Abstract: An igniter, such as a glow plug for diesel engines, is arranged to be extended into a combustion chamber of an associated engine when needed to aid starting and ignition. It is retracted from the combustion chamber when starting aid is no longer required in order to reduce interference with gas flow in the combustion chamber and the formation of particulates in the combustion process. Various powered arrangements are disclosed for retracting and extending the glow plug during engine operation using energy sources such as combustion chamber pressure and engine temperature which are obtained separately from an engine accessory power system.