Checking glow plugs Q10/Q13: VW 1.9 TDI (AXB, AXC, BRR, BRS)

Checking glow plugs
Q10
/
Q13
Special tools and workshop equipment required
Hand-held multimeter
V.A.G 1526 E
Auxiliary measuring set
V.A.G 1594C
Voltage tester
V.A.G 1527B
Vehicle diagnosis tester
Caution
Ceramic glow plugs are sensitive to knocks and bending. For this reason a glow plug which has dropped from a small height (approx. 2 cm) must not be used. Even if no damage is apparent. It is absolutely necessary to follow the installation instructions, otherwise the heater pin of the glow plug can break and cause engine damage.
Transport and store only in original packaging or packed separately in bubble wrap.
Only remove ceramic glow plugs from their packaging immediately before installing them.
If there is any doubt as to the condition of the ceramic glow plugs, they should be renewed without exception.
Damaged ceramic glow plugs (e.g. heater pin of the glow plug is damaged) will invariably cause engine damage.
If the heater pin of the glow plug is damaged, the fragments must be removed from the combustion chamber before the next starting of the engine, otherwise this will invariably cause mechanical damage.
Do not oil or grease thread of cylinder head bore or of ceramic glow plug.
It is not permissible to install a combination of ceramic and metallic glow plugs.
Note
The glow plug system is comprised of the
automatic glow period control unit
J179
and the glow plugs.
The diagnostics of the
automatic glow period control unit
J179
is carried out using the
Vehicle diagnostic tester
. It is possible that event entries have been saved to the
engine control unit
J623
.
The
automatic glow period control unit
J179
detects a defective glow plug.
In addition to the check using the
Vehicle diagnostic tester
the glow plugs can be checked for continuity when installed or removed.
Checking glow plugs using the
Vehicle diagnostic tester
when glow plugs are installed:
Test prerequisites
Battery voltage at least 11.5 V
Fuse for glow plugs OK.
Automatic glow period control unit
J179
OK
Connect
Vehicle diagnostic tester
.
Switch ignition on.
Check
engine control unit
J623
for event entries reference glow plugs using
Guided fault finding
.
If necessary, existing event entries should be checked and rectified using
Guided fault finding
.
If no event entries exist the glow plugs are OK.
In addition a continuity test can be carried out on the glow plugs.
Continuity test on an installed glow plug:
Note
Not all faults on a glow plug can be detected using this test.
Test prerequisites
Battery voltage at least 11.5 V
Ignition switched off
Fuse for glow plugs OK.
Automatic glow period control unit
J179
OK
Pull connectors off glow plugs.
Connect
voltage tester
V.A.G 1527B
cable to battery positive (+), using clips from
auxiliary measuring set
V.A.G 1594C
.
Place test probe of
voltage tester
V.A.G 1527B
on each glow plug one after the other.
LED lights up: Glow plug OK.
If LED does not light up: fit new glow plug
Continuity test on a removed glow plug:
Connect wire of
hand-held multimeter
V.A.G 1526 E
to relevant glow plug using auxiliary clips from
auxiliary measuring set
V.A.G 1594C
.
Apply test probe of
hand-held multimeter
V.A.G 1526 E
to earth of glow plug and check for continuity.
Repeat test for all glow plugs.