2.0 DTi Not Firing

[JohnWilson]

Hi Guys wondering if anyone can shed any light on my predicament.

This evening after coming out of work I went to start my car and i'd noticed the temp was down to 3°C so I was waiting on the glow plug light coming on to signal them being heated, it never did, So I went to fire her up and nothing, it coughed and weezed but never started, after 5 attempts it eventually coughed it's way back to life, no smoke came from the exhaust so im assuming it isn't using any unburned diesel going by what i've read in other posts?

What should I look at 1st before considering taking it to Vx? Battery Voltage? Changing Glow Plugs? Injector Seals? i'm lost lol.

Cheers for looking guys

[Critch]

Glow plugs/ relay

Check for voltage at the glow plugs. If there is should suggest relay is ok.

Them check the resistance of each 1. But if one has gone may aswel change them all as the others won't be far behind

[JohnWilson]

Glow plugs/ relay

Check for voltage at the glow plugs. If there is should suggest relay is ok.

Them check the resistance of each 1. But if one has gone may aswel change them all as the others won't be far behind

I'll do this tomorrow at work as the DVM is there. I've seen a couple of people mention they remove the coolant sensor to get the glow plugs to heat, is this method OK to get the car started?

What voltage should I be expecting at the glowplugs (assuming relay is ok)


cheers.

[TonyP2020]

As I posted elsewhere on here is answer to a similar question.

You already have a DVM and can use it, so thats good, but I have left the instructions complete to help others.

Do this with the engine cold.

Remove the caps to the 4 Glow plugs. This is fiddly.
They are at the back of the engine and look a bit like spark plugs.

Set the meter to the lowest Ohms range (200)
and short the red and black test probes together.
Make a note of the reading, probably 0.7 or something similar.

Now put the black meter wire on a clean earth point. A 3rd hand will be useful here.
Now put the red probe on each of the glow plugs in turn and note the reading.

A good glow plug should give a reading very similar to shorting the probes together, say 0.7 or 0.8, etc.
A bad one will not give a reading at all, as it will be open circuit.

You can also test if any voltage is getting to the glowplugs.
Set the meter to 20Volts DC or it might have a === symbol.

Put the black wire on the earth point, and put the red probe inside one of the glow plug caps touching the metal parts inside.
Using your 4th hand, switch the ignition on but DO NOT start the engine.

The meter should read about 11.5 to 12.5V until the glow plug light goes off, but it may also still read a voltage even after the glow plug light goes off.

The glow plugs stay on after the engine has started when the temperature is low.

[JohnWilson]

Brilliant info Tony ! i'll do this tomorrow (before starting my shift of course :P )

[JohnWilson]

Well I've tested all 4 Glow Plugs and they're giving off a good resistance & voltage. Also just checked the battery from cold and its ok.

Tonight it was -2°C turned the ignition on, no glow plug light, i repeated this 3 or 4 times, again no glow plug light but the car started ok with a distinct smell of diesel from the front, so would that mean that its the Injector Seal that could be a goner?

[eaglepva]

what about the glow plug relay?

[Critch]

Leak off pipes maybe