2.0 Hdi starting (another one)

[Norfolkboy]

Recently bought a 03 2.0 Hdi.  Thought when I bought it that it took longer to turn over before starting than my old 1.9D but, different car.  Recent cold snap and didn't start for 4 days, not a peep, even with frequent battery recharge and for a while 2 batteries in parallel.  Hand priming and cleaning every connector that I could find made no difference.  Went out this morning, milder weather and started no problem (20 seconds turn over) no smoke, runs well. Glow plug light did not come on, but came on when it was really cold and can hear relay operate.  Crankspeed is good, new battery and previous owner had had crankshaft sensor replaced.  Clearly temp related but what?  Thinking about intake air temp sensor?  Ideas welcome.

[polar]

Recently bought a 03 2.0 Hdi.  Thought when I bought it that it took longer to turn over before starting than my old 1.9D but, different car.  Recent cold snap and didn't start for 4 days, not a peep, even with frequent battery recharge and for a while 2 batteries in parallel.  Hand priming and cleaning every connector that I could find made no difference.  Went out this morning, milder weather and started no problem (20 seconds turn over) no smoke, runs well. Glow plug light did not come on, but came on when it was really cold and can hear relay operate.  Crankspeed is good, new battery and previous owner had had crankshaft sensor replaced.  Clearly temp related but what?  Thinking about intake air temp sensor?  Ideas welcome.

Change the starter motor i bet it will start right away - know problem on 2.0hdis

[Norfolkboy]

Recently bought a 03 2.0 Hdi.  Thought when I bought it that it took longer to turn over before starting than my old 1.9D but, different car.  Recent cold snap and didn't start for 4 days, not a peep, even with frequent battery recharge and for a while 2 batteries in parallel.  Hand priming and cleaning every connector that I could find made no difference.  Went out this morning, milder weather and started no problem (20 seconds turn over) no smoke, runs well. Glow plug light did not come on, but came on when it was really cold and can hear relay operate.  Crankspeed is good, new battery and previous owner had had crankshaft sensor replaced.  Clearly temp related but what?  Thinking about intake air temp sensor?  Ideas welcome.

Change the starter motor i bet it will start right away - know problem on 2.0hdis

Thanks for that, I get the starter motor thing but, the motor turns over at a fair old rate, even when the Glow Plug light was on and the car was icy.  Yesterday was only a degree or so colder than today and the car had the benefit of 2 batteries.  120 amp/hr or so.  Today it is milder and started first time with no difference in cranking speed.  I will try the 1.8 Kw starter but I think that there is something else going on here.

[cancunia]

Have you checked the glow plugs are working with a multimeter? There are a few posts on here about how to do that.
The glowplug light only tends to come on when it's below 5 degrees & then only for a couple of seconds.
20 seconds to start sounds like a long time.

[Norfolkboy]

Have you checked the glow plugs are working with a multimeter? There are a few posts on here about how to do that.
The glowplug light only tends to come on when it's below 5 degrees & then only for a couple of seconds.
20 seconds to start sounds like a long time.

Thanks for the response. Yes, I have tested the glow plugs and the relay.  All working.  The glow plug light came on for the first time at about 1 degree (didn't start).  Temps locally have not reached -5.  From what I have read here, it seems that the Hdi does not need the Glow Plugs most of the time.  I agree that 20 seconds is a long start, just glad  that it did!

[frank]

another starter made a big difference to my 2.0 hdi starting up, even tho it seemed to turn over ok,  and  this shows the hdi glowplug parameters, preglow seconds,  and about 3 minutes of afterglow/post heating in this weather

[Norfolkboy]

another starter made a big difference to my 2.0 hdi starting up, even tho it seemed to turn over ok,  and  this shows the hdi glowplug parameters, preglow seconds,  and about 3 minutes of afterglow/post heating in this weather

Many  thanks for that.  Given that I know that  the coolant temp was not that low, the glow plug light should not have been on for as long as it was.  Oddly enough, changed thermostat because I thought that the temp reading was too low. Light bulb moment,  upgrading the starter makes sense.  Increased speed, greater compression in an ageing motor.  Off to the factors tomorrow for a new  starter and coolant sensor.

[frank]

i think that the starter motor issue stems from the fact that the ecu wont fire the injectors until the crank and cam sensors achieve a preset minimum rpm and until the rail sensor reaches a minimum pressure, i forget the figures but something like 200rpm and 200 bar

[Norfolkboy]

i think that the starter motor issue stems from the fact that the ecu wont fire the injectors until the crank and cam sensors achieve a preset minimum rpm and until the rail sensor reaches a minimum pressure, i forget the figures but something like 200rpm and 200 bar

Wear in either the starter, pump or injectors will result in a loss of pressure.  Never really played with diesels before.  Catching on though.

[Tomcat3]

Before you go spending money check the condition of the feed wires going to the starter motor they could be corroded and giving poor continuity in damp conditions.