not indicate any degree of negligence on the part of the technician. It is simply a matter of wear and tear, or part failure. Despite the best efforts of the technician, the plug broke.

Although the percentage of breakages is low (less than 10% of plugs cause problems), when glow plugs do break, the customer should be aware that the costs involved with tackling the problem, are the responsibility of the vehicle owner, and not the garage.

The cost of dealing with snapped glow plugs can be immense. In some extreme cases it can render the vehicle unusable. Therefore it is advised that great consideration is taken, before deciding to go ahead with glow plug replacement. If you have any further questions or require any more advice, then we are more than happy to talk you through it.