TD4 starting in mild conditions

Scottcaz · Oct 22, 2017

Hi folks

I have a 2004 TD4 and when the engine is cold and weather frosty or cold etc it starts no problem at all

If the engine is warm and the weather mild or warm then again the engine starts no problem

Issue is - when the engine is cold and the weather is milder or warm then it struggles to start without a lot of cranking. It's as if there is some sort of temperature sensor telling the engine not to start or stopping sending through the fuel or.........any ideas would be very helpful

PS it has brand new glow plugs fitted and runs really well otherwise.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

guineafowl21 · Oct 22, 2017

This is an odd one, and you might find yourself swapping parts for ages and spending loads of money. Best course of action would be a diagnostic check.

That said, I’d be checking (physically) the air intake temp sensor (remove and clean), coolant temp sensor, and cam sensor - at least that the connectors are tight and clean.

Also check fuel rail pressure sensor plug. A cold engine and warm weather means condensation on the wiring, so a can of contact cleaner and a few hours of patient cleaning might be in order.

Scottcaz · Oct 22, 2017

Hi thanks for response

Had a diagnostic check, everything was clear ( at the times checked )

When I fitted glow plugs everything is spotless and clean

Must be a sensor

Nodge68 · Oct 23, 2017

Put a quality injector cleaner in the fuel. Comma Diesel Magic is one of the best, readily available cleaners. Bad starting when the glow plugs aren't being used, is often down to bad fuel atomization from dirty injectors.

pardec · Oct 23, 2017

what he said

Scottcaz · Oct 23, 2017

Nodge68 said:
Put a quality injector cleaner in the fuel. Comma Diesel Magic is one of the best, readily available cleaners. Bad starting when the glow plugs aren't being used, is often down to bad fuel atomization from dirty injectors.

Thanks for that. The car was in and had one of those terraclean things too

#baffled

Nodge68 · Oct 23, 2017

Scottcaz said:
Thanks for that. The car was in and had one of those terraclean things too

#baffled

I personally don't think Terraclean is worth the money, but it should clean the fuel system.
So it's sluggish to start when not using the plugs. This could be the MAF, assuming it's not dirty injectors. How long does it acutely take to start? Are we talking minutes of cranking or just a few seconds before it starts?

Scottcaz · Oct 25, 2017

Hi guys. Engine runs sweet. Cold weather cold engine starts on the button. Hot engine hot ( ok it's Scotland ) weather starts on button. Cold engine mild / warm turns over a few times to start along with white smoke

Runs really well at all times no missing or any sort of probs

Nodge68 · Oct 26, 2017

As long is it starts within 5 to 10 seconds of cranking, then there's nothing wrong with the engine imo. However it does sound like you could have a leaking injector, hence the white smoke.
Put a for fuel treatments through it and see if it improves.

TD4 starting in mild conditions

Scottcaz

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