TD 4 difficult to start

As the title says my Massie Mara TD4 has got difficult to start, it doesn't matter whether it is the first start of the day when the heaters are needed or when the engine is warm and they are not needed.

It used to be a really good starter firing up almost instantly even if I didn't wait for the heater light to go out but after a 100m trip to see my daughter I filled up with premium diesel from a shell garage ready for the trip home and since getting home it has been difficult to start.

It seems to be trying to start when cranking over but doesn't catch until usually the third turn of the key some times with foot to the floor some time no gas at all.

Once started it runs ok, I've had my head next to the rear wheel with the ignition on and can hear the pump running this pump was replaced along with the filter around 8 months ago so should be OK I've also tried cleaning the plug on the fuel rail sensor.

I've done a search but I'm confused there seems to be quite a few things that can cause bad starting has anyone got any ideas what to check next.

starter solenoid

Theres nothing wrong with the starter it turns over great just hard to start, but I was suspecting an injector so went looking for some BG244 to try but couldn't find any locally and was recommended Lucas injector cleaner by a local motor factor and at £5.20 a bottle I thought why not he recommended putting it in half a tank and taking it for a good thrashing.

After following the advice for the Lucas cleaner it does seem to be starting better while the engine is warm at least after being parked up for an hour while shopping in town it started first turn of the key and again after a trip to the supermarket so heres hoping.

Well I've had another 100m trip to my daughters house last night and this morning it took some starting again when cold but started ok once the engine had warmed up so some improvement, I think that must rule out the camshaft sensor.

I'm still having starting problems and now starting to suspect the fuel rail pressure sensor as when I listen at the rear wheel arch I can hear the low pressure pump running but it doesn't stop just keeps pumping I thought it is supposed to stop once up to pressure.

Is there a way to test the fuel rail pressure sensor without using test book, I've got a cheep OBD11 tester but its not coming up with any codes but my FL is a 2003 so may not be able to read it properly.

Just for your info, mines a 2002 td4 and an obdii reader works fine.
Are you sure its not that super diesel your putting in, it has a really high cetane value, i know ours doesn't like it, it runs lumpy on that stuff. Might be worth putting some standard Murco or similar in, could be a cheap fix.
Mike

I did think there might be a problem with the diesel as it started after I filled up with the shell diesel but I'm back on ordinary esso diesel now.

The problem with the reader is they only guarantee obdii compliance from 2004 onwards with diesel's so I don't know if mine is or not.

Have you changed your fuel filter recently? Dirty filter or water in it won't help matters.

The fuel filter was supposed to have been changed about 8 months ago along with the lift pump just before I bought the car, I do have a fuel filter that came with the service kit I bought just after I got the car I didn't bother fitting it at that time because it was supposed to have been done.

With all the bad weather we've had I've not had chance to change the fuel filter for the the spare I have, but have put another dose of the Lucas injector cleaner in the tank and I'm pleased to report that it's now starting just as it used to first turn of the key.