1.9D Cold Start Problems Fixed - it's the valves mate.

[BerlingoBoyo]

My 1.9D has had cold starting problems for the last year or so. I changed heater plugs several times and then a new battery, no joy.  I noticed a thread here (sorry I forget now who posted it) that mentioned valve regression. I discussed this with my fitter who rejected the idea on the basis that I had the head done 45k miles ago and the shims should last for 100k.
Deadlock.
Then I noticed a post where someone poured hot water over the engine on cold days and found starting easier. I tried that and it worked. So not an electrical problem at all but what about those shims.
Eventually I persuaded the mechanic to check the valve clearances and lo they were low!
Just got the car back from being reshimmed starting nicely first turn of the key. Bring on winter. 

Thought it might help some poor 1.9D owners struggling with cold weather coming on.

Finally the key to getting 100k may be to make sure you have tool steel shims of the right size and not case hardened ones ground down. As it seems the grinding might remove the hardened layer of the steel. But that's above my pay grade.

Berlingo rides again.

Now just the central locking, the rear seats stuck and the mysterious ingress of water.....

BB

[Gryffindor]

Well done, boyo!

[Romahomepete]

Our M59 Berlingo based Romahome with the 1.9d engine has done over 100000 miles and last year we had starting problems last year, caused by air getting into the fuel filter when stood.

We used to have a M49 car that had a 1.9d engine and it had 180000 on it when we let it go. The only time it had starting problems was when the heater plugs needed changing.

I have not heard of the problem before.

Peter

[BerlingoBoyo]

Our M59  Berlingo based Romahome with the 1.9d engine has done over 100000 miles and last year we had starting problems last year, caused by air getting into the fuel filter when stood.

We used to have a M49 car that had a 1.9d engine and it had 180000 on it when we let it go.  The only time it had starting problems was when the heater plugs needed changing.

I have not heard of the problem before.

Peter

Thanks Pete  - You have lots of Berlingo miles under your belt! I had forgotten about the air leak option - in fact I was on the verge of installing one way valves in the fuel lines for just that reason, but the hot water and the problem being tied to outside air temperature pointed to the valve clearances as the issue. I found this quote below from Geoff who might well have been the source of the wisdom in the first place but I can't find the original post.ta BB

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Typically you need to consider adjusting the valve clearances if when at the onset of cooler weather you find the vehicle more difficult to start and initially has lumpy running, this will

then get worse when the weather gets even colder.

[Sol]

Geoff is definitely a source of wisdom and well worth listening to.