Diesel cold starting problems

[Sam_68]

OK... I'll come clean: I have very little knowledge and even less interest in diesel engines and I'd rather keep it that way, thank you very much.

But...

G/F's scabby old diesel van (Peugeot partner) that she uses for running the dogs around in is showing signs of reluctance to start in cold weather. It did this before, about a year ago, and changing the glowplugs cured it, but the problem now seems to be back.

Are there any likely causes apart from glowplugs and/or how likely is it that the glowplugs themselves have failed again after such a short period of time (<12 months and about 9K miles).

[v8ian]

Could be the glowplugs, especially if you used some of the cheap nasty ones available from some well known motor Factors, then again It may be the fuse, Put a meter on the plug and get somebody to turn the ign on, and see if you get a voltage, if you dont look for the fuse, some are a piece of ally strip, which are well known for breaking due to expansion and contraction

[BB-Q]

The Peugeot diesel is notorious for poor starting if just one of the glowplugs goes down. Assuming the light is coming on and then going off, don't start it, just sit there quietly. A few seconds later you'll hear the relay audibly shut off. If that happens then you know the relay/module is working fine. The only other thing to check then is that current is actually being supplied to the plugs- takes a second with an amp clamp.
For replacements use only Bosch or NGK plugs. OK, maybe Champion as an absolute last resort.

[Ramthorne]

It may be worth looking at the size of battery, it's location in relation to the starter motor and the length of battery cable. Sometimes with vehicles primarily designed to be LHD you find the battery is located a fair distance away with little concern as to wire size.

If the poor starting is down to general wear then a few more, better supplied amps may give you some more winters without spending money.

[Steve_D]

BB-Q said:

The Peugeot diesel is notorious for poor starting if just one of the glowplugs goes down. Assuming the light is coming on and then going off, don't start it, just sit there quietly. A few seconds later you'll hear the relay audibly shut off. If that happens then you know the relay/module is working fine. The only other thing to check then is that current is actually being supplied to the plugs- takes a second with an amp clamp.
For replacements use only Bosch or NGK plugs. OK, maybe Champion as an absolute last resort.

Is it possible to feel the plugs to see which ones are getting hot, or not in this case?

Steve

[Sam_68]

Thanks guys - sounds like glowplugs are indeed the main suspects, then?

The set I fitted last time were NGK, but if just one of them failing is enough to cause a problem, I guess its not unreasonable to have had a failure so soon. It will be next weekend before I get chance to do the checks, but there are some useful pointers there!

BBQ: Useful tip about listening for the relay to click off; that's one of the components that has been mentioned when I googled the problem.

Steve: From memory, the glowplugs are pretty deeply burried on the Peugeot engine, so actually feeling to see if they are getting hot may be a non-starter (pardon the pun).

I've told the g/f to run a dose of diesel injector cleaner through the engine on the basis that it can't hurt (how much does spray pattern/fuel atomisation matter with diesels?) and I'll change the fuel filter as a matter of routine next weekend.

The other suggestion that has been turned up on Google is the possibility of a minor air leak and the suggestion that a few pumps on the priming bulb might diagnose if this is the problem.

Any other thoughts, anyone?

[Satsuma]

poor compression.