Using a Spark Plug Connector for the Glow Plugs????

[ftm1776]

Just browsing the postings on "pimping" the glow plugs.

Question: regarding the connector for the power wire to the glow plug; would it be possible to use a spark plug type of slip-on connector?

You know, just push it onto the top of the glow plug. Some spark plugs just have a screw-on male for the connection threads and the cap slips over that. No more little nuts, pull it off with a needle nose, push it on with a screw driver, or something like that.

The only limitation might be the different currents. I think that a spark plug current is pretty low compared to the 16 or so amps of the glow plugs.

Comments,  please.

[Toby]

The stock buss bar works just fine and there is zero advantage "pimping? you GPs. Its just for kidss with too much time on there hands. Taking the load off the GP relay by having it switch a Ford starter solenoid is a good, idea however.

[wolf_walker]

While I agree the stock bar works fine, there is a diagnostic advantage to having separate wires to each glowplug.
Less economy-minded euro diesels did not do such.

[Alcaid]

The stock buss bar works just fine and there is zero advantage "pimping? you GPs. Its just for kidss with too much time on there hands. Taking the load off the GP relay by having it switch a Ford starter solenoid is a good, idea however.

Stock buss bar works fine, yes

Zero advantage upgrading the wiring, not correct!

With the high current that flows you might see a voltage increase on the glow plugs of +10-20% compared to stock due to the lowered resistance. 10-20% higher voltage gives the same 10-20% higher temperature and these IDI engines really need it, especially if they have been sitting for a while and on cold winters like we have here in northern Europe

[ftm1776]

All well and good for the wiring, but what about the connectors as referred to in my question.

Could spark plug type connectors be used in order to eliminate the need for nuts???

Thanks

[theman53]

I would think that it would work, you would obviously need copper wire up to the connector and not a spark plug wire. The TDI glow plugs have a slip on connector if you did an internet search you could see them. They are smooth and not threaded so it is different. The thing about the slip on connectors is they can loosen if you take them on and off. For ease of use and all the other stuff you have talked about I use this style connector, so you don't have to take the nut off just loosen it a bit.

[ORCoaster]

I use this style connector, so you don't have to take the nut off just loosen it a bit.

Times like 4 at least.  One for each Cylinder.  Best to have it set up with these rather than the ring style. 

And Toby.  Not true on the ZERO advantage part.  Load, diagnostics and above all coolness factor all outweigh the OEM stock buss bar.  How boring is that one strip of copper with no insulation on in?  Unless you care to bling it up with a copper polish and then seal it.

I opt for individual lines on fuses to a block running off the relay added as well.  VW should have done it initially, they were just to cheap and looked for the simple not the best solution.


I don't think push on connectors work well enough with the vibration of these engines.  Need a very solid and non corroding solution. 

[vanbcguy]

The TDIs with their push on connectors are constantly having problems with corrosion and poor connections. The ALH and AHU engines almost treat the glow plug harness like a consumable part.

I went with ring terminals on mine. If you think about it with individual wires to each glow plug the only time you ever need to undo the wire is if the plug is actually dead. You can test them fine without messing with anything. The bus bar is a huge PITA as you can't test any one plug without undoing all of them, and you can't replace a plug without removing the bus bar. Even with ring terminals you only have to disturb the one plug you are interested in making the nuts not a big deal really.

[theman53]

The stock buss bar works just fine and there is zero advantage "pimping? you GPs. Its just for kidss with too much time on there hands. Taking the load off the GP relay by having it switch a Ford starter solenoid is a good, idea however.

Just because you cannot see the advantage of doing it, does not mean there is no advantage. See the above replies...many advantages.

[wolf_walker]

Yeah, I've been either blessed or lucky, but have never had a moments trouble from the stock system in many many hundreds of thousands of miles and decades.
But it still leaves a lot to be desired.

[Renax]

After reading all this i still don't see the advantage of doing anything. I have just a switch operated relay that puts power to the plugs. Any more complicated and it gets worse to fix if broken?

Glowplugs only mission is to provide enough heat to start the engine, mine do, so i refuse to fix them!

Sent from my cheapchinaphone using Tapatalk

[theman53]

After reading all this i still don't see the advantage of doing anything. I have just a switch operated relay that puts power to the plugs. Any more complicated and it gets worse to fix if broken?

Glowplugs only mission is to provide enough heat to start the engine, mine do, so i refuse to fix them!

Sent from my cheapchinaphone using Tapatalk

Just because you cannot see the advantage of doing it, does not mean there is no advantage. See the above replies...many advantages.

[bajacalal]

Spark plug wires are not the ideal conductor for this application, they're meant for a very low amperage, high voltage, short duration discharge. Glow plugs are low voltage, high amperage, long duty cycle things.

There are glow plug applications that had push on connectors, Ford trucks used them, so did TDIs, but they were problematic because the connectors get old and don't make good contact with the glow plug anymore. The buss bar is OK. But individual wires to each glow plug with nuts as a connector is really the best and most reliable solution.