Glow Plug Nightmare!!
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Wasilla, Alaska
Glow Plug Nightmare!!
Well I was in the process of replacing the glow plugs on my ’96 F350 Crew Cab. And for some reason the inner two glow plugs on driver side and passenger side where the hardest to get out,(gummed up). Well I managed to get all of them out but when I pulled out the last one it was shorter than the rest of them, I noticed that the heating element had broke off from the glow plug and was stuck in the head. I know it’s stuck in there bad because it took a lot of work to get it out. There is no way to get a hold of it now so my question is : Can the passenger side cylinder head be removed without having to remove the engine? Or do I have to pull the whole engine? It’s a ’96 F350 Crew Cab 7.3 TD. The only thing that I see that could be in the way of removing the head is the heater blower that’s on the firewall, does that need to removed too? Anyone have to pull a passenger side head before? If so please let me know what you did. THANKS!!!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
sorry i tried to post this this morning but something happened when i hit the post message button so it got lost and didn't have time to repost.
but here goes
does the end of the plug look like is a fresh break? maybe it was broke before. is it blank on the end or fresh metal color? if it is black and sooted this is good. it would have broken some time in the past and not hurt anything. if it is fresh it is still in the cylinder. a few have had good success with fishing the piece out with a magnet. try making an electro magnet out of a coat hanger and fishing it out.
if this doesn't work the head will come out with pulling the engine and near as i can tell from reading the procedure off mitchell on demand the heater box doesn't need to come out either. it does say to discharge and remove the a/c compressor which may not need to be done..
how big is the piece that broke off? some have also just replced the plug and started them up but i DON'T recommend this.
there are some option so let us know what you see and we'll do our best to help.
tim
but here goes
does the end of the plug look like is a fresh break? maybe it was broke before. is it blank on the end or fresh metal color? if it is black and sooted this is good. it would have broken some time in the past and not hurt anything. if it is fresh it is still in the cylinder. a few have had good success with fishing the piece out with a magnet. try making an electro magnet out of a coat hanger and fishing it out.
if this doesn't work the head will come out with pulling the engine and near as i can tell from reading the procedure off mitchell on demand the heater box doesn't need to come out either. it does say to discharge and remove the a/c compressor which may not need to be done..
how big is the piece that broke off? some have also just replced the plug and started them up but i DON'T recommend this.
there are some option so let us know what you see and we'll do our best to help.
tim
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Wasilla, Alaska
Wel there is no way to get it out of the Head, it's stuck bad and there is no way to grab it. So you think the passenger side head could be removed without taking the engine out? Man, I've got alot of work to do now just cause this one last plug just had to get stuck and brake off. This realy sucks! THANKS for your input!!
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 287
Likes: 3
From: Gunnison, Co.
I had an autolite plug (big mistake to use those!) shear off in the head, snapped in half and fused in place. I got an estimate of $1200 just to pull off the head, not including machining. Since it was fused in place and not going anywhere, there it sits and I run on 7 glow plugs now. 20K miles and no problems. I believe the head can be removed with the engine in place, but the exhaust manifold has to be removed. 12+ hour job for a mechanic with a full shop of tools. Sorry to hear about your predicament, I can relate...No Fun.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
Likes: 5
From: NJ where fun comes to die
Can you tap it into the cylinder with the piston near the top, and go through the injector hole with a magnet or a vacuum with a reduced hose? You can always pull the head if it doesn't work. The head is very heavy, and it is a long job.
Are you using motorcraft/beru glow plugs? Anything else is junk in my opinion.
Are you using motorcraft/beru glow plugs? Anything else is junk in my opinion.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Wasilla, Alaska
Hey, ya thats a good idea! Trike. I'll give that a try, I wonder how much room or how big the hole is where the injector goes into the head and if the end of the glow plug would fit through there? anyways I'm going to give it a shot before pulling the head. I've got some pictures of the glow plug that broke off if anyone would like to see it, just dont know how to post them on here. Oh and by the way the glow plugs that where in it are Autolights. I picked up a set of Bosch to put in, thinking they might be better. Not sure if they are or not. THANKS alot for all your input guys!
Trending Topics
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 287
Likes: 3
From: Gunnison, Co.
It has been my painful experience that you should only use Beru/Motocraft glow plugs! Don't know about the Bosch, but if I were you I would return them and get the Beru plugs. Autozone sells them for just under $10 each in original motocraft bags. You can order them over the internet.
Some folks have punched the tip into the cylinder and extracted it through the injector hole, but I know it has been tedious. Do a search for glow plug threads and you will see. Good luck. Take my advice, if you are going through all this trouble and don't want to go through it again, get the Beru plugs!
Some folks have punched the tip into the cylinder and extracted it through the injector hole, but I know it has been tedious. Do a search for glow plug threads and you will see. Good luck. Take my advice, if you are going through all this trouble and don't want to go through it again, get the Beru plugs!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
