2.0 hdi cold starting problems

[Blackshuck]

My 04 2.0 hdi starts fine most of the time , but struggles on frosty mornings . Heater plug indicator light comes on for a few seconds when ignition is turned on .
Time for a new battery ?

[jj9]

When you say struggles do you mean the starter turns the engine over slowly or is it turning at normal speed?

Any whitish  / Grey smoke from the exhaust when it starts?

Take no notice of the dashboard glow plug light, on a frosty morning the glow plugs pre heat for 10 seconds or so even though the dashboard light doesn't stay on, the glow plugs also stay on after starting for up to 3 minutes, the coolant temperature denotes how long they stay on.

Try waiting 10 seconds after turning on the ignition before attempting to start the engine and see if it helps.

Maybe some or all of your glow plugs are knackered.

 
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[Johny555]

A lot of the time its starter motor wearing out,,,a lot of people on here have had the same prob,including me with my last van,new starter sorted it out,,

[polar]

You do not need the glow plugs to start a 2.0hdi if its struggling to start first suspect would be starter motor as Johny says ^^^. But check battery voltage first.

The glow plugs do help in starting but are mostly for emissions.

[jj9]

You may not normally need the glow plugs to start the engine on the 2.0 hdi, you don't on the 1.6 hdi either but I know mine started a whole load quicker with a set of working plugs.

Appreciate the starter motor is often the cause, hence my question as to whether it was turning over at normal speed, best to define "Struggling" before dismissing anything.

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[ffrenchie]

Our 03 2.0hdi seems to light the heater light when it has been below 2°c and I find that if I turn the ignition on before I fit my seatbelt and let the light go out then turn the key to start the engine it starts easier. Keep feet away from the accelerator and press the clutch to take some load off the engine as well.

[Blackshuck]

Engine seems to turn over at " normal " speed , but takes longer to fire up .
Mind you , my " normal " might not be
- I've had experience before of fitting a new battery to a vehicle I thought was starting OK - only to find that it then spun over twice as fast !
Will get the battery checked & go from there .

[Silverberlingo]

Battery check and then glow plug check. Cheapest options first and there easy enough to do as well.

[Blackshuck]

Even though it seems OK most of the time , had the battery checked out today - diagnostics say its running at ~59% & " battery unserviceable " .
New one on order .....

[jj9]

I would still check the glow plugs despite what the battery test shows, you want a set of working glow plugs no matter what anyone says.

Plenty of videos on you tube showing how to check the plugs.


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