Difficult to start

Hi I have a 90 fitted with a 300tdi discovery engine and usually starts on the first turn but this morning took an age to fire then belched out loads of whitish smoke, once started it was running fine. Could it be a glow plug problem?? or something else. What sort of things I should be checking??

Regards Andy

Did you have your foot on the accelerator when you were trying to start it?

Did you have your foot on the accelerator when you were trying to start it?

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No

Had you touched the accelerator at all before trying to start it?

when did you change the fuel filter last ?

Had you touched the accelerator at all before trying to start it?

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Don't think so

when did you change the fuel filter last ?

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Haven't changed only owned it a couple of weeks

It sounds like your glow plugs are needing replaced, or the engine is down on compression. My valves were not closing properly, and after I reconditioned the head it started much better. Is the starter turning over briskly? My 90 has a good starter, the disco has a slow starter so no amount of glows will make much of a difference, just takes a bit longer.