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There must be a better way to attach wires to glowplugs!!
by
mtnbob
on 10 Jan, 2010 17:11
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I have done Vince Waldon's "Pimp Your Glowplugs"(Thank You Vince!!!), but I was thinking there must be a better way to attach the glowplug wires to the glowplugs. Any suggestions? Is there a connector that would clip securely on? Or a press on connector that would withstand the vibration?
I seem to be going through a set of Bosche Duratherms on a year, and it would be nice to figure out how to switch out glowplugs more easily, or at least make the connection easier to install. I'm a big guy with big hands, and it is close to impossible for me to get the tiny nuts on the ends of the glowplugs
Thanks
Robert
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#1
by
maxfax
on 10 Jan, 2010 17:18
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I have played with some push on terminals that fit nice and snug.. But gettnig one's fingers down in there to push them on may be equally as challenging..
I used terminals like this
http://www.nichifu.com/spadesis.htm Then all I have to do is loosen the nut a bit to slide them on and off...
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#2
by
Vincent Waldon
on 10 Jan, 2010 19:25
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Interestingly enough VW switched over to press-on connectors for the TDI glow plugs and guess what: they are a very very common source of trouble. Corrosion, working loose over time, intermittent changes in connectivity that trigger an engine fault.... the worst. And since it's one moulded assembly the only fix is "replace the entire press-fit harness".
This is with TDI plugs that carry a few amps less each than their IDI cousins... gimme a solid terminal that bolts down any day for high current applications. Until you have to change them, of course.
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#3
by
8v-of-fury
on 10 Jan, 2010 19:35
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I seem to be going through a set of Bosche Duratherms on a year, and it would be nice to figure out how to switch out glowplugs more easily
I think you need to look in to why you are going through that many Bosch Duraterms when they don't burn themselves out. When you remove the old ones, are the ends all pitted and melted looking? Maybe you have some leaking injectors happening here? ruining your GP's? you shouldn't have to replace Duraterms that often, they should last up to three times as long.. and even crappy ones don't burn out in a year.
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#4
by
theman53
on 10 Jan, 2010 20:47
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Since I went to wire instead of the buss bar I tighten the little nut on the glowplug before putting it in the head. I don't tighten it much, finger tight, then I lower the GP into place and tighten it a little. Then I loosend the little nut and fully tighten the GP then I snug the little nut.
I have heard that if you over tighten a GP into the head it will have a shorter life.
This is the connector I use
You can also put the nut almost tight and then just slip the terminal down and tighten the nut a little. It all depends if I have the IP lines off or not when I do it. I have pretty big hands too.
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#5
by
burn_your_money
on 10 Jan, 2010 21:48
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Grease is the secret. That and 2 long skinny flat screwdrivers. Just put a small dab on the blade of one of the screw drivers, stick the nut to it and put it in place. Then use the other screw driver to spin it.
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#6
by
mtnbob
on 10 Jan, 2010 23:17
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Thanks for the suggestions. Got me wondering about tightening the glowplugs too much
I do tend to over do it. Thank you for the screwdriver idea Tyler, I'll give it a try. My bad glow plugs don't look bad at all, they just don't work when I test them. My injectors are recent(less than two years old)
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#7
by
Vincent Waldon
on 11 Jan, 2010 00:18
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Grease is the secret. That and 2 long skinny flat screwdrivers. Just put a small dab on the blade of one of the screw drivers, stick the nut to it and put it in place. Then use the other screw driver to spin it.
I'll add to this my favorite tool... a small magnet on the end of a 2 foot length of thick copper wire. Dunno where I bought it from... already have the magnet on the end of the telescoping pointer... but the copper wire lets you bend it into all kinds of interesting shapes as you snake thru impossible corners to get that bolt that just dropped down into the depths of the innards.
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#8
by
mtnbob
on 11 Jan, 2010 00:48
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good point!!! I've been unhooking the lines on the injector side, the bending then back a bit, but that's probably not a good idea
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#9
by
theman53
on 11 Jan, 2010 07:59
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My thing with the lines is usually if I am doing the job it is in the winter and I don't want to wait, crank, or try to pull start it to get it to prime and bleed off. Plus then it is usually cold so working outside sucks and cold being the reason I noticed the GPs going bad. In the warmer weather when I do them it doesn't bother me at all. But either way I always put the nuts on them and then install. Since one time I dropped one and couldn't find it. I thought it went into the TB cover area. I tore most of the front of the engine down and found it right behind the hose for the water pump. sucked.
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#10
by
mtnbob
on 12 Jan, 2010 21:46
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The guys at the electrical supply store told me that there was nothing even close to being as secure as a screw down bolt. I guess the clip on connectors wouldn't work too well in the long run
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#11
by
8v-of-fury
on 12 Jan, 2010 23:20
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Ford 7.3 IDI used a bullet style push on connector..
Why couldnt that work here?
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#12
by
maxfax
on 12 Jan, 2010 23:24
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THe 7.3 had a little different style connector on the GP, but it might work.. Although with time even those were good for some trouble... A spade connector still seems to be the best bang for the buck.. Still bolts on but no need to completely remove the nut...
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#13
by
bajacalal
on 13 Jan, 2010 00:25
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Ford 7.3 IDI used a bullet style push on connector..
Why couldnt that work here?
Those things suck. Moisture gets in there and then the connectors corrode, become loose and stop making contact.
I like the nut/stud connection the best. I suppose you could try nuts that have a flange on them, so you can thread them on in the end of your socket and you wouldn't have to start threading them with your fingers.
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#14
by
Rabbit on Roids
on 13 Jan, 2010 21:58
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Ford 7.3 IDI used a bullet style push on connector..
Why couldnt that work here?
ford went to blade terminals shortly after using the bullet connector. those were short lived. mostly only on 6.9 engines i thought.