problem with cold starts

[ladyvec]

Hi there, I'm new to this site, I came across it whilst trying
To find a solution to my problem. I hope you will be able to give me some advice.
I drive a 03 plate Vectra, 2.0 dti, and in the past couple weeks I have had problems with her starting of a morning. It takes ages to start first thing which has gradually got worse by the day. Once started she runs like a dream, and starts straight away throughout the day.
First thought was glow plugs so we had them changed by a friend, however he did some kind of test on the "circuit!?" And got no reading, which he said wasn't good.
Now he is no mechanic, and I'm certainly not, but I'm now at a loss as to what or if anything I can do myself (I say myself, I mean a friend or my dad) as I'm a typical woman and my knowledge goes no further than it runs on diesel.
I have also have a light come on twice briefly which is a car with a big spanner in front of it which went out within 10 seconds of starting?
Also my glow plug light only comes on some mornings, even when cold and never throughout the day.
I hope what I've wrote makes sense, as I am a self confessed numpty when it comes to motors.
Thank you for any help

[bigmac]

Might be glowplug relay failing that there's a field remedy that alters the startup adjusting glowplug timing and temp it comes on

[ladyvec]

Oooh now I'm lost :/ I did say I was numpty. Ok so can I buy a relay? If so I have someone who can fit it, and how do I test to see if that's what's broke? Or should I just take it up to Vauxhall? Thanks for replying

[ladyvec]

Sorry, it was the relay he tested, not the circuit. Would a broken relay account for the light rarely coming on?

[Craig1985]

if they are the original plugs i would be looking at changing them first

[bigmac]

I thought they changed glowplugs ? if they have been changed then next step would be relay this is something you can do yourself as it requires no tools what so ever its just unplug old one and put new one in

[ladyvec]

Thank you BigMac, I will try a new relay and hope that works,
Craig, the plugs have been changed,

[vxvirgin]

Do you wait for the glow plug light to go out before starting?

[plasma]

Any smoke on statup?

[Mini the Minx]

Hey,

Im having the same problem

03 2.0dti too - on a freezing morning zero degree's it starts but get a damp wet morning and it turns over but struggles to kick in, eventually cough's into life puff's smoke out the back, then runs perfect there after

Get the glowplug rely, just pull the old one out and push the new one in, mind you dont bend the pins though

That's what im going to be doing sat