mick the builder

Well-Known Member
Its always been on the button with a bit of heat when cold or damp and without this time of year but lately on the first turn i let go of the key as i think its going the fire but it dosent. It then turns over for at least 5 sec. before it fires. Anyone got any pointers for me. Its a 200tdi, glow plugs a year old and injectors overhauled 6 months ago. Fuel pump maybe?
 
Glow plugs is my feeling too, you can test them, with a good 12V battery, best is from the vehicles battery, they should glow red hot at the tip within two seconds and after about eight seconds at least 6-8mm of the tip should now glow.
 
Used heat today and started instantly. Its strange because up until now ive needed no heat. Also, why does it not straight away after failing to start the first time? If it were petrol, id say that id flooded it but this dosent happen in a diesel, does it?
 
The only other thing I can think is to remind you not to touch the accelerator before the engine gets going as this will reset the cold start mechanism and make it not work and therefore harder to start - (but sorry, i guess this is teaching granny to suck eggs! )...

but sticking Cetane booster in helps it start on first turn every time.
Millers Oils Diesel Sport plus4 cetane booster...

Could be one of several problems:

Dead glow plugs: is the fuse intact and are the plugs drawing current
  • Low compression due to worn rings / bores (once the oil has circulated the rings seal better
  • Worn valves (low compression again)
  • Lift pump (actually I'd look at that first)

Also check your earths - speshully the engine to battery
 
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Cheers guys, I never touch gas peddle until engine fires ( always had petrol motors) although i didnt know why i did it in a diesel, i do now:D. Ive just gone over all my earths and tightened them up due to lights problem. Now sorted. Valves and rings..........dont even want to think about that one. Leak of pipes, could be.Ill have to check them out.
Cheers again.
 
id go for a look at the leakoffs, has similar on the 300tdi a few weeks ago, then a leakoff split completly, so I had to change em, problem now gone :)
 
id go for a look at the leakoffs, has similar on the 300tdi a few weeks ago, then a leakoff split completly, so I had to change em, problem now gone :)
Gonna do that today Tim. May as well fit new pipes while im there.
Still dont understand why it fails to start at first but then takes a good few turns to start and then runs fine? Is it fuel starvation maybe due to leak off pipes?
 
I figured it wasnt getting full injector pressure due to the air, might be wrong, but it was the exact sane symptoms as yours, although just before one went completly, if it had been stood for aocuple of hours it did the same.
Think mine went, as did a small bit of pie further down with Bio deisel, the originals were rubber, bio kills it :)
 

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