Is There A Trick To It?

[Ratt]

Hiya all....I'm wanting to do a glow plug job on my 2002 c15 van....can someone tell me how to open the steel clip on the egr pipe safely. I've tried putting a screwdriver behind it and popping it forward, but it really doesn't seem like it wants to go. Also engine hot or not to remove the glow plugs?

[Johndouglas]

If it's a similar clip to that on my daughters Pug 306 what I did was to put a junior hacksaw cut across the top of the clip. Then it could be opened slightly and removed. I used the same clip on reassembly but put a large jubilee clip around it. It has stayed in place for years like that. I take the glowplugs out when they are hot. Which engine? The XUD7 or DW8

[Ratt]

Thanks John. I presume the old clip is shaped in some way, so that replacing it entirely with a jubilee is not a good job. It's the DW8 and generally bullet proof, strangely the only issue that surfaces occasionally is a stubbornness to start when hot. Leave it for a couple of minutes and away it goes, I've also had it cut out on a run once, could this problem be connected? 

[Johndouglas]

I presume the old clip is shaped in some way,

Yes - the clip that I cut off was a square 'U' shape, so it held two sides as well as the circumference. A jubilee clip round it all holds it securely. Regarding the starting, when was the fuel filter changed last?

[paul.h]

Other possibilities of not starting when hot can include

- a coolant temperature sensor fault so the fuel/air ratio is wrong

- a crankshaft sensor fault. These can cause the engine to stop when hot but can be ok once cooled down and this will tend to get worse.

[Ratt]

I changed the fuel filter recently, soon after i bought the van. On one of these difficult to start times, before i learned to wait a minute or so, i cranked it over and over, and when it did start, it did so on what seemed to be 1 or 2 cylinders only, loads of white smoke. Anyway, i shut it off cause i was in a builders yard and embarrassed as hell, then a couple of minutes later it started like normal????  

[Johndouglas]

I wonder if air is getting into the fuel lines. Before starting you could give the hand primer some squeezes until it feels solid, then try the starter.

[paul.h]

The loads of white smoke could be excess diesel from cranking or possibly if the egr valve was open. I would also check the coolant level in case the head gasket is leaking coolant in to a cylinder.

 

There are a few ideas in this post including a cracked cylinder head being the cause http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/diesel-engine-kicking-out-a-lot-of-smoke-on-start-up.155160/

[Ratt]

It runs as sweet as a nut normally and the coolant level never drops, so this egr valve might be an issue. Is there a cure for this if needs be

[paul.h]

If it has anything to do with the egr valve then you could try cleaning it.

[Ratt]

I'll look it up on you tube and give it a try Paul. Let you know how it turns out....thanks

[Ratt]

If you didn't know it, you wouldn't believe how the whole egr-air intake system clogs up with this soot would you? Hopefully it'll be a vast improvement now that it's cleaned out....a few days running and i'll post back

[Ratt]

Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed better running, so it would be safe to say that any older Citroen could do with a clean up of the EGR and air intake system. Thanks for the replies that helped me out.