406 1.9TD starting problem

[PeteCG]

Does anyone have any feedback on this? Mine seems to have developed a similar problem (also a 1.9TD).

Yesterday after putting in £40 diesel from Shell it would not start (starter motor turning but engine not firing). After 3 or 4 attempts running the starter for ~5 seconds it fired and then ran perfectly normally. This was the first time it's hiccuped, until then it started perfectly every time.

Today, it happened once in a car park in town, but fired on the second attempt.

I have had numerous perfect starts in between and since both above occurrences so hopefully not a big deal, but any suggestions? I'll have a look now for any suspect electricals or anything untoward under the bonnet.

Thanks in advance.

PeteCG

[teamster1975]

Just a thought, when were the glow plugs last changed?

[jameslxdt]

does sound like duff glow plugs

[PeteCG]

Not sure when the glow plugs were last changed, but they are very shiny NGKs so not long ago I'd guess.

I may have found the problem, the wiring running to the far left injector (I think that's what it is) had come out of the clip and was dangling near the throttle. Having put this back I've seen nothing of the problem since (following ~10 starts) so hopefully that was somehow the cause.

I'll bear that in mind though, if it re-occurs it is most likely to be the glow plugs?

Many thanks all.

PeteCG