starting problems and white smoke

[mada2607]

hi guys got a bit of a problem, i have a 98 1.9 td lx, when trying to start it , it seems to struggle but its not a knackered battery problem as i have tested for this. it has done it before but nowhere near as bad. sometimes taking 10 - 20 seconds to start and when it does go it kicks out loads of white smoke looks like steam but has a funny smell to it (thought it would be black if it was diesel) at the moment it does have a leaky rad but i have a new one to fit and i keep it topped up with water at all times.

could it be excess air getting into the fuel system?

anyone got any ideas, i had a quick scan on here but all i found was HDI's with problems.

would it help if i could get a video of it ??

ps seems to start fine when its warm

[steve_earwig]

Glow plugs?

[barryj75]

sounds like its starting on cold diesel mine was the same in the winter changed glow plugs problem solved

[mada2607]

cheers guys, i did try the old triple heat trick but i got nowhere with it, so maybe its more than one gone. could there be any problems with the injectors? and is there an easy way to test if it could be those?

[barryj75]

have you taken the heater plugs out and tested them with a live feed? see if the glow orange. on the hdi engines the plugs dont heat up until engine is cranked unlike old td where you had to wait until warnig light goes out

[jasper5]

You don't need to take out the glow plugs to test them.
Firstly, test the whole circuit by connecting a test lamp or multimeter from the earth to any of the glow plug wires, turn on the ignition and the test lamp should light up for several seconds or 12 volts should be showing.
If the circuit is working, take off the wires from all of the glow plugs, then connect the test lamp to battery live and touch each glow plug end in turn with the other test lamp/meter wire....if the lamp lights up/meter shows voltage, the plug is fine.