Vectra 1.9 16v starting problem

[z19dt]

Hi
This his is my second post on the group and just looking for some advice.

i have a 2005 Vectra c 1.9 16v which is causing me a headache in the morning, or first start of the day.

its takes that long to start that I'm now having to jump start every first start of the day. Once warmed up it's okay.

its been like this for a few months now and I can't afford to pay a mechanic to look at it. I do have a friend who put a fault reader on it and the only thing that came up was a glow device general error. I'm not a mechanic but as far as I'm aware the glow plugs only aid the start up for a second or 2, I would have thought by the time the battery had died that it would be warm enough.

any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

many thanks

[stevie16v]

Not quite, I'd be putting in new glow plugs. The glow plugs heat up the chamber to allow the engine to start, however if they aren't heating up at all then it can't start. They're not expensive so I'd go down that route first

[Slammedorion]

Glow plugs are cheap enough, on the 16v there easy enough to diy.

[Teapot]

I second the recommendation of glow plug repalcement.

Note: Get GM branded ones, or BERU (this is the manufacturer of the OE plugs). I first got some NGK branded ones and the Glow Device General Error code came back after being cleared.

I found this to be because the resistance of the NGK plugs was different to the OE ones, and therefore the glow control unit thinks they are faulty.

[z19dt]

Will give that a whirl guys, is it defo an easy DIY job? I've changed spark plugs on a 1.2 corsa if that counts

[stevie16v]

Not much different to it. Just make sure you take you're time when you're undoing them as they can seize in sometimes
http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showth...gs-on-1-9-CDTi

[alcutler]

When you try to start from cold next time let the glowplug cycle run 2 or 3 times before trying to start the engine - ie turn the ignition key to the ignition setting and wait until the glowplug light goes out, but do not turn the starter motor over, turn off then repeat twice more before finally turning the engine over. It's unlikely that all four glow plugs will have failed and by doing this it will allow the working ones to get hotter and help start a cold engine. Also the glowplugs continue to operate even when the light has gone out - if you listen carefully you can hear the relay click off when done. There are a lot of old threads re cold start problems if you do a search.

Have a look here for some ideas - http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showth...=cold+starting