Poor cold starting

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Goldpanner

Member
Posts
35
Location
Barlestone Nuneaton, Warks. (Leicestershire actual
Hi all. Help needed,:confused: have read all posts. Two weeks ago P38 2.5 BMW motor started to have a little difficulty in starting from cold in the morning. Got worse over a few days until it was firing lumpy like it was starting on 2 cylinders, cranking for over 20/30 seconds, gradually picking up until i could let go of the ignition key and it would keep running.( thank God I have a new battery.) Rest of the day no problem, starts a dream.

Fitted 6 new Glow plugs, 2 out of 6 existing ones were Dud. Next morning no better.:(
Disconnected timed Hot start fix. Next Morning No Better:(
Fitted non-return valve in fuel line. Next morning no better.:(
Fitted New Glow Plug Control Relay unit. This morning no better.:(
Help what next????????? to do/check.:confused::confused::confused::confused:
Regards Goldpanner
 
So you've fitted new glow plugs,new control relay,fuel non return valve so it should start.
- Have you removed the hot start fix or just disconnected it?
-You should be getting enough fuel with non return valve,but have you cracked the
injectors to make sure?
-check all earth points and connections on fuel pump
-check all fuses and relays cos some work loose with vibration
-finally have you just turned it on say 2/3 times without starting it but let glow plug
light go out and then start it, if it start easy after doing this you've got crap glow plugs
and as Datatek says check you've got 12 volts at plugs when lights on
Hope this helps
 
Thanks Datatek & DM68. Have removed hot start fix from circuit, going back to original circuit from temp sender. Tried letting glow plug go out and switching back on 3/4 times, still takes a lot of cranking/firing and gradually winding up until I can let go of the ignition key.
Not cracked injectors or checked out earth/connections on fuel pump. Will do that today/tomorrow as well as checking voltage at Glow plugs. ( they are a pig to get at with the manifold attached) Removed it to replace Glow plugs.
Thanks all for your suggestions. I will leave feed back when finalised as to final fix.
Regards Goldpanner
 
Hi Goldpanner, have you replaced the flexible fuel leak off pipes between the injectors and back to the filter housing???

If not the pipe maybe cracked/leaking causing starting problems.
 
You could also try and disconnect temp sensor and see if she starts whilst disconnected
if so its knackered,actually thinking about it try that first bearing in mind all the other work you've done to it. Also check leak off pipes between injectors because they crack and split over time.
 
zzr1200 beat me to it must have been answering at same time but at least we're all of the same train of thinking.Thats the good thing about this forum everyone's experiences get passed around and usually ends up sorting the majority of problems out
 
Thanks All. Great advice, after fitting non return valve on Wednesday just watching whilst it was running I saw a few air bubbles pass through the clear fuel pipe.( suspected it was just air in the system after cutting pipe etc.- but it was 5 or 10 minutes after)
ZZR 1200, did not replace leak off pipes only pipe from air intake chamber to vacuum? switch, that was damaged. Will let you all know when sorted. Great this forum.
Thanks & Regards Goldpanner
 
Ta! DM68/rewmer Quick interim report. 12 volts at Glow plugs/ no bubbles in clear fuel pipe. Is engine temp sensor open or closed when cold?( my guess- closed to give a circuit, therefore telling ECU to light up coil indicator on dash & fuel up accordingly. Or is that too simplistic??)Where about,s is the engine temp. sensor???? can it be tested?? other than trying to start it up as that will flatten battery. Not time today to go for leak off pipes, I presume I need to remove Inlet Manifold to get at them, so will need new gaskets and pipe prior starting ( any idea of pipe size??)
 
Leak off pipes from memory 3.2 mm or there abouts if i'm wrong i'm sure someone will be along to correct me,can be bought from most motor factors by the metre or you can get it off fleabay.You should be able to replace them without removing inlet manifold.Engine temp sensor on same line as injectors more towards the rear of engine.
 
Hi,

I would test the in tank pump next - It usually causes starting problems with less than 1/4 tank if knackered - but it could do with being tested anyway - use the search to find the thread for testing the pump without dropping the tank.
 
Goldpanner said:
Ta! DM68/rewmer Quick interim report. 12 volts at Glow plugs/ no bubbles in clear fuel pipe. Is engine temp sensor open or closed when cold?( my guess- closed to give a circuit, therefore telling ECU to light up coil indicator on dash & fuel up accordingly. Or is that too simplistic??)Where about,s is the engine temp. sensor???? can it be tested?? other than trying to start it up as that will flatten battery. Not time today to go for leak off pipes, I presume I need to remove Inlet Manifold to get at them, so will need new gaskets and pipe prior starting ( any idea of pipe size??)
Click to expand...

12 volts at plugs sadly does not mean the are glowing. You would have to continuity check each plug with lead removed to see if there is a circuit through them from top terminal to earth.
 
Hi All that gave great advice. I would like to update you on the saga. ( The delay in answering is due to lack of broadband for the last fortnight due to some thieving B-----ds, dragging a 200 pair & a 400 pair cable from the BT underground duct for the copper)
After fitting 6 new glowplugs, a glowplug relay control unit & non return valve in the fuel line. Things gradually got worse as the time of standing before problem starting got shorter & shorter until it failed to start at all.
Tested voltage to glowplugs, cracked injectors to check fuel supply,checking fuel filter,air filter,removing timed hot start fix,removed performance chip, computer diagnostics showed no faults reported. Still no start.
After adding AA home start to my AA membership, calling out AA ( AA guy new his range rovers inside out). Called Relay to piggyback RR to CARWOODS diesel specialists.
There diagnostics showed no faults stored, so they suspected Diesel injector pump ( EXPENSIVE), not convinced they checked out NEW Glowplugs and guess what, 5 out of 6 had failed.
So 6 new BOSCH glowplugs later Great>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So the lesson of the story is ___ LISTEN TO ALL THE GOOD ADVICE BY LANDYZONE MEMBERS and fit OEM Glowplugs.
So I am saying sorry to the guys who straight away said Glowplug problems with other than OEM ( only they had been fitted by a Landrover mechanic who has used hundreds of them from the same supplier- maybe he got them from a different source, who knows)
To add insult to injury, the eurobox ( 09 vauxhall astra) i hired whilst RR was in dock, I bent the wing and bumper in a slight collision-Embarrassing or what.
Goldpanner
 
Goldpanner said:
Hi All that gave great advice. I would like to update you on the saga. ( The delay in answering is due to lack of broadband for the last fortnight due to some thieving B-----ds, dragging a 200 pair & a 400 pair cable from the BT underground duct for the copper)
After fitting 6 new glowplugs, a glowplug relay control unit & non return valve in the fuel line. Things gradually got worse as the time of standing before problem starting got shorter & shorter until it failed to start at all.
Tested voltage to glowplugs, cracked injectors to check fuel supply,checking fuel filter,air filter,removing timed hot start fix,removed performance chip, computer diagnostics showed no faults reported. Still no start.
After adding AA home start to my AA membership, calling out AA ( AA guy new his range rovers inside out). Called Relay to piggyback RR to CARWOODS diesel specialists.
There diagnostics showed no faults stored, so they suspected Diesel injector pump ( EXPENSIVE), not convinced they checked out NEW Glowplugs and guess what, 5 out of 6 had failed.
So 6 new BOSCH glowplugs later Great>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So the lesson of the story is ___ LISTEN TO ALL THE GOOD ADVICE BY LANDYZONE MEMBERS and fit OEM Glowplugs.
So I am saying sorry to the guys who straight away said Glowplug problems with other than OEM ( only they had been fitted by a Landrover mechanic who has used hundreds of them from the same supplier- maybe he got them from a different source, who knows)
To add insult to injury, the eurobox ( 09 vauxhall astra) i hired whilst RR was in dock, I bent the wing and bumper in a slight collision-Embarrassing or what.
Goldpanner
Click to expand...
BLOODY HELL goldpanner you are an unlucky bugger,whatever you do dont put my lottery on for me!!!!!!!!!!!glad its sorted mate.they are a fantastic motor when they run but a p i t a when they,r sick,,,,happy for you mate,,,now if you could just send a bitoluck my way,,,,cheers ....dave
 
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