Defender 90 TD won't start - Blimming Cold!

Morning,

Mine struggles to start in the cold but will eventually get going on the second go and then it's fine!

This morning, it was -5°C and I tried starting it and it turned over but wouldn't fire up! I could here an intermitent clicking which I've never heard before but she wouldn't go!

The worst of it is, I was then forced to drive to work in my wifes Vauxhall Nova, which is red with black and white cow car seat covers! Urgh!

Anyway, the question is, could the diesel by "frozen" as I've heard it can have problems in the cold? Or could it be soemthing else!

Cheers,

Mojo

Sounds like your heater plugs are not operating correctly or your battery could be suffering with the cold try charging it overnight. Diesel these days has an additive in to protect from freezing (as long as it is pump fuel).

How long are you letting the plugs heat up for, I give mine 10-15 seconds.

Yeah, I let the plugs warm up for 30 seconds, tried it, no joy, and then left them for a bit and then held them for a further 20 before trying it again! I came back to the car 10 minutes later and strill the same!

Mojo

Reckon Stigs right then. It's your glow plugs, should've started after that time.

I had a similar problem last winter.
Replaced the glow plugs (e-bay, £15) and it was fine. Starts first touch of the key now, after about 10sec of heating.
Modern diesel doesn't start to jellify until -10 or -15
not like the old days when my dad used to light a fire under the diesel tank of his lorry to warm the diesel up!

it may help to park it somewhere more sheltered overnite. the windchill factor can make it much worse than the indicated temp.

and or, put a blanket over the engine at night.
and ffs remember its there in the morning!

write a warning in big fook off letters, and stick it to yur steering wheel!

30 seconds... your glows GOT to be shafted!

Get them metered, should draw at least 12/15amps EACH.

I give mine MAX 10secs on a COLD day.

Thanks Gents,

That sounds like a consensus!

I'll try replacing them and let you know how I got on!

Mojo

it doesn't take much to take them out and test them on a battrey to confirm there shot before replacing them. All you need is a piece of wire on the posative terminal and earth them out on the neg terminal.

B.

Yeah, don't bother trying to test them in situ. Take them out put them in a vice and couple a battery. They should heat up at the end (not in the middle) in a couple of seconds. If not, junk them. If your landy is a tdi, only use BERU genuine glow plugs. Pirate parts (especially County) are rubbish and a wast of money.

i just stick a jump pack on em, easiest way i find

Thanks for all you inputs! Just got back from a week away!

Changed the glow plugs and it tried to fire but the battery was well drained.

Charged it up overnight, put it back in and it started first time this morning!

Runs a treat now! Thanks all!

Mojo

Hi,

Did you remember to slobber the threads of the new plugs in anti-seize copper-grease?

If not, you'll be doing yourself a favour if you whip them out soon and do it.

My old 90 with a 15J engine (same sort of glow plugs really) had a BIG problem because while the engine was fully reconditioned by the council transport workshops it had sat unused for five years or more in an old chassis before I bought it. As a precaution, and just to be sure, I tried taking out the #4 plug, and BOY it was tight! A gorilla must have put it in using a 24 inch Samson bar. Eventually I got it out, and it was the only one that came out in one piece. I had to make a special little puller for the others, which left their bodies in the head. I drilled and tapped them, and screwed the puller into them This worked well, but the #1 plug dropped its tip into the cylinder .... you can imagine the language at this stage. Shows the value of checking ALL the bits are accounted for in these circumstances. I laid the plugs and bits of plugs out in rows on the bench, and one tip was missing ... from #1.

Anyway, inspiration appeared, and we took out the injector (mega-tight too), leaned the engine way over to its right side, and applied the air-jet full blast into the glowplug hole. Almost immediately the tip of the plug shot out right into my asistant's hand! There is a God, and he seems to drive LandRovers.

We did the injectors too, copper-grease and all, and used a torque-wrench on the lot just to be sure we didn't over-tighten anything. We felt that the tightening torques were too little, so there does seem to be a tendency to over-tighten things like that.

Remember, if a glowplug is overtightened the soft aluminium alloy body will probably distort and FATTEN, and that is the start of a very bad situation.

That 15J Sherpa motor has run like a dream ever since 25K I think and is a great starter.

CharlesY

The reason I am against 'County' glow plugs is that firstly, they don't even last a year, and secondly they are made of crap metal that corrodes into the alloy head, copper grease or not. And when you try to get them out, they shear. I only have 3 glows in my engine, all genuine BERU and one sheared-off County.