Dragore wrote:

mdpslm wrote:

Hi Dragore,
I am going to be doing a couple of the items you did pretty soon: split inter cooler hose replacement and the glow plugs - they were last replaced 4 years ago but at the back end of last winter it was starting to need multiple cranks to fire up with new battery fitted - we've not had a deep frost yet but I know we will soon

I was interested to know more about were you wrote:

"the bit I am super proud of Changed all the glow plugs WITHOUT having to remove the whole intake manifold"

Any tips or guidance on how you manged this would be much appreciated if it helps me and others in the future to save on time, skin and swearing!

Hi sorry its taken me awhile to reply Ive been really busy in work.

First on the agenda was to remove the engine cover and the full fan assembly to give myself room to work, this was actually fairly easy as long as your uber careful not to catch the radiator with the bottom of the fan assembly. There are just 4 plastic clips holding the fan assembly in and a few electrical connectors on the top right side.

I started slowly and began from the left hand side of the engine, after removing the engine covers I firstly removed the fuel filter assembly including carrier making sure I plugged the ends of the fuel pipes with a new clean bolt (sorry can't remember the exact size) to help reduce the need for bleeding the system. I also kept the filter flat and level during removal meaning that the filter stayed full with fuel.

With all this removed I had access to the first 2 plugs that are below the intake manifold, I gently unclipped the electric connector using only 2 finger tips due to the space however if I can get my sausage fingers in without too much trouble others should be fine I took a deep reach socket connected to a long extension and released the plug, this wasn't that tight which is good as I was really concerned about snapping anything but caution allowed no catastrophic end of days things happening.

I then did the last plug on the right hand side so moved some ancillary cables to get to that.

This left the last little git of a plug that sits behind the EGR valve assembly, I removed the metal EGR pipe that runs over the top of the engine from the valve and the 1 fixation bolt on the top right of the engine but just left it in situe as the other connection is an absolute nightmare to reach. I already had the intake pipe off the bottom of the valve so removed the 4 retaining screws and moved the EGR (I at this point cleaned the valve out using brake cleaner as it was all gunked up). With this moved I have access to the 3rd plug and with some difficulty managed to complete the change.

As for the intake pipes I loosened the front bumper and pulled it forward as seen in my picture, this allowed me access to the jubilee clip screw for the connection to the intercooler from the top left where the bumper normally sits with the car, without this access to that clip is almost impossible from below or above.

I worked from below after removing the undertray and worked the bottom pipe out with the hard piping, I attached the little pipe to the top of the hard plastic piping before reintroducing it back to the car. My piping was a really tight fit so it took a few ins and outs to work out the correct angle for the new piping but got it eventually. I then went from the top to reconnect the new short pipe to the bottom of the EGR.

After reassembly I started her up and she didn't even cough so I didn't loose a great deal of fuel which was great!

Hope this helps and I'm sorry if this is a little unfollowable as I'm much better at showing

I figured that out as well.
The EGR is way back and well 'hidden'.
So he meant the throttle body obviously.

Am I the only one to have struggled with the fan assembly? 2 bonnet sensors to remove from top rail to allow the fans to pass. Fans the catch on refrigerant pipes at lower left side. No amount of wiggling would allow fans to pass. Tried moving pipes away but too rigid. First time I did this job I did it by removing inlet manifold and looks like I will have to go that way again. Silver 2009 HSE

How the do you get the the electrical connections off the plugs with just you fingers. I had to use various pointy plier's.
Changing the actual plugs not too bad. Getting the plug caps on again another nightmare As for the one behind and below the throttle body, you can't even see it.
Anyway ….........job now done but if I ever had to do it again I'd take off the inlet manifold.

Just to add insult to injury, car is over 10 year old with original plugs. Tested them after removal and they had roughly the same resistance as the new ones

So does anyone have any thoughts as to why I have the occasional cold start issue? Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

Should have put this under watches..........that gets more replies.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

second earth lead ?