Glow plug head snapped off

[A6forever]

The glow plug in cylinder 6 on my 2005 A8 3.0tdi quattro has snapped when the garage were trying to remove it. Basically the tip of the glow plug (the bit that glows) is stuck in place.

My garage has said that they can employ a specialist that can remove the plug using special tools to drill and then insert a tap to help remove it but at a cost off £200 plus!

has anyone had a similar problem like this? If so how much did it cost you to sort out?
Can anyone recommend a decent specialist in the Cheshire / North West area?

thanks

[zollaf]

you have 2 options. 1, yo take the head off nd drill it out , hoping the threads are ok, and if not, fit a recoil or similar, at a cost of many pounds. whilst the head is off it should really be skimmed, so really both heads should be done. your other option is to pay the 200 quids and be grateful that someone is prepared to do it for that amount of money to get you out of a really horrible situation. of course, if you choose to take the car elsewhere, it will need recovering as the plug may fly out and punch a hole in your bonnet if you try to drive it, all depends how its broken.

[A6forever]

Thanks for the reply zollaf. That's how its been explained to me by the garage. There is no guarantee he can get it out but the garage say he is very good and has had success in the past. I'll get it booked in and cross everything in the hope he can do it without having to remove the head.


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[zollaf]

it is possibly one of the worst things that can happen to any mechanic in any garage, but obviously far worse for the poor sod that has to pay the bill.

[snapdragon]

There was a problem with early D3s and BOSCH ceramic glow plugs.
When they were removed, the ceramic tip would break and be left behind.
There is a TSB about it and I think they have a white collar.
Which Glow Plugs for 3.0TDI (BMK) [Archive] - VW AUDI Forum - VWAF

It is worth checking you have these first.
Did the threads come out and leave the pencil tip, or did it snap between the threads and the hex flats that you put the socket on?
Did it turn at all before snapping? If not, you could just leave it.

[A6forever]

My understanding is that it snapped and left the pencil tip behind. The mechanic said that it did not turn at all just came straight off. Therefore at the moment it is left in place. I have driven the car fine since. Just the glow plug warning light flashes on the dash board


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