hard to start when cold?

[paultoledo]

my toledo is hard to start when cold but starts perfect when warm.

So i have changed ,,

battery
glow plugs
glow plug relay
had the timing checked and starter

My car at 6 am and at say 6pm when returning to work yard to head home,, is hard to start and takes maybe 10 turns of the engine, and when its starts there is a little cloud of white smoke but again perfect when warm.

the only thing i have noticed there is a constant stream of bubbles going to engine of transparent fuel line. also as soon as the engine is turned off a bubble 1-2 inchs long will form COMING BACK FROM ENGINE but i think thats more a gravity thing with shape of pipe rather than fuel 'falling back to tank'??

so any help is greatly appreciated as i want my car perfecto

 

[Dox1966]

I told you in a previous thread where to look for air ingress into the fuel pipes. Keeping issues in one thread helps continuity and stops the same suggestions over and over again.

 

[Seatmann]

Coolant temp sensor, but that's maybe been suggested if this is another thread of the same problem. They have four pins, they do the ecu and the dash, if the dash one's ok the other part might be knackered and the ecu wont switch the glow plugs on for long enough.

 

[Dox1966]

"Points of air entry into the fuel system are; leak off pipes between the injectors, the white plastic valve on top of the fuel filter or any joint between the hardlines under the car to the rubber lines to filter and pump"

 

[Seatmann]

What engine code are we talking about here anyway? That makes a difference.

 

[paultoledo]

Coolant temp sensor, but that's maybe been suggested if this is another thread of the same problem. They have four pins, they do the ecu and the dash, if the dash one's ok the other part might be knackered and the ecu wont switch the glow plugs on for long enough.

sorry forgot to say changed that too.

"Points of air entry into the fuel system are; leak off pipes between the injectors, the white plastic valve on top of the fuel filter or any joint between the hardlines under the car to the rubber lines to filter and pump"

if i spray leak detector spray over all joints mentioned when running i should still see bubbles despite air being DRAWN in??

thanks guys

 

[Dox1966]

Air leaks in when the engine is stopped, your car or any other diesel will not start with air in the diesel pump. Those lines are seethrough so you can see if air is entering the fuel system allowing the fuel to drain back to the tank.

 

[paultoledo]

Air leaks in when the engine is stopped, your car or any other diesel will not start with air in the diesel pump. Those lines are seethrough so you can see if air is entering the fuel system allowing the fuel to drain back to the tank.

so just hit it with detector spray then?

thanks

 

[Dox1966]

so just hit it with detector spray then?

thanks

Air leaks in, fuel doesn't leak out, it leaks back to the tank

 

[paultoledo]

Air leaks in, fuel doesn't leak out, it leaks back to the tank

My brother reckons a non return valve would be the easiest answer. ?

 

[Seatmann]

Air leaks in, fuel doesn't leak out, it leaks back to the tank

Bet it doesn't, mine has bubbles and has always been like that as well as loads of others, seems to be normal. The white smoke you mentioned suggests it's more a glow plug issue. White smoke is unburnt fuel going through. I don't think your plugs are working right, have ypu tried leaving the coolant sensor unplugged? Not permanently but to test.

 

[Nath.]

Agree, sounds like glow plugs. Have you tried having multiple goes on the glow plugs before cold starting?

 

[Dox1966]

He's changed the glowplugs and its not cold enough for them at the moment anyway.

 

[Seatmann]

He's changed the glowplugs and its not cold enough for them at the moment anyway.

It's pretty bloody cold at 6am and the white smoke is unburnt fuel, it's either the glow plugs or the compression's failing.

 

[Dox1966]

It's pretty bloody cold at 6am and the white smoke is unburnt fuel, it's either the glow plugs or the compression's failing.

Not here it isn't, no where near temp for glowies here in cheshire her car started without and burst into life straight away, last week was boiling hot

 

[Seatmann]

Yeh but I reckon if the coolant temp sensor was disconnected it would start a lot quicker and certainly worth a shot, I reckon the plugs come on even if it is a bit warmer but just not for long, I'm not convinced they only come on when it's freezing. Like I said though, the white smoke suggests not enough compression or glow plugs

 

[DerekF]

Hi there i have the same issue bad starting in the morning and evening slightly if been lying all day, the glow plugs not drawing any amps till engine running as to help with emmisions was told by seat they do not come on before starting unless below 5 degrees. have replaced the coolant sensor and removed the glow plugs and tested ok. just replaced the valve ontop of the fuel filter tonight to try. the car has no stored fault codes and cuts out if you start it and drive away to quickly switch off and restart and it is fine for rest of day if being used.
did you manage to fix your problem as i think my 2 faults maybe linked.

 

[paultoledo]

never sorted this out guys but i have noticed if i glow the car 3/4 times before starting when cold it starts a dream so hey ho job done

 

[Seatmann]

I wonder if your cam timing needs tweaked pressuming it's PD engine, if it aint then this link wont be of use.

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/multi/PD-adjust-Idle-TDI.htm