I got ambitious and decided to change the #1 glow plug this afternoon. Didn't seem like a difficult ordeal. Took off the power lead, then started backing out the glow plug. It was so easy it was almost loose. Well, when I got it out, I discovered why there was no light. There was NO tip on the plug. Just completely gone.
To back up...yesterday afternoon I left the key on inadvertently. When I discovered this, I turned off the key. When I started the car again, it started instantly but made an awful clanking noise at the front of the engine like the valve went out of adjustment or the injector died. The sound continued. The car RAN fine, so I thought "well, guess some trash landed in the injector." I drove the car home last evening. Never more power...ran beautifully. Now I'm afraid to drive it. It starts fine. I tried installing the new glow plug (Bosch...I've heeded advise) and it seemed way to difficult to turn at the last 1/4, so I stopped and reinstalled the stub.
Am in in for disaster, or can this be removed from the motor? I'm going to drive the gas car tomorrow, as I have this sinking kind of feeling. I've looked through the archives and I don't see anything that talks about broken or totally burned plugs.
Please someone...good news?

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R Talley
88 BMW E32 735i (make it go away)
95 Volvo 960 "Inga" (valve problems)
95 Nissan Maxima (the indestructible)
89 Ford Ranger XLT (ugliest truck in the South)