plume of black smoke

[damongrounsell]

Hi my 1.6td jx has starting difficulties as well as producing a healthy blast of thick black smoke right at the start. Then it settles down and is fine. what could be causing the starting difficulties. Turns over, but doesn't fire up for about 5-7 seconds then gradually fires into life all the time suffocating the local wildlife. Once shes in action she purrs like a tiger. Well maybe not.
heres my ideas, which should I try first

glow plugs
compression low from engine wear. But she started fine in summer with out even allowing time for glow plugs to work. How I tested compression intially.
head gasket failing, small insolvable water leak suggests this but would it effect the starting
terminal cyclinder head issues

any further light and knowledge would be good.

[Cafnod]

Hi
Firstly may I say how lucky you are to live there, I used to sail with friends out of Kirkcudbright.
Right the black smoke is unburned fuel. There are seveeral possibilities, I will list them in order of what I would check first
1 At least one glow plug is faulty. Very likely if she started OK in warmer weather.
2 Injector or injector pump issues, sorry too numerous to list here but it could be a worn pump or injector nozzles dribbling
3 Bore wesr. Unlikely as once running she is fine.
4 Head gasket but again if she has plenty of power I would be disinclined to go there yet, although there is a possibility that the starting issue is an early sign.
What I would do.
1 Check the glow plugs are actually working, not forgetting the strip fuse in the relay box at the rear of the engine bay on the curbside.
2 If power is getting too them then inspect and replace, if you buy a set from the factors, dont open the packet and yours are ok they can be returned and you will get refunded.
3 Compression test, you can often do this through the glow plug apertures so if you can beg/borrow/hire/steal one for an hour then that can be done at the same time.
If 1 or 2 dont work and the compression test is good then it gets more expensive, remove injectors and take them to a fuel injection specialist and ask them to be tested, that will show if there is an issue with the nozzles. I wouldnt have thought it was anything else like a broken spring as that would show up when running.
Lastly do you have the pump advance cable connected, it looks like a choke pull on the dashboard, this is a useful winter/cold weather starting aid and may help enormously.
Beyond that it gets a bit complex and expensive for a forum post to deal with please let us know how you get on,
HTH
Richard

[damongrounsell]

thanks cafnod, yes the landscape up here is fantastic, we live 2 miles from kirkcudbright and do a little sailing out of carrick bay. we moved from sheffield and its a great life.
your answer was comprehensive and invaluable.
I know its not a choke, but what effect does this timing pull thingy have. the one on my engine seems to make no difference what-so- ever to the sound feel or startingt abilities of the van. This last question is up for anyone to answer. how could I check its connected correct becase it feels very slack as if it doesn't do anything.
thanks damon

[Cafnod]

The cable should run to the injector pump and its purpose is to advance the timing to make starting easier in cold weather or cold climates.
Easiest way to check if it is working is to get someone to actuate the cable and observe injector pump whilst they do so.
In all honesty my money is on it being a glow plug issue, I have done lots of work on the older BMC/Leyland indirect injection engines, which is the type we have in the VWs and they are a total pig to start in the cold unless the glow plugs are sorted.
Did my masters at Sheffield, lived there off and on for about five years but was in Yorkshire for ten years altogether.
T'Onion lives in Sheffield BTW
Hope you get sorted if you need any more advice thats not easily answered on the forum ring me my numbers are in the help section of the members area.
Regards

Richard