Disco cold starting

Hi , I have the same problem with my 300 tdi 1998 ES Auto with EDC , Just starting to wonder if the cold is affecting the engine oil viscosity and making it thicker and difficult to turn over ? Regards Jonathan

Mine had a new set of glowplugs ... cost 230 quid ... long story. Didn't make any difference.

Jonathan ... That's exactly what a mate of mine said. Back to the old days with an old paraffin lamp under the sump in a mornings eh?

Col

Something is not quite right guys,(unless the EDC is controlling things different)If a diesel has compressed air until it is hot,and then atomized fuel is injected in it must fire.A red hot glow plug inside just helps to initiate the burn in cold weather.
Spinning slow has got to be bad electric contact or starter motor (assuming proper oil in sump),or a duff battery.Is every connection,clean bright and tight(including battery posts)
If it is spinning but not firing (assuming glow plugs present and correct) it has got to be fuel related-remove the return line off the injection pump,fit a clear bit of tube and run into a jar or bottle-start the engine and look at what is coming from the return line-any sign of air bubbles,no matter how small need attending too,and eliminating-clear fuel only is a must.
I run high blends of bio diesel (100% when weather above 0c)Bio is not as volatile as "dino derv",but my 300 tdi 97 150,000 miles,fires up first turn of the key or something is wrong

As soon as mine spins quickly it starts instantly. That's why I don't think it's fuel.

I never thought it was glow plug related ... if the engine was spinning but not starting then maybe.

... but when mine won't start it is always because the engine turns very very slowly and then kills the battery.

I've tried jump lead from neg on battery to casing of starter. I've cleaned all the connections at battery and starter ends. I've relocated the battery earth to a clean point higher up. No good.

Several batteries. Some known good and new 690cca ones.

As I say ... I never had that starter motor done as the damper pulley is now knackered.

Once you get it going in a morning .... no matter how you get it going .... you then only have to touch the key with any of the batteries on and it starts instantly.

The guy who sold me this in August said that he had just done an oil change. Goodness knows what oil he put in.

Col

Yes mine is the same as yours Col . Once it has started I can switch it off within a minute or so and it will start straight away next time . The very cold weather - 8 °C makes the engine turn over very slowly . I have new Glow plugs , doubled the wiring to the starter , new earths,trickle charge the battery ovenight , New coolant and air temp sensors for EDC, change fuel filter every year , added cetane booster to diesel and a diesel cold weather flow improver ( anti wax agent ) . I have a 800 cca Optima red top battery aprox 5 years old.
I do notice that as the temperature drops starting gets worse . Regards Jonathan

As a check list:
1. battery, must be big enough, topped-up with distilled water, etc.
2. earth straps, from battery to chassis & chassis to block. Also all live cables, to/from battery and starter-motor.
3. alternator doesn`t seem an issue from these posts but,..
4. oil, all oils are thicker when cold, so 5w or 10w prob ok, but 20w will be un-neccessarily thick in winter.
5.fuel, make sure filters & sedimentors are drained of water.
6. glow plugs, if pre-heating twice makes a big difference they`re prob on way out.
7. starter, obiously critical but not as easy to check as others above.

P.S. Sure that`s not all but it`s a starting check-list. What have I missed.? I`ve the same symptoms. 300tdi `98 manual.

It seems 300tdi's fall into two categories, the easy cold starting type and the difficult cold starting type. I have one of each, both NON EDC.

Last month, it averaged about -5°C for about 3 weeks, dropping to -15 at night, I could start the 90 no bother every time, I did also deck the clutch as the drag from the cold gear oil is horrendous. The Disco is just a bit harder to start, always seems a bit sluggish.

90: Key in, 7 seconds on glow plug button (Bosch plugs), throttle and clutch to the floor, turn key, engine catches almost immediately (immediately when it's not as cold).

Disco: Key in, turn to glows twice (not sure what make are in - but certainly tired), throttle and clutch to the floor, a bit of sluggish engine turning, then she catches.

The Disco could do with having the earths all removed, cleaned up, and refitted.

So first on the list, glow plugs, ALWAYS buy BERU or Bosch; Bosch are OE, not only that they are probably the best you can get. The last Bosch set I bought had a specification of 5.4 seconds to full heat output (based on 11V and ambient being 0°C) even being well below 0°C will not stop these getting up to temp within probably about 6 seconds. So if you have old or poorer quality GP's and you have a glow timer relay you need to consider that one glow period might not be enough for the plug to actually get incandescent hot. I have removed old glow plugs and bench tested them and found them to get up to temperature OK but after about 15seconds, so turn the ignition off and give the glows 2 or even 3 goes, as soon as the light goes out turn the key.

Deck the clutch to reduce load on the starter motor, the cold oil in the engine is bad enough.

Deck the throttle (note: this technique will NOT work on a LUCAS injection pumps, only the bosch pump as fitted to 200 and 300tdi LR engines) this puts the Bosch pump into excess fuel and will aid starting.

Don't let go of the key till it's caught.

If the starter does little or sod all, then the aim is to get some volts and current to your starter. Cabling or battery, you work it out but if you have all of these things, the 300tdi should start.

If it has all these things and it is still a pig to start, then there is something not right.

jonathanp said:

Yes mine is the same as yours Col . Once it has started I can switch it off within a minute or so and it will start straight away next time . The very cold weather - 8 °C makes the engine turn over very slowly . I have new Glow plugs , doubled the wiring to the starter , new earths,trickle charge the battery ovenight , New coolant and air temp sensors for EDC, change fuel filter every year , added cetane booster to diesel and a diesel cold weather flow improver ( anti wax agent ) . I have a 800 cca Optima red top battery aprox 5 years old.
I do notice that as the temperature drops starting gets worse . Regards Jonathan

Click to expand...

Hi mate

If I were you given what I've just gone through in the last month ...

If you have cleaned and checked your earth and +ve connections on battery and starter ... I would get a brand new decent battery.

A 5 year old battery has done it's time and these -10c temps will be making life very hard work for a 5 year old.

Numax CXV-X 1000 Amp - Leisure Batteries - Numax Leisure Batteries

I'm not sure that gives a true 1000cca as that may be 0c rated but it will give you 800 ish at the temps we've been having so it should do you the job and it's only 66 quid. Most high street places will want 95 quid off you for a Landy battery.

I'd do that first and then that's eliminated one major problem and your 5 year old owes you nowt.

Good luck

Col