Disco IV TDV6 Altitude or cold problem

I have a friend with a Discovery IV HSE TDV 6 (245) 2010 that is displaying an odd behaviour.

When in Kent it starts and runs just fine, but when it is left for a few days at ski result in a heated car park at about 0 degC, 2000 metres above sea level it does not start. This problem happened at Christmas and is happening again now. The last time this happened the AA sprayed car starter into the air filter box, we did the same thing yesterday and the car fired up in a cloud of smoke then ran normally.

After the Christmas problems the car was sent to a mechanic and glow plugs were checked and replaced.

The engine turns and we’ve tried a car starter so I don’t believe it is a battery/voltage issue.

There is a delay between pressing the starter and the engine turning while the glow plug warning light is on, this delay increases with the cold as you would expect so it seems to me the glow plugs are working.

Any idea what might be going on?

Battery is always first port of call on the d3/4 models, cannot always verify even by testing if they are still man enough to start the car, they are very battery hungry.

How fast does it turn over when cranking?

Earth leads have a habit of failing down near the bottom of the engine.

Thanks Lynall, the battery was replaced recently, also we tried a heavy duty portable car starter, so I don't think its that.
The engine turn seemed strong but slightly sluggish to me but I am not familiar with this car.
A bad connection however could be possible, I wonder why this might be worse in a dry cold/high environment?

RobbieF said:

Thanks Lynall, the battery was replaced recently, also we tried a heavy duty portable car starter, so I don't think its that.
The engine turn seemed strong but slightly sluggish to me but I am not familiar with this car.
A bad connection however could be possible, I wonder why this might be worse in a dry cold/high environment?

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All I can say is at this time of year on a large fleet of trucks the electrical problems we have multiplies many times, all due to corroded/poor connections.