Dads disco duff at starting.

Hi.
Can you help ? My dads got a 96 300 tdi disco and it's got a starting problem. It doesn't start First thing in the morning when it's cold. It's gone down to -12 c here in Scotland. I've changed the lift pump for a new oe one, new fuel filter, and bled the fuel system. Still didn't start this morning at 8 am but did at 1 pm when it was warmer. So what's next ? I think the next thing would be to check the fuel pick up pipe at the fuel tank. Any idears ?
Mudynaty.

check the glow plugs and relay

Got new oe plugs in it.

have ya checked the supply to em

I will but I think that's it is ok.

At -12 degrees the diesel is probably waxing up ( not freezing but going like syrup ) to the point where it wont pump, which may explain why dads disco wont start. This problem was experienced by truck drivers years ago and they got round it by mixing parafin with the diesel. The mixing proportions I couldnt tell you but get it wrong and it will knacker the engine. It is also illegal but what the eyes dont see the heart dont grieve over. Aint a clue how you keep a disco warm in Scotland at the moment. Dont know if this helps but you're welcome to it.

a friend of mine puts a gallon of petrol in his to stop it freezzzzzzin, thats to a full tank of diesel tho.

i avent tried this and he also says it cleans the injectors ????

can any 1 2nd this ?? as this is just a tip i got told ?

anthony

When it's been really cold, and bear in mind I have to start my Disco at 5am, I use a simple procedure which has never failed yet ...

Ignition on, obviously, turn fans off, lights off, heaters off, radio off etc etc, let glow plugs warm up until the light goes out, ignition off and back on again let glow plugs go through sequence until the light is out again, then clutch in, full throttle, then turn to start. When it fires immediately back off the throttle until it's revving just above tickover, say at ~1000/1200rpm, then fully off throttle to tickover when it's revving cleanly. Doesn't need any more heating up, just drive steadily for a few miles until warm ..

This has always worked with mine, even when the windscreen (and everything else) was frozen on the inside after being left with a door open for a week and 2" of snow overall !!

Thanks lads will try the above.

I run my disco 300 tdi on bio,to winterise the fuel and stop waxing,I add 5%-10% petrol.In your case,I would add 5% to start with and it is legal.
If you really get stuck at low temps,and want to start it,boil a kettle of water and pour the boiling water over the fuel filter ,the fuel lines,i/p pump,injector pipes-as much of the fuel system you can manage-wait a short while for the heat to sink in-then crank her over-she will start.

Alot of people who have cold start probs dont realise that land rover say to floor the throttle to start on really cold days..just like Paul D say

aston108 said:

Alot of people who have cold start probs dont realise that land rover say to floor the throttle to start on really cold days..just like Paul D say

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where's it say that ?

Sean said:

where's it say that ?

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Up there ^^^^^^. The post before yours.

Page 68 of the owners handbook!

lerk said:

Page 68 of the owners handbook!

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what's one of them then ?

tis part of rave...

lerk said:

tis part of rave...

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technically - what does it do that the cold start setting on the IP doesn't ?

Not a clue, but it does seem to work!

The full paragraph from manual says:

Cold weather starting
In cold climates or in conditions where the
ambient temperature has dropped below -5 ° C
(23 ° F), fully depress the accelerator pedal
while operating the starter. This will aid
starting. Release the accelerator pedal
immediately the engine starts.

lerk said:

Not a clue, but it does seem to work!

The full paragraph from manual says:

Cold weather starting
In cold climates or in conditions where the
ambient temperature has dropped below -5 ° C
(23 ° F), fully depress the accelerator pedal
while operating the starter. This will aid
starting. Release the accelerator pedal
immediately the engine starts.

Click to expand...

wondering if they've mistakenly left that in from the petrol instructions - if the IP is adjusted correctly doing that's going to over fuel it - but then in an ideal world if you've got tons of compression and yer plugs at at 840 degrees hmmm

Would appear not, the petrol instructions says this:

Cold climates
In very cold climates the battery charging and
oil pressure warning lights may take several
seconds to extinguish. Similarly, engine
cranking times will also increase; at -30 ° C the
starter motor may need to be operated
continuously for as long as 30 seconds before
the engine will start. For this reason, ensure
that all non- essential equipment is switched
off.