Got a Merc c200cdi which has just started to not start fisrt time every time. Everything turns over with plenty of power, just the engine doesn't fire first time. Will start on 2nd or 3rd attempt. Does this sound like glowplugs, and does anyone know roughly what they'll cost to replace?
Thanks,
Stu.
Sounds like glow plugs might only be 1 or 2 plugs that are faulty at a rough guess £10 - £15 each !
cheers bladder, is it something I can do myself easily?
If glow plugs are not working at all, when it finally starts it'll chug and splutter for a few seconds and cough out some white smoke (or maybe not, depending on what fancy converters/filters are in the exhaust). If they are just weak then you might have the above problem. However if it's suddenly started not being right then it's most likely to be an electrical fault rather than slow weakening. Check the fuses.
strange thing is that it went in for a service last week and was totally fine before, has come back from the service and this problem started!
Its fairly straight forward like changing spark plugs take them all out and carefully check them on the cars battery by using a foot lenght of insulated wire press the threaded part against the - earth post then wrap the wire or use a connector round top of glow plug were the wire plug fits on and the hold the opposite end on the + positve post for 5-10 secs if u dont see the tip smoking getting red then thats your problem be careful not to burn your fingers it bloody hurts !
Its fairly straight forward like changing spark plugs
If you can get at them. They are not on the top of the head, but down the side. When I last did it, two were easy, one was a right b*tch and one was damn near impossible.
Glow plugs can go any time but its only when it turns colder u have problems but could be a fuel problem !
Merc ones are quite a bit more than £10-15 and sometimes they are a git to get too but should be a fairly straight forward job.
It's probably more of a coincidence that the cold whether has arrived and your starting problems rather than the service.
I hope for your sake its the glow plugs and not air in your fuel lines like it is on mine
total nightmare to trace, still not managed after 3 months 
I have a similar issue on my Passat. If I leave it for more than a couple of days, it won't start first go, but starts perfectly second time. No coughing, fires up immediately, but only on the second go.
I'm thinking air in the fuel lines, because the other day it wouldn't pull away up the hill very well for a few seconds.
molgrips and jools, that is a little scary, the wife was complaining that it was jerky when pulling away! Is that an expensive fix, air in the lines?
I would maybe take it back to your garage incase its drawing air at the fuel filter housing if they changed it? If one the connections is slack or not sealed tight I have seen the fuel draining back to the tank and when starting you are having to pump the fuel back up to the fuel pump ie 2-3 times cranking .
Air in the lines is not expensive to fix, but accessing them is hard as is figuring out where the leak is 
+1 for checking the thigns they changed on the service tho. Could be a good call bladder.
the only thing that might be expensive is labour for tracing the tricky little bugger if it is an air leak
I've changed all the fuel lines on mine, now, I'm trying the seals around filters and shut off valves etc
I hate that car
It's the same merc?
This topic has been closed to new replies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
