Engine Struggling To Start HELP!

[AshFR]

Hi all. My PD150 struggles to start sometimes and its getting worse. When I turn the key to start the engine will keep turning over for about 3 seconds then eventually starts on what sounds like 1 cylinder then 2 then all 4. It does this whenever the engine is hot or cold. Every few times a week I get EML with error code 17057 which is something to do with glow plugs and I just keep turning it off on liquid gauge. I had this problem with EML about 6 months back so i replaced all 4 plugs with Bosch duratherm and it was fine for a few months but then the EML started coming on a few times a week again then these past 2 weeks the engine has started to struggle to start as I said. Just wondering if its going to be dodgy glow plug or 2 or the wiring harness. Also something else to mention is a few months back the engine struggles to start once and had EML on then glow plug light flashing with error code that said it was engine speed sensor so I cleared it and I haven't had that again. Its just EML with code 17057 keeps coming on few times a week and struggles to start. Sometimes it will start perfect fine within 1 second but most of the time it struggles. Any ideas people? Is it worth getting new glow plugs under warrentyy of get a new harness or could it even be something else? Thanks guys. Ash.

 

[AshFR]

Just had a brain wave, I replaced the fuel filter a few months back and when I start it straight after it struggled then but thought maybe air in the pipes and it would clear after a day and ever since it has struggled to start. I wonder if the fuel filter is at fault and restricting the fuel to engine which maybe causing it to struggle to start. IIRC it was a halfords filter so think I will go and grab a genuine vw one tomorrow and see how it goes. But any feedback is welcome if the fuel filter isn't the problem? Cheerss. Ash.

 

[BenG]

My guess would be there's an air leak somewhere in the pipework to the fuel filter which is letting the fuel drain back to the tank, which means lots of cracking to re-prime the fuel system. You may have disturbed a seal somewhere, or maybe one of the seals or pipes is past it?

Any diesel leaks anywhere after driving?

Can't see glow plugs being an issue as they shouldn't be required in the current outside temperatures.

 

[BenG]

Did you fill the filter with fuel before fitting? Wonder if there could be air still in it?

Even if the filter was too small, shouldn't restrict fuel flow during starting as not much fuel is flowing...

Dumb question I guess, but are all the pipes connected to the correct places and did the inlets/outlets on the new filter match the old ones? I wonder if it could be a pipe routing issue?

 

[AshFR]

No I didnt fill filter with fuel but I turned ignition on and off a few times before starting to fill it with fuel that way. That's how I've done it on previous cars and its been fine.

 

[AshFR]

Replaced fuel filter with genuine filter but it hasn't really made my difference. Just remembered not long before this problem with starting I had EML on and glow plug light flashing so I scanned for error and it said crankshaft position sensor (or camshaft, can't remember which one) so I just cleared the code and it hasn't come back on since. I, wondering if the crankshaft sensor is faulty which is making a problem to start. Every now and then when its cranking over to start the rev needle will shoot up to 3k then down to 0 when engine starts that straight to just below 1k on tick over. Would the crankshaft sensor fault cause this? Thanks all.

 

[AshFR]

Anyone?

 

[James D1]

i am certainly no expert but you mentioning your crank/cam position sensor, my mums car (mondeo) had a faulty cam position sensor and this made the car very hesitant to start. i replaced it for her and since then she hasn't had any issues

 

[AshFR]

Thanks mate. Might just dropo the car off with my mechanic and see what he has to say.

 

[AshFR]

Right, just been out in car and as soon as I started it, the EML was on with code 17057 which is glow plugs AGAIN but didn't bother to clear it. I parked up stopped engine. When I come back to it, it just kept cranking over and wouldnt fire then noticed glow plug light flashing so scanned for codes and its come up with 16989 which I've checked and that's internal control module. What is internal control module? I cleared codes and it started then so stopped engine left it for a few seconds and it started again, it started fine, well hesitated a bit but it did start. Am I right in thinking the crankshaft sensor is at fault? If so, anyone know where it is? Thanks all. Ash.

 

[Azza_]

you say it threw a code about crank position sensor? this would definitely make it a nightmare to start

my mates old s3 had a failing crank sensor and it wouldn't fire sometimes an sometimes it would, we swapped it out ( easy on a 1.8t ) and it fired first time everytime

dont know where they are located on the pd engine tho

 

[AshFR]

Well so ive read on here, if the EML is on and glow plug light is flashing then its something to do with crankshaft sensor, can anyone confirm it? Yeah i though if the crankshaft sensor is dodgy maybe thats whats causing the problem but the code 16989 comes up with internal control module whatever that is.

So what is a internal control module error code 16989?

Also what does EML on and glow plug light flashing mean? Crankshaft sensor?

Thanks.

 

[Azza_]

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/16989/P0605/001541

 

[AshFR]

Yeah seen that thanks buddy but I'm just wondering where I found out about EML on and glow plug light which means crankshaft sensor. But I'm still confused to what internal control module is lol. Is it the ECU or what? What does it actually do if its not ecu? Thanks.

 

[Azza_]

i "think its the ecu" as this is the one that stores engine codes have you cleared it and has it came back?

 

[AshFR]

Yep I've cleared it and it hasn't come back yet. Will see if it comes back in next few days but will pop and see my mate at garage and see if he can work it out. Cheers.