[Vwdiesel] Glow plug testing ---( are injectors ok ? as well )

[H.Hagar]

NO  I am not a "Hogswart" diesel wizard just yet --but I am a bonafide 
certified super duper Glow Plug wizard.  On Bosch glow plugs.

For a glow plug relay wizard talk to Roger Brown.

Now Val Christian has fooled around with plugs --much the same as I. And 
HANDS ON experience counts.

So for my special Texas friend in Tyler Texas here is the nitty gritty. :

Give us all the details  Model and year and miles and fast or slow plugs and relay. ?

Fast ---new Bosch plug will work in any system  --old Bosch will NOT.   That is why they
do not make the old plug any more. Yes they can be mixed up..  But the NEW plug
is worth every penny. Make sure it is a BOSCH:

So how to test ?   -- there are many ways ,  but here is how I do it  :

Digital multi meters are about 10 dollars ---and they will measure milliVolts.--BINGO.

The voltage drop on the glow plug buss bar can then be measured..

Put the probes on plug # 1 and # 2   -----if no voltage is measured the # 1 plug is
burned out.  ------piece of cake. ------ and so on und zu weiter.

Remember they add up --as you get closer to battery.    I am working on my thesis
on glowplugs still.   As you can see from Vals thread  there are some very tricky
conditions at times ---they take a little more thought.

The all time Hagar Hillbilly test ?  ---- The drop across FUSE ---perfect like an
ammeter shunt.   If all your plugs are ok write down the drop (millivolts). Then later if one
or more plugs burn out the drop will be less.-----This is real hands on hillbilly stuff
so you can take it to the bank --and quote me.    Total load is about 10 amps per plug.

Yes sometimes plugs use a hell of a lot more POWER than the starter.

White "smoke"   diesel fog ---indicates that she is getting old or the fuel is crappy.

Time to advance the pump a tad ---now now go easy ---a tad is good ? so two tads
are twice as good ?-.  ONE pencil line at the time.

In Tyler  Tx it is not COLD this time of year --- so yes glowplugs are not working right.

My advice ?  ---plug her in .  that works like right now and every where.

One very bad design flaw on old VW diesels ?  they do not have a high speed idle
setup. That is a very important issue.

So chrizzy for now --start her and give her lots of pedal till all cylinders are firing.

And let us know how many plugs were burned out.

Diesels sure are a lot more FUN than gassers.----EH ?

Hagar.

PS :   Chrizzy your explanation of problem was excellent.---shit you are home free.
and remember hagar is talking about OLD VW's-.   not TDI's.

WARNING : never jumper glowplug fuse ---use the right size. If you are not sure
what you are doing. If you have to ask ?  do not jumper.More on that some other time.