1.6TD Diificult to start when cold - fine after warm up

Post by **Swampy** » 07 Oct 2008, 21:54

Evening all.

Got a peculiar question from an absolute novice, here.

Engine: 1.6TD

Recently developed this.
It's become really difficult to start from cold.

After I let the glow plugs warm up (cold start device out as usual) the starter motor simply keeps turning & does not fire up. Starter motor turning as quickly as it ever does.

After my 3rd turn of the key & pumping on the accelerator do I start to see a few wisps of smoke, the van finally fires up & a huge cloud of blue/grey smoke belches out from the exhaust.

I then drive away from the cloud as fast as possible, looking the other way...

After that, the van runs as sweet as ever.
Once the van's warmed up, it's no trouble to start as normal. This has only developed recently & only occurs when starting from cold.

I've not had chance to change the fuel filter, but have drained it & I can confirm that fuel appears to be getting to the engine.

Someone mentioned the Glow plugs may be on their way out, but I honestly don't know.

I've managed to dig out a spare fuel filter & will change that anyway, as I don't know when the last one was changed, but is there any point in also replacing the glow plugs?

Just wondered if anyone's come across this before.

Post by **Rozzo** » 07 Oct 2008, 22:25

it'll be the glowplugs.
the big cloud of smoke is the fuel thats filled the cylinders as you churn it so its getting plenty.
put a set of glowplugs in and normal service will be resumed i reckon

Post by **Dave W** » 09 Oct 2008, 08:48

I had exactly the same problem. New glow plugs sorted it. Now starts like a good un ,with no embarrassing clouds of smoke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **Swampy** » 09 Oct 2008, 19:14

Blimey, that's not a job I want to do again in a hurry.

Why do they make such an apparently simple job be so fiddly by placing the glow plugs in such an awkward spot?...

You were totally correct: Replaced all 4 glow plugs last night & she's starting as sweet as she ever did.

Must admit they must have been in there a while. One had rusted solid to that bus bar that goes across the plugs. (Had fun getting that one off...)

Thanks Guys. I was starting to look like Coco the Clown starting his motor.

Post by **HarryMann** » 09 Oct 2008, 22:22

Why do they make such an apparently simple job be so fiddly by placing the glow plugs in such an awkward spot?...

Because they have to be exactly where they have to be! It's all the other 'clutter' like the pump and hoses and stuff that's the problem, not where the gl;os are...

Anyway, think you did really well getting them changed in one night, must have stuck at it! How many of those wee nuts did you drop down behind the pump

Post by **Swampy** » 09 Oct 2008, 22:32

Lots... My language was foul towards the end!

Luckily I've got one of those little magnets on the end of an old aerial-type things that comes in really handy when you're trying to fish out tiny little nuts from impossible places.

I hope I don't have to do that too often. As I said, though, I think the last set must have been in there for a few years to get that rusty on top.

Post by **HarryMann** » 09 Oct 2008, 22:53

I hope I don't have to do that too often.

Nah, that should be it for a few years... a real joy to get in and start up in the morning now, eh!

I think we can all be excused a bit of 'language' doing them tuckers; trouble is my neighbour is often just over the fence, or a mother & young children walking by just at the wrong moment. I think they think I have a permanent scowl and plain bad temperament

esp. as mine's a Syncro Doka and much higher and hurts my (old & bent) back to lean right over it into engine bay for long. If a use a Reimo step (essential for starter motor etc.), I often slip off at a critical phase and 'do' my shins on the tow-bar... more scowls andmore language

Post by **Swampy** » 10 Oct 2008, 13:20

I often slip off at a critical phase and 'do' my shins on the tow-bar... more scowls andmore language

And my Pa-In-Law always keeps going on about how easy these things are to work on...

There's a thought, I've always started the Van using the Cold-Start device from cold, because it'd smoke a bit on start up otherwise. I even did it during summer etc if the Van hadn't been started for a while.

Am I better off not doing this anymore, or am I still better off using it?

Post by **peasant** » 10 Oct 2008, 13:35

Using the "cold start" device makes starting a cold (i.e. not warmed-up) engine easier every time ...regardless of outside temperature.

Just keep using it, now that you have the habit.

Post by **HarryMann** » 10 Oct 2008, 16:13

I don't have one and therefore never use one on 1.9TD, think if compressions are good and glows are good they just start and settle down within a second or two in summer.

And my Pa-In-Law always keeps going on about how easy these things are to work on...

Isn't that annoying, I get it from 50% of passers by who stop to ask.. 'Still working on that then, what's it this time?' Arhhhh!

And the other one is '... pottering about on that old van again?'

My reply sometimes includes a statement that pottering sort of implies wasting time or even that you're a complete amateur... the former possibly holding a degree of truth!