Glow Plugs
 

My 97 Jetta TDI with 130K just had the check engine light go on for
glow plugs. Should I change all 4? If I only change bad ones how do
I identify the bad one(s)? Will my check engine light rest itself or
does it need a software reset?

Thanks

-Tim

85 Golf (sold)
97 Jetta TDI
04 Passat 1.8T

Tim wrote:
> My 97 Jetta TDI with 130K just had the check engine light go on for
> glow plugs. Should I change all 4? If I only change bad ones how do
> I identify the bad one(s)? Will my check engine light rest itself or
> does it need a software reset?
>
> Thanks
>
> -Tim
>
> 85 Golf (sold)
> 97 Jetta TDI
> 04 Passat 1.8T

I can't answer all your questions, but I would replace all four. You
have a 7 year old car with 130K Why not just do it all. Of course that
eliminates the question of how to tell which ones. I suspect a simple
continuity test would ID the bad ones.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Tim wrote:
> My 97 Jetta TDI with 130K just had the check engine light go on for
> glow plugs. Should I change all 4? If I only change bad ones how do
> I identify the bad one(s)? Will my check engine light rest itself or
> does it need a software reset?
>
> Thanks
>
> -Tim
>
> 85 Golf (sold)
> 97 Jetta TDI
> 04 Passat 1.8T

I can't answer all your questions, but I would replace all four. You
have a 7 year old car with 130K Why not just do it all. Of course that
eliminates the question of how to tell which ones. I suspect a simple
continuity test would ID the bad ones.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Tim wrote:
>
> My 97 Jetta TDI with 130K just had the check engine light go on for
> glow plugs. Should I change all 4? If I only change bad ones how do
> I identify the bad one(s)? Will my check engine light rest itself or
> does it need a software reset?

How to test glow plugs:
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/Cheap...lowPlugTesting

Best to change all 4 and keep any of the old ones that still work as spares. Why? Because all 4 plugs have seen the same
operating conditions and if 1 or more has burned out, the rest may not be far behind.

--
Roger

Tim wrote:
>
> My 97 Jetta TDI with 130K just had the check engine light go on for
> glow plugs. Should I change all 4? If I only change bad ones how do
> I identify the bad one(s)? Will my check engine light rest itself or
> does it need a software reset?

How to test glow plugs:
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/Cheap...lowPlugTesting

Best to change all 4 and keep any of the old ones that still work as spares. Why? Because all 4 plugs have seen the same
operating conditions and if 1 or more has burned out, the rest may not be far behind.

--
Roger