td5 auto poor running when cold

Just bought my first disco, but when i started it this morning from cold it fired up ok but when i revved the engine, it struggled coughing and spluttering, very hesitant a bit like when you remove a HT lead on a petrol.
Give it a min or so and it seems fine and runs ok. Having never driven a disco before im sure this isnt normal.
Has anybody any ideas, Thanks

Just fit new Air mass meter, kn filter and egr blanking kit, and a full de restricted exhaust, goes alot better but still the same hesitation when cold for the first minute or so. Remap next then..
Also had mechanic have a look, can not find anything wrong.

Is your cold start system (glow plugs) operational ?.

DISCO924S said:

Just bought my first disco, but when i started it this morning from cold it fired up ok but when i revved the engine, it struggled coughing and spluttering, very hesitant a bit like when you remove a HT lead on a petrol.
Give it a min or so and it seems fine and runs ok. Having never driven a disco before im sure this isn't normal.
Has anybody any ideas, Thanks

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This is definitely not normal - the ECU should compensate for cold-running and keep everything smooth at low engine temps.

The very best thing you can do is to get hooked up on a diagnostic machine such as Hawkeye or Nanocom or similar to detect what's going on.

Dave

discool said:

Is your cold start system (glow plugs) operational ?.

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I've never needed mine even in the depths of winter. It starts immediately without using them.

iansoady said:

I've never needed mine even in the depths of winter. It starts immediately without using them.

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Very Good :clap2: So? ... I don't have them, I don't need them, so that's more usless info...

checked it out with a code reader and no faults present, another thing i noticed if it means anything is when its started you give it some revs white smoke belts out when its hesitating. after idling for 1 min then you press accelerator it revs up fine and no smoke.
The last car that did that was an old escort and oil stem seals had gone, could it be them ???

discool said:

Is your cold start system (glow plugs) operational ?.

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^^^ dont let Discool's statement just pass near you... the Td5 glow plugs are part of the engine management system and they are not just simple pre-heaters... the fact that the lamp doesnt illuminate on the dash doesnt mean they dont work on post-heat operation(after the engine starts). the warning lamp lights up only on pre-heat period if it's required.

if you don't believe us(me and Discool) here is a "flavour" from RAVE:

1. The glow plugs are a vital part of the engine starting strategy.
The purpose of the glow plugs is:
l Assist cold engine start.
l Reduce exhaust emissions at low engine load/speed. (regardless of the outside temperature A/N)

2. The glow plugs can fail in the following ways:
l Heater coil open circuit.
l Control coil open circuit.
l Poor earth quality.
l Short circuit to vehicle supply.
l Short circuit to vehicle earth.
l Wiring loom fault.
l Relay windings open circuit.
l Incorrect relay fitted.

In the event of a glow plug failure any of the following symptoms may be observed:
l Difficult starting.
l Excessive smoke emissions after engine start.

So u beter make sure that the "cold start system" (as Discool well named it) ... is operational before you get your engine limbed

I've never needed mine even in the depths of winter. It starts immediately without using them.

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but dont tell me it's smokeless too ... i mean if they dont work at all, cos they dont mind if u need them or not

if somebody wants to test the glowplugs effect just remove the glowplug relay and start it so in the morning... 'even in the dephts of summer'

The td5 as you know is a 5 cylinder engine but only 4 cylinders have glow plugs so it's very common if you look across many forums td5s run lumpy.in the cold for a few miles :thumbup:

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Monkey13 said:

The td5 as you know is a 5 cylinder engine but only 4 cylinders have glow plugs so it's very common if you look across many forums td5s run lumpy.in the cold for a few miles :thumbup:

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

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not if all the 4 glowplugs are working as they should... believe me, we have here -25C quite often in the winter so i know

sierrafery said:

but dont tell me it's smokeless too ... i mean if they dont work at all, cos they dont mind if u need them or not

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No smoke at all - but I take your other point.

if somebody wants to test the glowplugs effect just remove the glowplug relay and start it so in the morning... 'even in the dephts of summer'

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Might just try that later.

iansoady said:

Might just try that later.

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Did try it - no appreciable difference although I accept they're there for a purpose (and ambient today is 20 C).

Nanocom log attached (cold start, moved forwards a metre or so then idled for a little while).