RikWilson

RikWilson

New Member
Took a while to start up this morning. Thought it wasn't going to start. It's a 300tdi 90. Eventually kicks in after keeping key held for about ten seconds. I wait for glow plug light to go out. Is there anything I can do? Checked everything. Was recently serviced. Any ideas appreciated.

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Is that a symptom? They easy to fit? Never worked on a car before. Replaced clutch master cylinder so glow plugs should be easier than that?

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I wonder how many other threads like this there will be?

Yes, sounds like glow plugs but could be a few other things, given that you say you checked everything but yet it still struggled to start. Battery and battery leads/earth connections are another favourite to pack in during winter.
 
Had this problem in the last few days with the cold snap

Mine was down to poor earth - started just fine with jump lead from negative battery terminal to engine block

Very easy to check I would advise trying this first before replacing anything
 
Charge the battery or replace it - my 200 doesn't need any plug to start even in below zero conditions. Diesels need plenty of starting power to get them started quickly in the morning. :) Your battery takes a hammering in the winter - first of all the cold weather doesn't do it any good, and driving around with the lights on more often, windscreen wipers, heater, heated screen etc etc tends to drain it, especially if you are doing short trips.
 
It seems to struggle a little first start of the day. Drove about half a mile. Stopped for am hour and started first turn. That sound like glow plugs need replacing?
 
Interesting - my 90 200tdi took a while to fire yesterday (lots of unburnt diesel smoke!) cracked the throttle open a little this morning and it fired first turn after the glow light went out!

Random....
 
slomofo said:
Interesting - my 90 200tdi took a while to fire yesterday (lots of unburnt diesel smoke!) cracked the throttle open a little this morning and it fired first turn after the glow light went out!

Random....
Click to expand...

has your FIP been played with ?
 
The old "keep your foot off the pedal till it fires" doesn't apply to tdi's, only the earlier diesels with lucas injector pumps. I'd go for new glow plugs and a good clean of all the live and earth connections associated with starter and battery.
200tdi motors do appear to start with no heat but not strictly true as the plugs are on a timer and stay on for a little while after you've turned the key anyway. A lot of direct injection engines don't have heater plugs anyway but rely on the heat of compression alone.
 
hughesy said:
The old "keep your foot off the pedal till it fires" doesn't apply to tdi's, only the earlier diesels with lucas injector pumps.
Click to expand...

so what's the purpose of the cold start system on the VE then ?

hughesy said:
200tdi motors do appear to start with no heat but not strictly true as the plugs are on a timer and stay on for a little while after you've turned the key anyway.
Click to expand...

a well timed 200 with plenty of compression and no fueling issues will start instantly with no plugs - even when it's well below zero, mine and a lot of others don't bother connecting them
 
hughesy said:
The old "keep your foot off the pedal till it fires" doesn't apply to tdi's, only the earlier diesels with lucas injector pumps. I'd go for new glow plugs and a good clean of all the live and earth connections associated with starter and battery.
200tdi motors do appear to start with no heat but not strictly true as the plugs are on a timer and stay on for a little while after you've turned the key anyway. A lot of direct injection engines don't have heater plugs anyway but rely on the heat of compression alone.
Click to expand...

I think the Tdi does have a cold-start mechanism as mine doesn't start as eagerly if I open the throttle when cranking. My plugs are on a direct circuit with no timing etc, so they don't get used at all.

To the OP - check your throttle cable adjustment, -- if it is too tight it might be holding the throttle open slightly when you have your foot off the pedal, thus affecting the starting.
 
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