takes ages to start

[scotthesniper]

need some advice guys for my 406 my03

it has recently starting givin me problem starting when cold and sometimes not even starting, so today i got tore in about it. first i took the glowplugs out there fine, next i checked glowplug realy that clicking so thats fine as i metered it from the battery to glowplug one and its showing 12v at the plugs, then i metered from 1st plug to last plug and there is continuity there so all is fine can someone plz point me in the right direction from here plz.

kind regards
scot

[john170277]

have you recently changed fuel filter
could have air gettting into system

[Gary406]

you say the glow plugs are ok ? how do you know... 1st thing i would do if my diesel wasnt starting in the cold would be to put brand new ones in.... if relay is ok then its the plugs..

fit new ones and see what happens. there not expensive so its wortth fitting new ones to rule them out of problem still accures ..

[Doggy]

Being direct injection, HDi's should normally start even without glow plugs. More likely you have a lack of fuel, or the injectors aren't being 'fired'.

It would help if you told us which engine you have.

[scotthesniper]

hi guys i have the same problem where are these leak of pipes. and when i squeeze the primer bulb there is a couple bubbles in the pipe leading to the filter can anyone help

i have took all 4 glow plugs out and tested them with booster pack all 4 are working fine

i have also metered to first glow plug and thwere is 12v there and then metered from one glow plug to the last glow plug there is power there. im kinda lost now

some ppl on here are going on about a high pressure fuel pump fingers crossed its not that so plz help im at a loose end.

p.s also fitted ne battery yesterday still the same.
2.0 rapier 90bhp

regards
scot

[Gary406]

have you changed the fuel filter recently ?

[scotthesniper]

changed fuel filter at the start of july this year?

[Doggy]

You may have a very minor leak in the low pressure side, (fuel filter housing not perfectly sealed, perished pipe etc), allowing fuel to seep back to the tank. Typical symptoms:

Does it start easier if you prime it before trying to start?

Does the priming bulb go soft after being parked overnight?

Does it restart easily if it's just been running?

Your system relies on the limited suction ability of the HP pump to draw fuel up from the tank, (Bosch systems have an electric lift pump). It will only work reliably if the system is entirely leak-free. Very small leaks can allow air in, without letting a visible diesel spill out.

If all else fails, it can't do any harm to change the fuel filter again, just in case somethng's clogged it. (At least it's cheap).

[scotthesniper]

cheers doggy for the info

and no does not start easier if i prime the bulb and the bulb goes soft after a few seconds to a minute

and yes starts no bother when been running for a wee bit

[ZilogJones]

I'm having the same problem; just got it serviced this week with new fuel filter, glow plugs tested, etc. and it's still happening.

I never looked at the primer bulb thing before until this weekend - it seems to be soft after the car's been parked overnight, and sqeezing it a few times pushes a load of air through the lines. What is normally supposed to happen? But even after doing this earlier today it was still a pig to start - took 2-3 seconds of cranking, loads of white smoke, etc.

Surely the white smoke means fuel is getting to the injectors but just not burning properly?

I suspect my battery may be the original due to the amount of dust on it and numbers on it with "02" in them, but I'm not certain.

[madmadmax]

white smoke and air in the lines is a sine that you have an ait leak

[ZilogJones]

OK, how do I go about finding where it's leaking? Is it likely to be the filter housing? I have no idea how that goes together... :/