300tdi cold starting

i have a 1998 300tdi starts every time first time except when it gets to about -7 or 8 failed twice this year and a few times last year put boost pack on and its fine all day just seems the temerature drop kills it ! the day after a -8 and only a -3 it starts first time ?

Mister_L said:

Fitted a NUMAX Leisure battery, slightly bigger in terms of physical size and much bigger in terms of CCA (1000 as opposed to the 500ish of the standard battery) got extra terminals for my winch too, and at £75 i am well chuffed

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You sure it's a leisure battery? They are normally built to run the domestics in a caravan/boat and will deliver power slowly for a long time (days), as in running the lights etc.
A cranking battery is designed to give loads of amps for a short time (30 secs or so) to turn over an engine. They are supposed to be constructed differently.

Bigger battery is always going to be better though, 9 vibrator batteries won't do it.

Im having issues again this year, last year fitted a 1000 battery and that seemed to have fixed it, but this year its back to the same problem. Tried a few pre glows, but still nowt.

May try the negative lead thing.

Any other tips ?

Tried the negative tip, no change.
the pipes do look old but cant see any major evidence of deisel. Given they are only a few quid i may try them later today.

Surely the problem wouldnt have been fixed by the battery last year if the pipes were to blame? May go investigate the charge on the battery

Mine's an auto and even though it is off the road at the moment I have started it in the cooler temp's. Stick it in netural on the auto box and make sure the battery is ok, the bleed of pipes, earth and glow plugs are good and it will be fine.

SpaceDawg said:

Mine's an auto and even though it is off the road at the moment I have started it in the cooler temp's. Stick it in netural on the auto box and make sure the battery is ok, the bleed of pipes, earth and glow plugs are good and it will be fine.

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Cheers

Changed the pipes, and charged the battery
Next day same issue

Looks like its earth / glow plugs