Bryan and Amanda Loveless

Beetle glow plug replacement

2008-10-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

I decided to put my experience replacing the glow plugs on our 2005 VW Beetle TDI because even though I read plenty of tutorials, I still didn't have anyone showing how a Beetle's glow plugs were replaced. There were a few things that the tutorials didn't explain, or assumed the shadetree mechanic already knew or tools they already had. I want to be sure that this info is somewhere on the internet to help someone else.

We discovered we had a glow plug out when the check engine light came on and we had the code read at our auto parts store.

First you must take the engine cover off. Let me be the first one to tell you, that in this year, just pull up on the front of it, then it will slide out toward you. Other models had caps and nuts to undo, but on this year Beetle, just pull up on the front, then slide toward you.Then take off the noise shielding. While waiting on parts, I ran the beetle without this cover and noise dampner. It was a little loud, but not enough to matter.

Now you are at the good stuff. This is the part of the engine that probably 90% of the owners never see. I don't think it looks so bad, too bad they covered it up. Perhaps they did because the engine is so small and might embarrass your Honda-owning friends with all the tourque this little engine puts out.

To be sure it is the glow plug that has burnt out and not something else, check the resistance on the plugs. They should all have about the same resistance. One of ours had a way different reading than the other three. This is where I used the multimeter to get the readings:
The red lead is on the top of the glow plug, and the black lead is on the engine block.

You will notice the metalic lines going across the engine, and there is one that is plastic. This is the electric rail that powers the glow plugs. You may also want to take this opportunity to blow out the engine with some compressed air to make sure that nothing is dropped into the glow plug hole.

Firmly, but carefully pull that rail out. It will take a forceful tug, but you dont want to rip the whole thing out of the vehicle, so as soon as it gives, stop pulling. This year beetle has a different one than how the others look.
Now you will see the top of the glow plug. If you have ever done spark plugs, it is the same idea. To unscrew these out, you will need a deep socket 10mm. I would strongly advise picking up at least two extentions. I had one, and it made turning the rachet a little tough to manuver around the engine compartment.
Once it is loose, I found it easier to take the rachet off, and unscrew the rest of it by hand.

They will look a bit burt, but here is the comparison between the old and new glow plug.

Take the new ones and put a little anti-sieze on it. This is the same stuff you would use for spark plugs.

Now put the glow plug in. The first time you put one in, it might cross thread, so what I did is turn it the opposite way a turn or two, then screw it in. Use your fingers so that you can make sure it doesn't. It will go all the way in using your fingers, so do not use the ratchet until it is seated fully.

Once it is seated fully. Then you can tighten it with a rachet. Only tighten it a little, as it only is rated for 15 ft-lbs. The engine block is aluminum, so it will easily strip if you tighten it too much.

Once you are done, put the rail back on. Feel with your fingers to make sure that it is fully seated. It will NOT click, so you will only be able to tell it is done by feeling for it.
Now just put the sound dampner and cover back on the engine and fire it up. If you had an error light, it will not go off automatically.
Congradulations, this procedure is rumored to cost about $500 at the dealership. With parts and the socket set, I spent a little under $50.

If you want some more info on this procedure, I used a few other websites to help me.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=225023
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q_how_to/multi/glowplugreplace.htm
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=483553
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=198001&highlight=tdi+check+engine+light+solid

--Bryan

Pictures since March...

2008-05-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

We have new pictures...Bryan is slow to update.
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/garden2008
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/grace
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/old6652608
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/baseballmarch22008
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/shootingmarch08
-Amanda

We have new pictures

2008-03-03T15:39:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
we've got pictures from Kaci and Milk's Wedding: http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/kaciwedding
Pictures from the Spring Training Game : http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/baseballmarch22008
Pictures from skiing in sunrise: http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/sunrise08 and we bought our tickets to Cape Cod today.
-Amanda

Here comes the bride...

2008-02-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

So it's official Bryan and I (Amanda) met with Kaci and Milk last night to discuss what they want said at their wedding next Friday. Who knew Bryan's signing up to be a "man of the cloth" would be useful.
-Amanda

Barret-Jackson: People with more money than taste.

2008-01-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

For the second year in a row, I (Bryan) went to Barrett-Jackson. It is a fancy auto show where people spend lots of money on old cars. Ray and I noticed that they were even selling wrist watches that retailed for over $500,000.00. But for the show they were reduced to only $462k.
I was great seeing some famous cars, we saw The Monkee's mobile, the original Bat Mobile, Robosaurus (the vehicle that eats other ones at monster truck shows) and even a General Lee.

This year the Corvettes and Chargers were a dime a dozen. You couldn't walk anywhere without seeing a car that you just saw. I was exited to see the rare cars that you dont see every day, like a WW2 Jeep MB, or the cars from the Discovery Channel's Monster Garage. (Ray really liked the Porche that picked up golf balls, then shot them back at the golfers.

I participated in the "Hummer expirence" where they let you take an H2 or an H3 up a hill and through a mud puddle. I will stick with my Jeep, thank you very much.

I kept up the tradition of appearing in TV again, it was right after the Mayberry replica Galaxy, so look for me standing next to one of the bidders on the phone with Jill and my father. (National TV is the first time they have seen me in over a year).
--Bryan

Fun Stuff

2008-01-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

Since I thought that people might be more intersted in what Bryan and I are doing besides worrying about batteries and the house I decided to weigh in. Yesterday my dad (Ray) treated Bryan and I to ski lessons up at snowbowl as well as skiing with him. Although we didn't learn a whole lot, Bryan got some pointers and I was told that my turns were excellent. So that gave us the confidence to go down a blue square which was exciting. We went down it and didn't fall! We also took a side route and found a plaque that talked about a crash of a B24 during world war II on the San Francisco Peaks. We saw some great views and had a good time. We've got some pictures of it...

Battery cleanup

2008-01-13T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have always tried to clean the batteries as best I knew how, but then I saw this corrosion. It looks like some of the acid and water found its way under the terminals and started eating the case. I went into Northern Arizona Wind and Sun, where we purchased all this equipment, and they said not to worry about it. He also mentioned that once it starts, it won't ever stop.

I asked what I could do and he suggested a mild solution of baking soda and water with some paintbrushes. I did that and wiped down the plastic pieces on the tops of the battery with just enough solution to make it fiz. I kept at it until the fizing went away.

Look at the before pictures to see what I am writing about. Notice the spare distilled water, baking soda, and vasoline (for keeping the contacts from corroding).

--Bryan

Ask, and ye shall recieve

2007-09-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

I came home last night to find that my pump house had been fixed. Yay! Amanda and I were talking, and the only one who is worth a damn in this whole housing situation is Vern at DJ's septic. He is a stand up guy who will admit when he is wrong, and will do the job without messing around. As of this morning, some of the water has dried up, so I left the house open to try to dry it out a bit more. Hopefully when I get back home tonight it will be all dried up.

Housing timeline

2007-09-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the housing timeline. This document is updated every time we have any dealings with the housing company, our lawyers, ect. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjbtrn9_24chcgrd

--Bryan

pump house leak

2007-09-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Ran out of water a few days ago. 2500 gallons of water costs us $100. Ouch. Called water guy, he said he could fill us in the morning. I had the pleasure of learning how to prime our water pump. As soon as I get it working I get into bed.
The next morning I had this crazy idea about what a buddy who has a pump said. He mentioned that after a pump runs out of water, it may leak. So I check it out, and sure enough, the bottom of the pump house is soaked. Water is leaking from the fitting right on top of the outlet of the pump. We havent lived a year here, but have a water issue. I will spare you the details of the phone conversations I had with the contractor and housing people (check out the timeline that I update.)
So I am scouring the internet trying to find out how to replumb a water pump house. Lots of off-grid people must have this issue, but no one is writing about it. So I am here. Blogging. I will post a picture of my pump house in hopes that if someone else needs to figure this out, they could reference it.
--bryan

Welcome

2007-01-08T15:44:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

We have had so much going on recently, we decided to start a blog to inform everyone. (Since Bryan is horrible at calling his family)

Please be patient while we learn this new system, but this should keep everyone up to date.