Second Hand Volkswagen Sharan Glow Plugs

Glow plugs only exist on diesel-engined Sharans, where they pre-heat the combustion chamber to aid cold starting. Petrol-engined Sharans use spark plugs instead and have no glow plugs at all. If you have a diesel Sharan – which covers the vast majority of UK examples, including 1.9 TDI, 2.0 TDI, and 1.4 TSI diesel variants – then yes, your vehicle will have glow plugs.

The two generations are entirely different vehicles built on different platforms, and the engine codes used across those generations do not carry over, so glow plugs from a Mk1 Sharan will not fit a Mk2 Sharan. Fitment is determined by the engine code, not the Sharan name badge, so you need to match the part to your specific engine code rather than simply the generation year. Confirm the engine code from your V5 or a VIN check and supply it to the breaker when requesting a quote.

Trim level makes no difference whatsoever to glow plug fitment – S, SE, and SEL Sharans fitted with the same engine code and fuel type will use identical glow plugs. Trim only affects cosmetic and comfort features such as upholstery, infotainment, and alloy wheels. The engine code is what matters, so quote that to your breaker rather than the trim name.

Even within the 2.0 TDI family there are multiple engine codes – such as CFGB, CLJA, and others – and the correct glow plug specification can vary between them. Mechanical parts follow the engine code, not just the displacement or badge, so you should always confirm your exact engine code from the V5 or a VIN check before ordering. Supply that code to your breaker and they can match the plug to your specific engine variant.

Gearbox type has no bearing on glow plug fitment – the plugs are part of the engine, not the transmission, so a manual and automatic Sharan sharing the same engine code will use the same glow plugs. The only factors that matter are the engine code and fuel type (diesel). Focus on getting your engine code right and the gearbox can be disregarded entirely for this part.

A diesel Sharan has one glow plug per cylinder, so a four-cylinder engine such as the 1.9 TDI or 2.0 TDI requires four plugs in total. Used breaker plugs are often available individually or as a set, but bear in mind that plugs from a salvage vehicle will have unknown mileage on them, so confirm their condition with the breaker before purchasing. Many mechanics recommend replacing the full set at once since plugs of the same age tend to fail together.