Glow plugs on ebay -?
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Senior User
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Glow plugs on ebay -?
I saw a set of glow plugs on eBay, Part number ZD-10 for $79 w/shipping. I want to know if this is a good deal or not.
I have 104K on the original set and can't start the truck below 35 deg. F without it being plugged in, so I assume I have glow plug issues. I will test them first, of course, when it is warm enough to work on it in the driveway.
And even if I don't have a glow plug problem (because maybe the relay is the problem), according to posts here on FTE, I should change them anyway as preventitive maintenence since 100K is about the life expectancy.
Waddaya think?
Thanks,
Ed
I have 104K on the original set and can't start the truck below 35 deg. F without it being plugged in, so I assume I have glow plug issues. I will test them first, of course, when it is warm enough to work on it in the driveway.
And even if I don't have a glow plug problem (because maybe the relay is the problem), according to posts here on FTE, I should change them anyway as preventitive maintenence since 100K is about the life expectancy.
Waddaya think?
Thanks,
Ed
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,764
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From: CentralEastern Utah
Anything around 10 bucks a-piece isn't a bad price. I got some off e-bay auction and got them for about 65 bucks shipped. But I had to watch and bid alot to save the dough. Just make sure their the motorcraft/beru plugs. The ones you mention are the good ones. Just no Autolites.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,005
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
If you have an AutoZone near you they have them by that part number (actually updated to ZD-11) but they are factory units in Ford part bags with the Ford part number on them. Cost is $8-9 so when you figure shipping and such on eBay you are better off at AutoZone.
If you do buy on eBay, stay FAR FAR AWAY from Autolite brand glow plugs. The set you refer to is Ford factory parts like AutoZone carries but I have seen a lot of Autolites there as well. They tend to swell the tips and either seize in the head so you cannot get them out or the tip breaks off resulting in the expected catastrophic damage inside the engine.
Dave / Believer45
If you do buy on eBay, stay FAR FAR AWAY from Autolite brand glow plugs. The set you refer to is Ford factory parts like AutoZone carries but I have seen a lot of Autolites there as well. They tend to swell the tips and either seize in the head so you cannot get them out or the tip breaks off resulting in the expected catastrophic damage inside the engine.
Dave / Believer45
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Heres my experience: Autolites are just plain garbage. I thought I was having glow plug issues and the guy at the Ford store said take 'em back to Shucks or I'll be back getting new Ford ones in a few months, and he'd find the new lackey to get the autolites out for him since he wasn't about to waste his time on a crap job when he can have an easier time doing something else. That being said, the relay is a much more common problem and can be done in about 10-15 minutes, less if you know what your doing, my relay was $55 at Napa at cost. The glow plugs on my truck are under the valve covers and a royal pain in the a** to boot, that alone was enough to try the relay idea first. Also Glow plugs are an emerging problem, gets worse everytime one burns out, the relay is intermitent or not at all. Does anyone else agree?
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Further to the point, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The glow plugs are only on about a minute and a half only when you start the engine. If you started the engine once and drove a hundred thousand miles would they need to be changed? Heck naw, they were only used one time! On the other hand...If you started your truck 50,000 for for 50,000 2 mile trips, then by all means they should be toasted. I guess what I'm trying to say is evaluate your driving habits and go from there.
