TD5 Def not starting as well in the freezing cold

RussB · Jan 17, 2012

Hi, my 2001 Defender TD5 normally starts instantly first thing in a morning with little of no heat required. Lately it's been pretty cold here (below freezing) and I'm having to turn it over for a few seconds until it starts up. It sounds like its spluttering and stuggling to fire. Once started it runs great. It's as if it's temerature related as when it's even only a couple of degrees above freezing it's fine. It's almost as if the fuel is waxing or something??? When it's really cold I wait until the heater plug lights have gone out before I try and start it to at least give it more chance. Any ideas?

DerekT · Jan 17, 2012

How good is your battery? TD5 ECU very fussy about a robust power supply when starting!

RussB · Jan 17, 2012

Thanks but not a battery issue. Starter spins over no problem.

211rob · Jan 17, 2012

could be that you only have 4 glow plugs in a 5 pot engine and they might be getting a bit tired the new td5 i used to drive at work had the preheat light on for about 1 second, but my 12 year old td5 takes about 5-6 seconds then coughs abit untill #5 warms up:suspicious:

Buckhandle · Jan 17, 2012

Four glow plugs are not issue as long as they all work. If one is bad, starting gets significantly more difficult. Test them .. It's easy.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_GENeUECyE&feature=youtube_gdata_player]2000 F250 7.3 Powerstroke Glow Plug - YouTube[/ame]

This one is fine .. If no glow .. No show ;o)

sierrafery · Jan 18, 2012

RussB said:
Thanks but not a battery issue. Starter spins over no problem.

Dont rely on that.... the starter turns and there is not enough power left for the ECU if the battery is not in the best shape(apply Kirchhoff's law

. It's the easyest test u can do...put a charger on it over night and if in the morning will still start hard u can eliminate this issue and go further to the glow plugs... be aware that the glow plug circuit 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.

Buckhandle · Jan 18, 2012

Lets see

maisyboo · Feb 9, 2012

Had exactly the same with mine, checked all the usual and it turned out to be the relay

Shifty1962 · Feb 10, 2012

Sounds normal to me. All diesels start a little slower when the weather is cold. All my TD5s have always spluttered for a second or two until No.5 catches when its below freezing.

maisyboo · Feb 10, 2012

Never knew that. Mine now starts the same in hot or cold, no splutter whatsoever, just fires up...

maybe mine is odd??? 110,000miles

teddykiller · Feb 12, 2012

180k on my TD5 2003 and fires up first turn and its been -8 round here.

Chauch · Feb 16, 2012

Mine suffers with exactly the same and even though it seemed as if it was cranking fine, a full overnight charge on the battery cured it....

Ruari · Feb 16, 2012

sierrafery said:
Dont rely on that.... the starter turns and there is not enough power left for the ECU if the battery is not in the best shape(apply Kirchhoff's law. It's the easyest test u can do...put a charger on it over night and if in the morning will still start hard u can eliminate this issue and go further to the glow plugs... be aware that the glow plug circuit 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.

I was recently having the same symptons as RussB. Coincedntly I was working on the car using spotlights to help see until batt.went dead. Charge battery and all was back to normal, even got the job I was doing finished.

wickford90 · Feb 16, 2012

RussB said:
Hi, my 2001 Defender TD5 normally starts instantly first thing in a morning with little of no heat required. Lately it's been pretty cold here (below freezing) and I'm having to turn it over for a few seconds until it starts up. It sounds like its spluttering and stuggling to fire. Once started it runs great. It's as if it's temerature related as when it's even only a couple of degrees above freezing it's fine. It's almost as if the fuel is waxing or something??? When it's really cold I wait until the heater plug lights have gone out before I try and start it to at least give it more chance. Any ideas?

My td5 90 was the same in the frost, finally after new battery cleaned earth points still no different, then the starter motor died and when i stripped it down it was full of ****, cleaned all internal bush's and made sure they all moved freely and greased it up now it starts immediately even in the sub zero temps we have had lately. Someone before me had left the very top bolt out hence the **** getting in might be worth seeing if that top bolt is there, use a torch as its a bugger to see.

TD5 Def not starting as well in the freezing cold

RussB

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DerekT

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RussB

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211rob

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Buckhandle

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sierrafery

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Buckhandle

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maisyboo

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Shifty1962

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maisyboo

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teddykiller

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Chauch

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Ruari

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wickford90

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