This fookin heap!! help

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Flex

Flex

New Member
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155
Our 300tdi is playing silly games when starting or should I say not starting :mad:

It starts fine on normal days. But whenever it's cold as in the last few weeks it doesn't take much turning over to not start and drain the battery.

The battery is a fairly new one (within 6 months).

Will start instantly from a jump from another car, picks when it wants to start with the battery booster but once going will start all day long on it's own.

Any ideas? I'm still a n00b to these things so any help an tips are very welcome (and much needed)
 
Flex said:
Our 300tdi is playing silly games when starting or should I say not starting :mad:

It starts fine on normal days. But whenever it's cold as in the last few weeks it doesn't take much turning over to not start and drain the battery.

The battery is a fairly new one (within 6 months).

Will start instantly from a jump from another car, picks when it wants to start with the battery booster but once going will start all day long on it's own.

Any ideas? I'm still a n00b to these things so any help an tips are very welcome (and much needed)
Click to expand...

Have you ever cleaned the two chassis connections on the two engine earth straps, if not worth doing.
Undo each in turn, clean contact surfaces to bright metal, coat with vaseline and re-assemble.
 
nicedayforit said:
Have you ever cleaned the two chassis connections on the two engine earth straps, if not worth doing.
Undo each in turn, clean contact surfaces to bright metal, coat with vaseline and re-assemble.
Click to expand...

I dunno where to look for'em :confused:
 
Flex said:
I dunno where to look for'em :confused:
Click to expand...
You've not done them then.

First one. Follow black earth cable down from battery -ve terminal to where it is bolted onto chassis next to bottom of radiator on the off side. The connection you want is the one that bolts the cable to the chassis.
Second one. This goes from the nearside chassis leg, next to the engine mounting to a mounting bolt on the starter. The connection you want is again the one that bolts onto the chassis.
The one onto the starter bolt usually isn't a problem.
While you're at it you could also clean your battery terminals and clamps same way.
Hope this helps.
 
Agree with the earth-point checks and removal/clean-up/replacement as 'a good thing' .. ;

When it's really cold, and I sometimes start-up at 5am, I let the glow plugs run a couple or three times, turn all stuff off, no fan, radio, lights, whatever, press the clutch and then start.

My theory being that not only are you turning the motor over, but you turn the clutch too and while it's not a large mass, I reckon everything helps. ;)
 
Paul D said:
Agree with the earth-point checks and removal/clean-up/replacement as 'a good thing' .. ;

When it's really cold, and I sometimes start-up at 5am, I let the glow plugs run a couple or three times, turn all stuff off, no fan, radio, lights, whatever, press the clutch and then start.

My theory being that not only are you turning the motor over, but you turn the clutch too and while it's not a large mass, I reckon everything helps. ;)
Click to expand...

Aye, I do all of that anyway. Everything off and clutch in, I've even been out again tonight to give it another attempt. Did the glow plugs four times in a row -(when doing this I only ever let the light go out and do it again, I've sat before waiting after the lights gone out for the click I've heard other diesels do but never heard it)
Turns over fine for ten seconds but no go, left it a couple of minutes on the battery booster again and tried again to get the same result but a slower turnover :(

Will give the earth leads a quick scan and scrub tommorow and see how things go. Not too hopeful though to be honest.
 
redhand said:
keep your foot off the accelerator until it's starts and remove a glow plug to make sure they're working properly
Click to expand...

Aye, I'll have to check them as well. As for the accelerator I never press it anyway. Got used to driving Fords that get confused if you press it when trying to start it. Never really understood why people do that?

Just to add, there doesn't seem to be any kind of 'fight' in my lift pump lever either.
 
Flex said:
Aye, I'll have to check them as well. As for the accelerator I never press it anyway. Got used to driving Fords that get confused if you press it when trying to start it. Never really understood why people do that?

Just to add, there doesn't seem to be any kind of 'fight' in my lift pump lever either.
Click to expand...

depends on the carb yu got - on my Ford - it has a Holley and that needs a couple of pumps of the throttle to inject a couple of squirts of neat fuel into the intake manifold to richen the mixture at startup.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
depends on the carb yu got - on my Ford - it has a Holley and that needs a couple of pumps of the throttle to inject a couple of squirts of neat fuel into the intake manifold to richen the mixture at startup.
Click to expand...

Ah, no I'm talking Fiesta RS1800 so no carbs, just injection and gadgety chips. What you got out of interest?

I take it if it does come down to earth wiring then I'm going to need another new battery? :doh:
 
Still no luck. I'm pretty fooked now, don't know anyone with a battery charger or anyone that can come and give me a jump start. Makes things harder now it's bloody snowed :frusty:

Just to add to the list, Checked the glow plugs and I can hold them in my hand - they're fooked an'all. I heard the relay click though so it can't be that.

Anyone near kendal wanna come give me a jump start or lend me a battery charger? :(
 
Last edited:
lerk said:
I'd drop a tester on the plug, just to check you've got 12v there...
Click to expand...

I don't have a tester, well I did but the kids got to it and now its missing in action :mad:

Well just to add, it did the exact same thing last winter when it was cold. And a brand new fully charged battery solved it. There was no issue all the rest of the year right up until it's got cold again.
 
Flex said:
I don't have a tester, well I did but the kids got to it and now its missing in action :mad:

Well just to add, it did the exact same thing last winter when it was cold. And a brand new fully charged battery solved it. There was no issue all the rest of the year right up until it's got cold again.
Click to expand...

Spare bulb and two bits of wire then, just cos the relay's clicking doesn't automatically mean you'll have voltage at the plugs...

Owt'll do as long as it proves you've got power there!
 
Right I'm going to put it down to a need of an oil change or a fookered battery! Battery is going to be the first point of call as at the minute it is the easiest!

Next ..........I dunno, but I'd be quite happy to spend christmas with a baseball bat in hand within close proximity of my disco at the minute!!
 
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