Xantia 1.9td Warm Starting

[Phillip]

I have a 99 1.9TD that starts perfectly when cold. Wait for teh Glow's to go out and ot fires up almost imediately. When hot it turms over and over before finally firing up. It always starts eventually but the battery is turning over the engine slower and slower and iIam worried it will come to the point when the battery is flat before it fires.

 

The guys at the local independant just shrugged their shoulders when I asked them, followed by the useful comment "Probably just a sensor mate"

 

Any ideas

[Ronin]

I'm curious here so just bare with me.

Try turning the ignition on and wait 20 seconds (even though the heater plug light has gone out) then start it.

 

let us what happens ok m8

 

Diesels work on compression and no spark as i'm sure you already know. This takes a lot of juice from the the electrical system to turn over. If your battery and alternator are not charging properly , it slows down the turning over of the engine and makes it difficult to start anyway. They need a constant turning speed to build the pressure up or it escapes from the exhaust system if it turns over to slow

A good tyre and exhaust centre can do a free check the alt./battery for charging rate and condition.

 

Glow plugs last between 50,000 to 70,000 miles and they aren't difficult to change. Even if one of them is on it's way out it could cause starting problems even when the engine is warmed up

There are lots of multiplugs around this area, I would suggest getting a tin of electrical contact cleaner spray (maplins).

Take each multi plug off one at a time and clean thoroughly and spray the contacts then connect them back up.

 

The only other thing that I would check is Air / fueling issues, when was the fuel filter last changed? check for water from the filter housing drain plug and is the priming bulb spongy or hard?

Check air filter hoses for splits and also the seals of the intercooler hoses (plastic pipes) from the turbo to see if they are loose.

Give the linkages on the fuel pump a good spray with wd40, on the front side as you look at it from the engine(bosch pump) is a small linkage that is the fuel stop lever and can slowly sieze with dirt deposits especially when the engine bay is warm so make sure that it is able to return back to its original position..

try the simple things first m8 before sensors and expensive parts need changing.

[unclefista]

Sounds like it could be the valves need their clearances setting and causing the valves not to seat properly once warm, I'd do a comprssion test when cold, then when warmed up..