cold start problems on my HDi

[jamie69]

firstly, im new to this so id like to say hello... Hello. I purchased my car summer last year, as soon as winter came, it wouldnt start and battery went flat. I noticed the coil light on the dash only comes on for 1 second if at all. I checked the glow plugs which are fine, then had the timer changed, still no luck, so i had a manual switch fitted to hold on. This was ok for a few weeks but now its gone flat again. I have a new battery and an oil change on the way but other then that im unsure. Coolant sensor maybe? Please help. Its S reg so 1998

[Doggy]

Hi Jamie & welcome to the forum.

I notice your car is an 'S' reg. 1998 - Are you sure it's an HDi? (This is important as the glow plug indication is very different on the later common rail, (HDi), engines as opposed to the earlier XUD mechanical injection, indirect injection engine).

Easiest way to tell is the engine size - 1905cc or 2088cc = XUD 2000cc = HDi

[jamie69]

hi. thanks
the logbook says it is a GLX HDI 110bhp 1997cc
thanks

[jamjar1383]

hi jamie, welcome to the forum, glad u managed to find it from the tdoc those guys know there stuff but these guys here really know the 406.

so what stuff have u changed and can u add any more symtoms???
when was the fuel filter last changed?
when u say u had the glow plugs checked were they changed?
also i have fixed a similer prob on a c5 hdi turned out it was just a dirty connection on the glow plug wire so maybie it might be worth cleaning all the glowplug conections

[jamie69]

hi jamie, welcome to the forum, glad u managed to find it from the tdoc those guys know there stuff but these guys here really know the 406.

so what stuff have u changed and can u add any more symtoms???
when was the fuel filter last changed?
when u say u had the glow plugs checked were they changed?
also i have fixed a similer prob on a c5 hdi turned out it was just a dirty connection on the glow plug wire so maybie it might be worth cleaning all the glowplug conections

thanks
i purchased new glow plugs but the old ones were fine so i sold the new ones.
at the moment all im doing is recharging the battery when it goes flat from tring to start at 530am
all i have on the way is new battery and oil and oil filter which will all be done this weekend.
i will clean the connections at the same time
the temperature gauge never seems to go over quater on the dial
i did noticw that there was a black wax, burnt plastic maybe, on top of the engine near one of the glow plugs. i dont no what it is n how it got there though.

[pat]

That black wax could indicate a leaking injector washer (copper washer between injector and cylinder head). Is the black wax around one of the injectors? This black wax are residues coming out of the cylinder, I saw this more than once.

It is very hard to find the root cause for a bad starting HDI engine without specific information, but in most cases the fault is in the fuel system (for example worn HP pump or bad injector). You can let a dealer read out the fuel pressure during cranking by hooking it to the computer. If the fuel pressure is too low (must be around 300 bars), you have to dive deeper into this system: check tank fuel pump pressure and flow, check back flow of injectors, check pressure regulator on HP-pump or swap HP-pump with a good one (if you can lend a good one from someone).
I had a bad starting HDI because of a bad injector (backflow was ok, but injector was leaking to the high pressure side).

If the fuel pressure is ok, it will rule out the fuel system. If it's not the fuel system, it could be the crankshaft or camshaft position sensor or the speed sensor. Alsp the starter motor can cause a bad starting engine when the engine speed is not high enough during starting.

Good luck with your search!

[Doggy]

I agree with Pat's views on this.

If everything else is OK, I would expect an HDi to start without the glow plugs - I never wait for the light, just turn the key straight away & it fires after perhaps 2 seconds regardless of temerature, (at least down to -8 this winter).

[jamjar1383]

I agree with Pat's views on this.

If everything else is OK, I would expect an HDi to start without the glow plugs - I never wait for the light, just turn the key straight away & it fires after perhaps 2 seconds regardless of temerature, (at least down to -8 this winter).

just coz the light isnt on doesnt mean the glow plugs arnt doing ther job ALL diesel engines need glow plugs to start you would have a tough tim getting a hdi to start without them, the c5 i did needed easy start to get it going because the glow plugs wernt working because of a crappy conection.

i think pat's right too this need further investagtion.

[lozz]

Ive always just jumped in the car turned the key idont wait for Glow plugs,
Maybe some Hdis work differntly,
Sometimes iforget its a Derv it fires up as Quick as a petrol motor

[tadunce]

I don't know what temperature was where u live, but if there are summer-time diesel in your diesel tank and here will be about -10oC temperature, it won't start. Have u ever seen summer-time diesel is such temperature? Its like gel. I don't know if u have arctic class diesel in your petrol stations, but we have and it is useful til -32oC temperature.
And if there was such temperature (-10), change your diesel filter. It is recommended if you get "frozen" with your diesel.

If it would be glow plugs, when the engine starts you would be able to see some white smoke out of your muffler and engine would work like one or two cylinders don't work for a few seconds.

But as the mates said common rail engines can start almost without heating plugs.

[jamie69]

wow great response. Arctic diesel? Great invention i will get hold of a new filter and try and get a copper washer for the injector, as this is where i have a problem with the wax around it. I will report my findings at weekend. I dont really want to go to a garage unless im certain its the fuel system, i have been ripped off enough as it is

[tadunce]

I understand you don't have such a thing, like arctic diesel in your country

Petrol stations must have it when the temperature goes low in our country. It is the great invention Everyone would stop without it here..

[jamie69]

-3 at 530 in the morning is bad enough for me. What and where is the HP pump? High pressure? Doesnt a diesel fuel system need bleed if messing about with the fuel side of things?

[tadunce]

yes, high pressure fuel pump. it is under bonnet, the belt is on it.

Bleed - does it means take the air out of the system?

[Gary406]

Hi Jamie & welcome to the forum.

I notice your car is an 'S' reg. 1998 - Are you sure it's an HDi? (This is important as the glow plug indication is very different on the later common rail, (HDi), engines as opposed to the earlier XUD mechanical injection, indirect injection engine).

Easiest way to tell is the engine size - 1905cc or 2088cc = XUD 2000cc = HDi

thats the 2nd S reg HDi ive heard about in 3 weeks
my front fogs came from a 1998 S 2.0 Hdi. it was HDI i saw engine ..