Glow plug diagnosis

sco

sco

A2OC Donor
Checked my combustion pressures a week or so ago (they were fine) but on casual inspection the glow plugs looked a bit daggy so ordered a new set. Had a close look at the old ones and also one of the new ones after only running for about 40miles and they look eaten away which I believe indicates an injector timing issue - anyone seen this before. The car is not showing any error codes but is running rough which must be related.

Simon.
P5260133.JPG
 
After a bit of investigation it looks like the plugs are 5v when they should be 11v so this is over heating damage.

Simon.
 
Is the different type an engine type change ? I know that tdi90 use a different length type. Mike
 
Don't know Mike - relied on a parts website to supply the right ones based on the correct car spec and it looks like they messed up.

Simon.
 
Well I think my A2 romance may be at an end - tip of one of the new glow plugs has broken off and gone through the engine. Parts supplier has sort of admitted that the parts were incorrect but is obviously not going to admit that was the reason one failed,

Boroscope investigation shows scores to the bore (difficult to tell how deep) and nibbled piston edges. Not sure what to do at the moment, don't think it's going to be cost effective to rebuild the engine and can't imagine a replacement engine is going to be easy to find so may break it for parts or part-ex it for something else.

Other option is to just do nothing and run it till it expires - properly peed off at the moment!

Simon.
 
sco said:
Well I think my A2 romance may be at an end - tip of one of the new glow plugs has broken off and gone through the engine. Parts supplier has sort of admitted that the parts were incorrect but is obviously not going to admit that was the reason one failed,

Boroscope investigation shows scores to the bore (difficult to tell how deep) and nibbled piston edges. Not sure what to do at the moment, don't think it's going to be cost effective to rebuild the engine and can't imagine a replacement engine is going to be easy to find so may break it for parts or part-ex it for something else.

Other option is to just do nothing and run it till it expires - properly peed off at the moment!

Simon.
Click to expand...

Simon, surely if you gave them the right info about the engine and they've supplied the wrong parts they are liable for the damage whether they want to admit it or not. Maybe there's a solicitor on the forum could give you advice, but I certainly would have a real go at the parts supplier.
Trevor
 
Sorry to read this Simon. Peed off myself but that would be nothing compared to what you are experiencing.

You have all of the evidence hopefully you can progress a claim via the supplier. I personally wouldn't drive it as it is, if you really like it park it up until a short engine becomes available.
 
Hi Simon,
I feel for you
I do agree with Trevor, there must be an obligation on the parts supplier as they have clearly supplied the wrong glow plugs, the overheating of the glow plug will have certainly caused the failure of the plug, imagine a light bulb if you feed in 2.5 times the voltage, it will not stand that for long.

I would snap up that engine/gearbox that A2steve as for sale, if you can get your A2 to St Annes (and the replacement engine with it) one weekend I will help you change the engine.
Please don't break your A2 because of this

Cheers,
Paul
 
Guys thanks for your words of wisdom. Yes am going to persue the parts supplier but expect it will be a long and protracted process so focus at the moment is what to do with the car. Paul I really appreciate your offer of help - having that sort of offer of support means an awful lot to me. I've seen the engine Steve has for sale and that is a possible replacement.

Last few days I've had a long email conversation with Jigsaw, being a man who has done engine swaps multiple times he is very much of the view 'Just whip the front of the car off, pull the old engine out, push the new one in, connect up and away you go'! Obviously its a lot more real work than that but he is giving me a lot more confidence that an engine swap isn't so hard and he has also offered to help over several weekends - given he lives more than a hundred miles away this is just incredible to me. Jigsaw has also pointed me towards ex Polo low mileage AMF engines on Ebay - we think we just need to swap the inlet manifold from my old BHC for it then to be compatible with the car.

So at the moment I'm on the lookout for a low mileage complete engine and breaking the car isn't on the cards :)

Cheers,

Simon.
 
Bit of an update - insurance company have told me I'm on a hiding to nothing chasing the parts company - they have a clause in their T&C's which basically says even if they supply the wrong part it's my responsibility to check it's suitability before I fit it. Have sourced a low mileage Polo engine which am hoping to get my hands on in a couple of weeks and then it's just a case of swapping it in.

Simon.
 
sco said:
Bit of an update - insurance company have told me I'm on a hiding to nothing chasing the parts company - they have a clause in their T&C's which basically says even if they supply the wrong part it's my responsibility to check it's suitability before I fit it. Have sourced a low mileage Polo engine which am hoping to get my hands on in a couple of weeks and then it's just a case of swapping it in.

Simon.
Click to expand...

Simon, surely that's rubbish. They are the experts and it's their responsibility to supply what is required. They got it wrong. Their actions have directly caused the engine failure and they are liable. You could go to Citizens' Advice and see what they say.
Trevor
 
Hi Simon this is awrfull but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel either with spikes link or the polo swap.
With regard to the polo engine I think there maybe a need to swap the sump also seem to remember that the polo doesn’t have the oil level sensor. I maybe wrong but worth checking before fitting. Cheers mike
 
Thanks guys. So the supplier T&Cs has this clause;

15.2 We cannot make any representation as to the suitability or fitness for purpose of any of the Products for use with a particular vehicle and it is your responsibility to ensure that the Products are suitable for use with the intended vehicle prior to use. For the avoidance of doubt, we shall have no liability for any loss, damage, costs or expenses which you may suffer as a result of fitting or using the Products with a non-compatible vehicle, notwithstanding that the details of your vehicle may have been provided in your order.

The sale of goods act is not very readable so will need an expert / CAB to decide whether they are truely absolved of any liability - would be interested in Teresa's experience on this front.

In the meantime I've bought an engine (BNV code) from a Skoda Fabia - apparently some Fabia models have the oil level sensor and some don't so will have to wait and see when I have the engine what's there or not and then decide whether to swap the sump or wire out the sensor.

Hoping to be back on the road by the end of June....

Simon.
 
sco said:
Thanks guys. So the supplier T&Cs has this clause;

15.2 We cannot make any representation as to the suitability or fitness for purpose of any of the Products for use with a particular vehicle and it is your responsibility to ensure that the Products are suitable for use with the intended vehicle prior to use. For the avoidance of doubt, we shall have no liability for any loss, damage, costs or expenses which you may suffer as a result of fitting or using the Products with a non-compatible vehicle, notwithstanding that the details of your vehicle may have been provided in your order.

The sale of goods act is not very readable so will need an expert / CAB to decide whether they are truely absolved of any liability - would be interested in Teresa's experience on this front.

Simon.
Click to expand...

Dry cleaners have clauses that state they have no responsibility for damage to your garment. That's rubbish; they do. However that clause will significantly reduce the number of claims.

Ask Citizens Advice, they have an email advice request service. Also you did check the application before fitment, you asked the supplier to check on their data base. This was not a part you selected independently and fitted without checking.

If this is a French company you are dealing with that may complicate matters, but I note the company, if I have identified the correct one, has UK business address so you should be OK.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Phil, I will try Citizens Advice - nothing ventured. They are a French company as I believe they are part of Peugeot.

Simon.
 
Ben has sorted out the broken link and Tracy's post (3) reports the same issue with wrongly supplied glow plugs - https://www.a2oc.net/community/index.php?threads/replacing-glow-plugs.6662/post-95277

If you go down the small claims route it's another piece of evidence to show the catastrophic effects of being supplied the wrong parts for your engine.
Regardless of the 'terms and conditions' clauses, Trading Standards usually favour the buyer who has relied on the expertise of the seller to provide the correct goods

Best of luck Spike
 
Thanks Spike (and Ben). Still planning on trying citizens advice but deep in trying to get the car back running again - engine came out with Jigsaw's help over the weekend and trying to decide whether to repair or replace, The replacement engine that I bought turned out to be a minger - covered in spray paint and rusty from sitting outside. Bought through ebay so no issue to send back.

Simon.
 
Picture shows the current state of play (carnage) which is pretty close to the point of max disassembly - just the pistons left to remove.

P6180137.JPG


Plan is to order a bunch of new bits and hopefully soon start to put it all back together!

Simon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top