Mk2 Ibiza won't start...help please?!

[drunkenmunkey20]

Hi, I've got a diesel Mk2 Ibiza 1.9 SE that seems like its on its last legs, if anyone could help that'd be great...

Its got through winter by turning over and over, coughing smoke out of the exhaust before starting after about a minute. But the last couple of days have been warmer and it's carried on turning over until the battery drains completely. I try turning the ignition on and off a few times first to heat the coils, but no life! Its always fine starting after its been taken out for a drive.

Luckily its parked at the top of a slope each day, as by clenching my cheeks and hoping for the best I drag it into life by chucking it down the hill!

I don't know if this is anything to do with it, but there's a slight leak of oil from the top of the first cylinder.

Anyway, if anyone's able to help that'd be great. Got an interview on Monday and could do with getting there! By the way, I don't know much about engines, but willing to give things a go! Hoping he'll live to see his 150,000 th mile! Maybe its time to give up though hey!?

 

[Cupra Kid]

If it starts when hot then the most likely cause is your glow plugs are shot! If you've got no knowledge of when they were last changed this would be my first stop.

Second would be to investigate the oil leak but thats likely to be more expensive and longer to do.

 

[robreidmotors]

Useful link;

http://www.difflock.com/diesel/troubleshooting.shtml

 

[GTV]

as above check the glowplugs and fuse first, had to change them on both of our cars this winter, the Ibiza is at 190K and still running sweet as anything and the Vario is not to far behind at 150k

 

[amadain]

How do you check the glowplugs?

 

[GTV]

pull the connector off, using a voltmeter on resistance, should read about 10 ohm, I had one o/c and the others was reading high (from 100k ohm to a couple of meg if I remember right)

you can also chect the supply while you are at it, using the meter, check for 12v on the connector you pull off the glow plugs, should be there for a couple of sec's when you turm the car on, if not there is a 50 amp maxi fuse that can blow above the main fuse box in the car.

 

[drunkenmunkey20]

Lovely, thanks guys, will look into that.

Was also told that the switches that sense whether the door is open or not also tell the glow plugs to come onwhen you open the door and if these are buggered then it can cause problems. Since both of mine don't work, I thought it'd probably be an idea to replace these.

Does anyone know much about this? Just yanked one out to have a look and all seems ok (doesn't seem like there's much to go wrong inside one). Is it possible that a fuse somewhere has blown? The interior light comes on when set to 'On', but not when I open the door.

Looking into small solutions before I take the plunge and fork out 140 for diagnoses and to replace the plugs!

 

[GTV]

ok looking at the haynes book of lies, there ing nothing to do with the door switches mate.

if you have a multimeter dead easy to check the glow plugs, don't even need to takt them out.

 

[drunkenmunkey20]

Just noticed I've got a slight diesel leak from the left hand cylinder (I think from the little black material hose leaving it that's capped with a screw). Wasn't there to start with and took it for a 2 mile lap and was easily noticable when I got back. With that in mind, the small oil patches I mentioned further up are possibly due to the diesel leaking.

Clearly not great, but would this stop the car from starting?

Will be checking the glow plugs on monday.

 

[Cupra Kid]

Just noticed I've got a slight diesel leak from the left hand cylinder (I think from the little black material hose leaving it that's capped with a screw). Wasn't there to start with and took it for a 2 mile lap and was easily noticable when I got back. With that in mind, the small oil patches I mentioned further up are possibly due to the diesel leaking.

Clearly not great, but would this stop the car from starting?

Will be checking the glow plugs on monday.

Depends whether this is causing loss of compression and incorrect fuel pressure.

The car should still run albeit badly, i would check your glow plugs first.

 

[drunkenmunkey20]

Thanks for your help guys - replaced the plugs and starting nicely now!

Got a proper injector cap to stop the diesel leak too as for some reason was capped with a short section of the material fuel line and a screw in the end. Kind of had to - got much worse and only got 220 miles to the last tank full!