Car pulsing on cold start up.
Discussion
Daniel1 said:
does it sound like its trying to stall and then over correcting itself?
Pretty much, yes.A google search has people guessing at the idle air control valve on other modelled cars.
I thought i'd ask on here before taking it to the garage and them doing something that is an easy fix.
Edit - beaten to it.
I take it you've emptied a bottle of diesel injector cleaner through it?
CharlieHotel said:
he just said it could be anything. We would have to run diagnostics on it.
Because deducing the root cause of a problem these days is a lost art to main dealers, they are utterly reliant on the computer diagnostics and are stubborn even in the face of obvious evidence to the contrary.I take it you've emptied a bottle of diesel injector cleaner through it?
Edited by masermartin on Tuesday 25th October 16:04
CharlieHotel said:
Sorry again. It's a diesel yes.
Just read on stdrivers.co.uk that it more than likely is the injectors
Can't believe it.
If it's only from cold and only for a short period, it's probably just a glowplug not working (or the regulator/sensor not realising the engine is cold). Just read on stdrivers.co.uk that it more than likely is the injectors

Can't believe it.
That's why I asked about it kicking-out vapour (unburned diesel - basically) - it's the obvious sign...
Injector problems would affect more than just a cold start surely?
No smoke that i've noticed. I will check when it does next do it. It has happened 3 times now, today me noticing that the revs were going up and down on the dials.
I have put a can of BG244 in about 2 months ago. Will put another can in when I fill up in 2 days time.
Can't believe how much bad luck I am having since I bought it.
I have put a can of BG244 in about 2 months ago. Will put another can in when I fill up in 2 days time.
Can't believe how much bad luck I am having since I bought it.
Modern diesels are a LOT more work than their older, smokier counterparts for sure...
If it is a glowplug, it's worth getting it fixed sooner rather than later as throwing unburned fuel into the exhaust can cause allsorts of problems.
It's more like a cloud of haze than smoke - it's easy to miss as it disappears pretty quickly...
If it is a glowplug, it's worth getting it fixed sooner rather than later as throwing unburned fuel into the exhaust can cause allsorts of problems.
It's more like a cloud of haze than smoke - it's easy to miss as it disappears pretty quickly...
Thanks for the help John.
I shall monitor it over the next couple days. Hopefully won't have any smoke out the exhaust.
Friday I will take it to a garage for them to give it a look over. Hopefully glowplugs will be the fix as i'm sure they would be cheaper than injectors at a cost of £600 upwards.
I shall monitor it over the next couple days. Hopefully won't have any smoke out the exhaust.
Friday I will take it to a garage for them to give it a look over. Hopefully glowplugs will be the fix as i'm sure they would be cheaper than injectors at a cost of £600 upwards.
Idle stabilisation when cold can be many things. As simple as a temperature sensor or sender not communicating with the ECU or even the ECU itself may have developed a fault and it is hunting for a stable idle. Nort sure if diesels even have an idle speed control valve but if they do, it could be that.
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Beware how you approach a dealer about stuff like this - they have a set routine of diagnostics (which cost you money) and a set approach to replacing all the possible suspects IF the diagnostics don't point to one particular item.
Often, you may have more luck/spend less money talking to a specialist auto electrician (as it's almost certainly an electrical-related problem). A good one will solve problems with a mix of experience and common-sense - wheras the dealer just follows the "how to make money out of the customer" checklist...
Obviously you have to find a good one - I know one in NE England but that's not much use to you
Often, you may have more luck/spend less money talking to a specialist auto electrician (as it's almost certainly an electrical-related problem). A good one will solve problems with a mix of experience and common-sense - wheras the dealer just follows the "how to make money out of the customer" checklist...
Obviously you have to find a good one - I know one in NE England but that's not much use to you

Idle stabilisation when cold can be many things. As simple as a temperature sensor or sender not communicating with the ECU or even the ECU itself may have developed a fault and it is hunting for a stable idle. Nort sure if diesels even have an idle speed control valve but if they do, it could be that.
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I got around to mentioning this to a mate of mine and his first response was 'injectors'.
They're a known weakpoint on that model (apparently) - for them to need replacing the Ford diagnostics would have to report incorrect fuel pressures tho - and it may not do so until the car starts to run rougher (and possibly even triggers limp mode and the EWL).
They're a known weakpoint on that model (apparently) - for them to need replacing the Ford diagnostics would have to report incorrect fuel pressures tho - and it may not do so until the car starts to run rougher (and possibly even triggers limp mode and the EWL).
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