I'm looking for confirmation of a problem. During the cold weather the car won't fire, the engine turns so I guess the battery isn't the problem. My guess is glow plugs need replacing. Pug 206 hdi, btw.

I just want to be sure that it's likely to be glow plugs before I buy new ones and I shouldn't be looking for something else.

Sunny Spain this may be but thermometer showed -5ºC this morning, brrrrr!

If you turn the ignition on a few times (about 10 seconds each time) before cranking it, to allow the glow's more time to warm the air, does it start better? Have you had it seviced regular? Is it 1.4 or 2.0? Is it only in very cold temps or also if just not started for a couple of days? If its a 1.4 and happens after standing, it may just be the leakoff pipe seals split at the injectors. This allows fuel to drain back to the tank, hence long cranking to start!

If it is glow plugs when it does eventually start from cold after a lot of cranking you will get a cloud of smoke out the back.
When starting from hot it will start normally with no smoke.

Agreed, try turning the ignition on twice before firing the car up, it will put two heat cycles through, if it then starts OK it's the plugs. If after doing it twice (or three times) and it's still not starting it'll be something else. Is there any noise when trying to start it etc?

If you turn the ignition on a few times (about 10 seconds each time) before cranking it, to allow the glow's more time to warm the air, does it start better?

I haven't tried, but will give it a go.

Have you had it seviced regular?

relatively regularly.

Is it 1.4 or 2.0?

1.4

Is it only in very cold temps or also if just not started for a couple of days?

It generally gets used every day, but I guess I can say it's the cold that's the problem.

If its a 1.4 and happens after standing, it may just be the leakoff pipe seals split at the injectors.

Not sure about that as it starts fine when warm, both ambient temp and block temp.

Cheers.

If it is glow plugs when it does eventually start from cold after a lot of cranking you will get a cloud of smoke out the back.

Bump started it at lunhtime and it blew out a cloud of black smoke.

When it's cold it won't start off the key, it has to be bumped.

Cheers.

If it's cranking over but not starting. If it starts with a long crank (just pressure build up) and then run's OK it's very likely sounds like your glow plugs.

It's a sort of classic first cold snap of the year problem.

I'd definitely agree that until you have got the glow plugs sorted, give the glow plugs 2-3cycles before full cranking. Otherwise just cranking will do for your starter motor. Just be slightly patient with starting before you get plugs sorted.

That appears to be the first option and see how it goes.

Thanks everyone.

as it starts fine when warm, both ambient temp and block temp

Glow plugs deffo.

id remove your glow plugs and test them…

easy to do, connect your battery + to the end of the glow plug and – to the threaded part of the glow plug, should get nice and red quite quick.

do this with all and you will see if you got a dodgy glow plug..

nick

also check your getting power to the plugs first, might just be the fuse.

Not sure what you have in the ways of tooling but sometimes you can put a clamp type ammeter around the power lead to the glow plugs. They should draw around 20amps each while the glow plug light is on. Lower amps obviously means one or more of the glow plugs is failing.

However it could be fuel running back but must admit the abundance of smoke when it eventually does start leads me to believe it is not a fuel problem. Defintely start by investigating glow plug circuit/s.

As Nick_Christy says though they are easy to test if you can remove them but try to do it with the engine hot, the last thing you want to do is shear any of them off, with the engine hot it will make it a lot easier.

could also be the engine temperature sensor – if the engine thinks it is hot, it won't use the glowplugs to try and warm itself up. Also wont be using the right amount of fuel, and therefore won't start

does sound a lot like glowplugs though – same problem on my '99 mondeo derv – replaced 4 plugs, started quickly again. the 2 or 3 cycles on ignition is a good test

If you have to replace the glowplugs on the 1.4, they are a bit of a pain to do. They are located behind the engine and No4 (peugeot cyclinders are numbered back to front – 4 is the cambelt end) is a right pain to get the harness plug off! you will probably need to remove the EGR cooler if it has one (depending on emmision level) also to replace them. They aren't the cheapest things anymore either, so you want to check them properly!

mickasaki – Member

If you have to replace the glowplugs on the 1.4, they are a bit of a pain to do. They are located behind the engine and No4 (peugeot cyclinders are numbered back to front – 4 is the cambelt end) is a right pain to get the harness plug off! you will probably need to remove the EGR cooler if it has one (depending on emmision level) also to replace them. They aren't the cheapest things anymore either, so you want to check them properly!

Words of wisdom, thank you. I had a quick look lastnight, in the dark and couldn't find them!!! I guessed they were hidden away somewhere or hiding behind a cover. I've just been to the motor factor and they are 16.00€ each. 😯
I asked them where the plugs were located as I couldn't see anything, the reply was that they were on the rear of the engine.

Time and light are limiting factors, so I'll try and strip things away to see how accessible they are, and, if it's too complicated it'll get thrown at a garage to be repaired, and Ill suck up the cost. I've also spent the morning looking for diagrams or pics to help me see what I'm doing, but without joy.

Tried the 2-3 cycles thing, and still no joy. It was -4ºC this morning though.

Good job I live on a hill to get it going in the mornings!!!
Thanks again.

I work for a ford dealer, they use the same engine in fiesta's but to be honest with you, i have never replaced a faulty glowy on these engines. are you getting the mil light on at all? I think you will probably be more likely to have fuel suppl issues personaly, as i said in previous reply, the leak off pipe conection seals are a known concern! easy to tell because you would have fuel leakage around the injectors. The injectors are located in the middle, at the top of the engine below the inlet manifold/rocker cover assy.

had the exact same problem but on the wifes fiesta 1,4 TDCI.

had the plugs changed and it was like a new car.

also was told the head on the TDCI model is dodgy and the injectors can go which they did. had to replace 2 of them.

apparently they changed the head on newer models?

you can tell if they are going, whack the heaters on and have a smell, any whiff of fuel they are on the way out. also when standing idle the car used to stink.

1. Have you got winter diesel in?

2. How old is the battery? Mine did the same in the last cold snap and although it could turn the engine it wouldn't catch.

How you getting on? sorted?

hi
it is unlikely to be glow plugs as they dont actually work on an hdi engine untill very low temperatures think it is below -5.could be fuel pressure.ie weak pump or leaking injector,air temp sensor,coolant temp sensor some hdi engines even have diesel heaters!!are there any warning lights on?would be best to get it checked by a diesel specialist rather than throw money at i
t. 😯 ps it probably would still not go with a bump start if it was a glow plug problem.but bumping would assist a fuel pressure prob due to higher engine rpm over starter