Not starting when cold

Covy · Post by **Covy** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:05 pm

Hi there.

Firstly can I thank the members who responded to my previous query.

I'm slightly concerned as I recently lost coolant from the system whilst driving to work. Not a huge amount and I smelt it immediately and stopped straight away. the temp gauge never rose above half.

However; after finishing work I got in and had to turn it over for about thirty seconds before it would start. There was also a cloud of smoke and soot appeard at the exhaust. Since then the vehicle (2.5 td) is very difficult to start when cold and shows similar symptoms on each occasion. It does however start really well when warm (1st turn of the ignition, no smoke etc)

Anyone have any idea what the problem might be. I'm conced it's to do with compression.

Post by **g8dhe** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:14 pm

If its just when cold would it not be the Glowplugs getting a bit old, once warmed up it starts a lot easier.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 4:14 pm

When you lost coolant was the header tank empty?
Do you know why you lost coolant.
If the gauge moved from its normal 11.0 clock it was already over 110C and in the first stages of overheating.

Covy · Post by **Covy** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:07 pm

Sorry should have said. Glow plugs were replaced about a month ago. Can't say if the gauge moved past the 11 o'clock position. I don't think so. I'm fearing the worst.

Gasy · Post by **Gasy** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:35 pm

Where did coolant leak from
How did you repair it
Are you still losing coolant

You can buy a kit to test coolant (for fumes from a cracked head gasket) for a few £

Covy · Post by **Covy** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:55 pm

Coolant was leaking from a pin hole in the larger bore hose that returns the coolant to the top of the radiator

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:51 pm

Still sounds like glow plugs

Have you actually checked that power is getting to them? It's also not unknown for cheap glow plugs to fail within a month

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:36 pm

Can you answer my first question above ??

Covy · Post by **Covy** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:19 pm

Thanks Hayden.

Lost the coolant through the pin hole as described. Header tank "was not" empty.

I checked the resistance on the glow plugs and they're fine. What I didn't check was if there was any power getting to them. I'll give it a look

Covy · Post by **Covy** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 11:16 pm

Power getting to plugs.

teenmal · Post by **teenmal** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:46 am

Covy wrote:Thanks Hayden.

Lost the coolant through the pin hole as described. Header tank "was not" empty.

I checked the resistance on the glow plugs and they're fine. What I didn't check was if there was any power getting to them. I'll give it a look

Excuse me if I sound like a dobber, did you remove /disconnect the glow plug connecting rail to check the resistance of each plug.

Covy · Post by **Covy** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 2:59 pm

I'm the dobber!!! I didn't dusconnect the rail from the plugs before testing.

teenmal · Post by **teenmal** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 3:36 pm

As a quick check I usually just put a meter across the battery switch the ignition on (making sure every ignition controlled doofer is switched off) and look for approx. .4/.5 of a volt drop..

al & chris · Post by **al & chris** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:15 pm

,Glow plugs . Be careful when changing as I managed to shear two of ours

Diplomat · Post by **Diplomat** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:35 pm

teenmal wrote:
Excuse me if I sound like a dobber, did you remove /disconnect the glow plug connecting rail to check the resistance of each plug.

Covy wrote:I'm the dobber!!! I didn't dusconnect the rail from the plugs before testing.

It's quite an education looking up 'dobber' on the online Urban Dictionary.

I particularly enjoyed the entry: '... they even have t*ts on there (sic) backs as there (sic) so fat'.

And that was just part of one of the definitions. No mention of counterintuitive Bongo owners!

Frank

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