Not starting first time in cool weather

[Bizzy9]

Sorry this is a 2013 Partner Tepee 1.6 HDI but Berlingo folk might recognise the problem.

When weather is cool or damp the car will not start on the first few ignitions first thing in the morning. Engine light comes on. Wait about 30 seconds and then it starts fine. Then it usually starts fine for the rest of the day. Engine light usually turns itself off.

On days when weather is mild or warm there is often no problem.

Car currently with mechanic but so far he cannot diagnose because it's starting fine for him.

Any ideas or is anyone familiar with this issue ?

[brodfather11]

Battery OK ?, sitting over night may mean a poor battery losses some power.

Maybe something gently draining it

[notsofast]

Would it be the battery if the car starts after several attempts?  If the battery's so drained it won't start on an initial attempt, I would have thought subsequent attempts might not be fruitful either.

I'd usually look to the glow plugs if cold starts are an issue, though at this time of year it's never really very cold, so that casts doubt on that (also I think someone on here once said that the HDi engines barely need the glow plugs?).

When the vehicle finally starts in cool conditions, does it run normally?

[geoff]

Cool .... this time of year ???

[evdama]

Mines had the glowplugs lit twice in thirteen years.
Temp sensor somwhere misreporting?

[Multispacer]

Sorry this is a 2013 Partner Tepee 1.6 HDI but Berlingo folk might recognise the problem.

When weather is cool or damp the car will not start on the first few ignitions first thing in the morning. Engine light comes on. Wait about 30 seconds and then it starts fine. Then it usually starts fine for the rest of the day. Engine light usually turns itself off.

On days when weather is mild or warm there is often no problem.

Car currently with mechanic but so far he cannot diagnose because it's starting fine for him.

Any ideas or is anyone familiar with this issue ?

With these type intermittent problems, you really need to have someone hook up proper diagnostic equipment [ie the correct type for PSA group vehicles] to see if there are any recorded defects in the system that might point you towards the problem, otherwise there are numerous things it might be.