starting my 406 hdi - how to in the cold??

[pugnut]

What's the cranking speed like?

I would estimate its two cranks per second or there abouts.

The Missus' squashcourt (2.0 dCi) sounds like its delivering 4-6 cranks a second.

Tired starter perhaps?

[Archangel]

My experience was that my car would start much more easily 1st thing if you put your foot down on the accellerator whilst trying to start it.
Try this.
Also my car would get very upset if you didn't let it warm up properly (10 mins or so) before turning it off and restarting again.

I has that as well,yet the 306 started first time, glowplugs 1 cycle .. pure bio-diesel (no fossil diesel for anti-waxing), the oldest battery of the two and had
to pump the accelerator to start it .............. go figure as the boys over the would say

I was using it to jumpstart the 406 as I realised that the glowplugs prob required replacing due to starting difficulties during the -5/-6 days we been having in my neck of the woods ( relatively warm compared to Scotland and Northeast )
not HDi but XUD engines (does that make a difference ?? )

[rwb]

This morning was bad.
-11 according to the display. Forecast had -13. It had been standing since Friday evening.
The gear lever felt stiff (I leave it parked in gear, so the first thing I do is knock it into neutral and give it a waggle (like starting a David Brown)).
The glow plug light stayed on for what seemed like ages -- as long as an XUD.
Got two very slow cranks (out of my brand new battery) then I gave up and tried again with two more very slow cranks and surprisingly it fired.
Pedals, steering, everything felt stiff, but off I went.
Massive thick patches of ice on the otherwise slippery roads, so I got it warmed up then abandoned my journey and went back home.

[sirwiggum]

Trouble starting my HDi in the cold recently.

-11 in Belfast.

Got in, wiggled the gearstick as I too park in gear (as the handbrake is crap and don't leave it on lest it freezes).

Glowplug light, as rwb, stayed on for an XUD type time.

Cranked, it just turned and turned.
Reminded me of the seperate time before the summer that air was getting into the fuel filter.

Cranked again, turned and turned, tried to start but cut out immediately.

Cranked again, pumped the accelerator, turned and turned and started eventually. Held the revs up at 2000 for a couple of seconds, then let it idle. Let it sit for a couple of minutes while I cleared the windows, and it drove to work no problem.

[adamr8965]

I've been having problems starting my xud engine, battery fired it off first time, in -14c frost so thick i couldnt open the doors without using both hands to open. Then misses drove to the shops. When to start it again nothing, wouldnt even turn over. Had this problem before in cold weather. I have put it down the a dead cell in the battery. £65 lighter will try it tomorrow morning, -8c outside at 5.45pm.

There's nothing wrong with the alternator so it must be battery related?

Will post an update.

[Busman]

Mines done 11 years and 220,000 miles on its original glow pugs and starts fine at -10. 30,000 does sound odd.

[jasper5]

Having had problems starting my Expert van HDi in these very low temperatures, I've concluded that there isn't anything I can do except turn on the glow plugs 3 or 4 times and keep cranking until it fires, of course this takes a healthy battery to cope with that.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with my van.

[moodybluetwo]

The other day when we finished work at 3.00am it was -14 C.....this was on three different cars....mine starts fine every time..but does sound louder until it warms up.

[FarmerPug]

same as mine, strangely it started easier at -14 than -5

[pug]

Any updates on these problems as i have similar symtoms?

[sirwiggum]

Mine taking couple of turns to start in anything less than about 1 degree.

Those -15 degree mornings just over a month ago seemed to be the worst that the temperature ever got. It did eventually start though even at that.

Never did replace the battery, it is running happily enough.

My da had issues starting his diesel Nissan Navara work van/4x4. Got himself a new battery for that.