Cold start problems.

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cammo45

Active Member
Posts
216
Location
Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
The old rangie has been running fine for quite a while now and I had started to like it again, It's a a 2000 DT BMW diesel, manual. About a week ago it started to be difficult to start first thing on a morning though once started it was ok and it ran no problem at all, it's only when the engine is cold it doesn't want to start. I bought 6 new glow plugs and put them in but the car is still difficult to start from cold. I tested the old glow plugs and 4 of them were ok. The battery is good, spins the engine over no problem and the fuel delivery is good, I put a new lift pump in a month ago. Is there a sensor that controls the operation of the glow plugs, it's the only thing I can think of. Anybody got any suggestions?
 
Are you getting power to th glow plugs? There is a timer relay and check big fuse inside the ecu houseing that can blow.
 
Thanks Brian, I'll check that fuse in the morning and power to the glow plugs, when I put the new one's in the other day I just assumed that would be it, problem sorted. Dark outside now I'll check them tomorrow, pub beckons now for early doors medication.
 
Grrrrrr said:
Diagnostics might show something. Check timing modulation.
Click to expand...

If it is starting hot static will not be a problem. Glow activation and timing is controlled by the ECM from temp received from ECM temp sensor. Summer around 4-5 seconds winter on a very cold morning anything up to 10 seconds.
 
I've tested all the glow plugs this morning and they all working fine though they don't get red hot until about 4 to 5 seconds after the glow plug symbol goes off on the dash so I put everything back together and gave it about 10secs on heat, turned ignition, started first time, just like you said wammers. Strange thing is it used to start first time, every time after only about 4 or 5 seconds of glow plug heat even on the coldest mornings, now it's taking longer. Is it a sign of a problem starting somewhere in the electrickery department? In the old days when I worked in a quarry we used to start all the old diesels by shoving a lighted newspaper in the air intakes, they always started but sometimes they caught fire as well. Sounds like a good way to get a p38 going!
 
cammo45 said:
I've tested all the glow plugs this morning and they all working fine though they don't get red hot until about 4 to 5 seconds after the glow plug symbol goes off on the dash so I put everything back together and gave it about 10secs on heat, turned ignition, started first time, just like you said wammers. Strange thing is it used to start first time, every time after only about 4 or 5 seconds of glow plug heat even on the coldest mornings, now it's taking longer. Is it a sign of a problem starting somewhere in the electrickery department? In the old days when I worked in a quarry we used to start all the old diesels by shoving a lighted newspaper in the air intakes, they always started but sometimes they caught fire as well. Sounds like a good way to get a p38 going!
Click to expand...

As said the ECM controls how long the glow plugs are on for, derived from the temperature sent to it by the ECM temp sensor. The green one between cylinders three and four on the head. Maybe changing that would help. As for the newspaper always found the Mirror worked best. :D:D
 
Thanks wammers, I'll get a temp sensor and see if that improves starting, yes the Mirror was good for starting the old dump trucks, navvies and D8's, there was always plenty of them lying about in the bait hut. The winters were a lot colder and more snow about then in north west Durham and would last from November to March, ah the good old days, no need for computers and diagnostics back then! Anyway the rangie is starting better now, thanks for your help guys.
 
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