Glow plug Failures in Sprinter van and how to fix them

It is rather common in T1N Sprinters for the glow plugs to seize into the cylinder head, meaning major repairs may be needed. The engine control module (ECM) does monitor the glow plugs and if a problem arises, it can issue a fault. Inevitably, glow plugs do wear over time, but this can be an easy procedure to fix. However, such a repair does require caution as they can be difficult to remove. Don’t apply too much force as broken glow plugs are expensive to replace, so the best time to remove glow plugs is when the engine is warm (not hot). After driving your vehicle, leave it for around 30-40 minutes before attempting to remove the glow plugs and replacing them.

Alternatively, to make the process much easier, you could leave the task to the professionals who are guaranteed to get the job done right. So head on down to Sprinter Gurus to ensure that your glow plug failure is corrected properly by the experts.

Pricing varies on glow plugs depending on engine & year.
Cost $99 each (part+labor) (all 6 for $499)
on old models up to $900 (all glow plugs) call to check

Glow plugs & module. As with any diesel engine, the glow plugs & modules in Sprinter do not last forever… Also, sometimes the stubborn plugs will break off in cylinder head.