Recent Glow Plugs Replacement Mechanic Reviews in Birmingham
Smiths Repair & Mot Ltd
Garage in Birmingham, 9 years of experience
Mots class 4 5 and 7. All repair work servicing, brakes , tyres , exhaust and clutches.
LISA, BIRMINGHAM
STUART, WALSALL
Bak Vag-Tech
Mobile mechanic in Birmingham, 12 years of experience
I began my career with my apprenticeship in Poland before coming to the UK. My first role in the UK was with 4 Cars in Yardley, Birmingham for 7 years before moving across to Whittaker Fleet Care for around ...
MARK, Birmingham
Jaguar S-TYPE • Wheel bearing replacement - rear (passenger side)
Sham's Autos
Garage in Birmingham, 20 years of experience
Sham's Autos began in 2002 as a business and through the years has developed a strong customer base and the garage has developed into what now is a 4 ramp workshop which includes an MOT ramp, we employ 4 ful...
Talk Torque Limited
Garage in Birmingham, 17 years of experience
Talk Torque Ltd T/A Car Surgeon™ Car Surgeon™ is an auto repair facility dedicated to quality service and maintenance of general, high-end and performance vehicles at an affordable price. Many mainland...
RONALD, Birmingham
Acceler8 Motors
Garage in Birmingham, 12 years of experience
I have 20 years of experience in the motor industry.. My business caters for most makes/models
BARRY, Solihull
Rps Garage Services Ltd
Garage in Birmingham, 30 years of experience
Has your car been giving you regular problems? Have you noticed a pipe leaking or engine overheating? Maybe it’s time you got your vehicle serviced. Who better to do it than the experts at R.P.S Garage Servi...
Amdb Autotek Uk
Mobile mechanic in Birmingham, 28 years of experience
I worked for a small garage for about ten years where I studied and learned under the existing mechanics, and then decided to set up my own garage. So, now I own my own garage with a transit van, I can do ne...
MISBAHBUKHARI7@GMAIL.COM, Birmingham
Vauxhall/Opel Zafira-A • Ignition switch replacement (Physical lock turning)
ICH Auto Services Ltd
Garage serving Birmingham, 22 years of experience
Hi, my name is Darren Branch. I have been working on cars most of my life, with 21 years worth of PROFESSIONAL experience. I have long realised that it is not the actual garage that you should be putting yo...
ROBERT, West Midlands
Platinum Vehicle Services Ltd
Garage serving Birmingham, 10 years of experience
I started out working at the garage where I did my apprenticeship, and eventually climbed the ladder to a management position. I am also currently doing subcontracting jobs and MOT testing. I am also running...
CHRIS, West Midlands
G.C. Services
Mobile mechanic serving Birmingham, 25 years of experience
As a 17 year old i decided that i wanted a life in the Army, so i joined the Royal Engineers. On leaving the army i started working in the motor trade doing several jobs but mechanics was where i wanted to ...
Want to learn more about Glow Plugs replacements in Birmingham?
Read our short guide with information on costs, symptoms and more.
What do glow plugs do?
Glow plugs were originally used to assist with starting diesel engines in cold temperatures when the heavy oil used to coagulate. Now that diesel has many additives to prevent this, glow plugs have taken on the role of heating the incoming fuel / air mix to provide greater efficiency while the engine warms up. This also assists with decreasing the noise during cold running.
What does a glow plugs replacement involve?
- The mechanic will pre-soak the glow plug threads with penetrating oil or similar and wait for it to take effect.
- Mechanic will then ease the glow plugs undone and remove them one by one
- New glow plugs will then be installed
- Engine start up will be tested and error codes cleared down
Can I change glow plugs myself?
Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend a glow plugs replacement is only carried out by a professional mechanic. ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price up front.
What are the symptoms of bad glow plugs?
You may experience some of the following symptoms
- Glow plug warning light flashing when the ignition is switched on
- Engine management warning light (EML) lit
- Struggling to start from cold
- Excessive fuel consumption while the engine warms up
How long will a glow plugs replacement take?
On average, glow plugs replacement times can range from 1 to 2 hours with an average of just over 1 hours. The time that the job takes will depend on a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.
How often should glow plugs be replaced?
The majority of diesel vehicles will go through their life without requiring them to be changed, however like all electrical units, they can fail. If you are experiencing any of the listed symptoms, ideally would have the glow plugs changed as soon as possible. If the engine is starting OK, though and there is no EML lit, then get the glow plugs changed when you are able to.
Can you drive with a broken glow plug?
If you suspect there is any issue with the glow plug or there are concerns about its age or condition, book an inspection with a professional mechanic with immediate effect. If the glow plug is physically broken or snapped do not drive the vehicle as this will lead to severe engine damage.
What is the Glow Plug Warning Light?
The glow plug warning light provides information on whether the glow plug has warmed up, and whether there is a problem with it. When the ignition is switched on the glow plug warning will come on as the glow plugs through it's pre-heat cycle, the light will go off again once the glow plugs have heated up.
If the glow plug warning light does not go off it means that the engine is not getting the right amount of heat from the plugs, which can affect starting and performance. If the glow plug warning light is flashing it means that the glow plugs are not getting hot enough to start the car and that there is a problem. This can be caused by a number of things.
Is it safe to drive with the Glow Plug Warning light on?
Generally it is ok to continue to drive at slower speeds with a flashing glow plug warning light, however, it does entirely depend on the scale of the glow plug issue. Often the engine also goes into 'limp mode' and power will be limited. It is highly recommended to get it checked by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible as it could lead to further problems and engine damage.
In rare cases the engine warning light may also flash simultaneously with the glow plug warning light, which can indicate an overheating engine. When this happens, the best thing to do is stop as soon as it is safe to do so and seek help from a breakdown service or a qualified vehicle technician
Will my car fail the MOT test if the Glow Plug Warning light is on?
Yes, it is possible that a flashing glow plug warning light may lead to an MOT fail. The underlying issue may lead to inefficient running of the engine and an emissions issue, on which a vehicle may be failed.
Is a faulty glow plug an MOT failure?
Yes, a faulty glow plug may result in an MOT failure - if the glow plug warning light on the dashboard goes off after a few seconds then it will normally pass the MOT (this is a sign the plugs have heated up correctly). If the warning light continues to flash or illuminate on the dashboard, it could result in an MOT failure as your vehicle may experience emissions issues.
How long do glow plugs last?
You can expect glow plugs to last at least 100,000 miles but they can become faulty at an earlier stage so may need replacing accordingly.
Are glow plugs easy to replace?
Glow plugs can be very hard to replace, especially if they are located in hard to reach location or in the case they are seized or stuck. The job best left to a certified mechanic as it needs the right parts and equipment to ensure the replacement is done properly. If a glow plug breaks on removal, an bits drop into the inside of the engine this will lead to the engine having to be opened up. Under no circumstances should the vehicle then be started as it can lead to catastrophic engine damage.
How many glow plugs do I need?
You need one glow plug for each cylinder in your engine so a 4 cylinder diesel engine will need 4 glow plugs.
How do you know if your glow plugs need changing?
Some tell-tale signs that your glow plugs may need changing include:
- Engine misfiring
- Rough idling
- Decrease in fuel efficiency
- Difficulty starting the car (especially in cold weather)
- Dark or black-coloured exhaust smoke
How much does a Glow Plugs replacement cost in Birmingham?
The average cost of a Glow Plugs replacement in Birmingham is on average between £133 and £195. Ultimately the cost for a Glow Plugs replacement in Birmingham depends on the make and model of your car. Check out the ClickMechanic price below, and find out what you'd pay at a franchise dealer in Birmingham. We use industry standard data & millions of data points so you know what you should be paying.
These estimates may include Glow plug. We have quotes for the top 48 manufacturers.
Prices could not be created for 33 models. Show ∨
- Microcar
- Metrocab
- Hummer
- Reva
- Asia
- TVR
- Morgan
- Buick
- Lamborghini
- Pontiac
- Carbodies
- DS
- Mitsubishi Fuso
- Moskvich
- Cadillac
- Ford US
- Aixam
- Austin
- Daimler
- FSO
- Maybach
- Rolls-Royce
- Santana
- Tata
- Great Wall
- Piaggio
- Perodua
- Aston Martin
- Lada
- Lancia
- Lotus
- Proton
- London Taxi's International
Estimates on repair costs, such as the above results for a glow plugs replacement, are created by combining data from multiple third-party sources. The actual cost of using your local repair providers may be outside of the estimated range. We provide estimates on repair costs for information only and accept no liability for any inaccuracies or errors. If you think an estimate is incorrect, please contact us to let us know.
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Mechanics in and around Birmingham
- ASA Automotive, Burntwood
- Aar Servicing And Accident Repair Group, Birmingham
- Acceler8 Motors, Birmingham
- Easy Autos Hagley, Stourbridge
- Farmers Auto Repairs Ltd, Sedgley
- G.C. Services, West Midlands
- Rolfe Street A R C Ltd, Smethwick
- Rpm, Kidderminster
- Rps Garage Services Ltd, Birmingham
- Shaft Motors Ltd, Bilston
- Sham's Autos, Birmingham
- Sil Tyres, Birmingham
Recent Glow Plugs replacement quotes in Birmingham
These recent quotes were taken from our quote engine which uses third-party industry standard data on repair times, along with a live parts retailer, and a regional labour rate to build an accurate free quote. We are constantly improving our quote engine, so please let us know if a price seems incorrect.