02 Xsara 1.9d Not Starting

[Guest glow4plug]

hi,i have changed the battery already as the one i had in was past it(it had baan flattened)She used to start when i jumped with another car.but still the car-van wont start in the mornings.I then took out the glows plugs and tested them.but thay all worked.i thought for sure i would find a faulty plug!Does anyone know what the problem could be now?should i go ahead and change the plugs now that i have them out.what else could the problem be?do plugs draw less power as they get older even though they seemed to work ok?

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Seeing you have the plugs out just now it would be a good time to take a set of compression readings. I'm not sure what they should be as I don't have my manual handy. Any competent garage mechanic will be able to tell you what they should be, andwhat the maximum difference between them should be.

 

You could do a set of "Dry" and "Wet" readings. The 2nd set involves squirting some lub oil down the bores to see if there is a significant difference between the readings. This can help highlight things like worn bores and rings, poorly seating valves etc which can lead to poor starting. If the readings are OK at least you will know the engine is mechanically sound. At least as far as the compressions go. Seeing you have them out you might as well replace them as they don't cost a lot and they won't last forever. In my experience they either work or they don't. No in-between.

 

It could also be the fuel system "Air locking". I remember reading a reply to a query in "Car Mechanics" where the guy was having problems starting. Turned out his car was OK if he parked facing downhill, but wouldn't start if parked facing uphill. There was a very small leak somewhere in the fuel system which was allowing fuel to run away from the engine back to the tank when the car was parked "uphill" but not the other way! Try operating the hand priming pump in the mornings until it is hard. If it goes hard quickly then the system is most likely OK. If not, go through the system checking all the fuel system joints. A leak which will let air in won't always be enough to let a fluid out so it may not show up. Check round the engine while pumping to see if you see anything.

 

You might get a clue from the manual. I have a Blog at http://my.opera.com/Brecknaheim/blog/ which has PDFs of the fuel system and in car repair procedures for the 1.9 XUD in the Xantia. Now I think about it the compression values will be there. You may get a bit of help from that. Cheers

[richbaker]

its hard to do it by yourself go to a specialist to fix that problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Phaeton]

hi,i have changed the battery already as the one i had in was past it(it had baan flattened)She used to start when i jumped with another car.but still the car-van wont start in the mornings.I then took out the glows plugs and tested them.but thay all worked.i thought for sure i would find a faulty plug!Does anyone know what the problem could be now?should i go ahead and change the plugs now that i have them out.what else could the problem be?do plugs draw less power as they get older even though they seemed to work ok?

You could try some Surestart or one of the genric ones (think Halfords do their own) turn the engine over whilst spraying into the air inatke. If it runs on this then it's a fuel problem for sure.

 

Alan..

p.s. You will need to have the glowplugs back in for this but don't use them

[Jonno]

How did you test the plugs?? If you tested them idividually on a battery and they worked fine then that proves the plugs themselves are ok - what it doesn't prove however is whether they are getting a suply voltage when in the engine. Get a voltmeter or a test light and test the wiring to the glowplugs when the ignition is on to prove you have electrickery to them.

Check the fuse to the glowplug system and check to see if the timer relay is working. You may be able to hear it clicking in?

Didn't someone on another post have a similar problem with a Berlingo? That was a melted connector on the glow plug relay.

 

Surestart, easystart or indeed any of those other ether based starting sprays are engine killers - don't use them. Engines become very quickly addicted to them and then won't start without using them. They have no lubricating properties whatsoever and can cause rapid cylinder wear.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Totally Agree! You don't want to use any of that "Easystart" ***oops***. It's designed for Fergy 35 tractors, London (Routemaster) busses, and the like. NOT modern engines. It will cause, rather than, cure problems. Be like a GOOD Doctor. Treat the cause rather than the SYMPTOMS! Cheers. Happy Festives!

[Phaeton]

Surestart, easystart or indeed any of those other ether based starting sprays are engine killers - don't use them. Engines become very quickly addicted to them and then won't start without using them. They have no lubricating properties whatsoever and can cause rapid cylinder wear.

Total fallacy, an engine cannot become 'addicted' to it, it's an inanimate object therefore incapable of being addicted. Granted excessive use will wash the bores over an very long extended time, but that is not what I was suggesting.

 

I was suggsting uses it as a diagnostic aid, if the engine will run under the starter fluid, but not start, then the problem is likely to be fuel related. If the engine actually starts under starter fluid the the problem is the glowplugs or the circuit.

 

Alan...

[Jonno]

Ok so perhaps "addicted" was the wrong expression to use. It was meant to inform that use of the starting aid spray could result in the engine becoming reliant on it to start. I suppose one reason for that would be the possibility of premature wear of the cylinders due to the lack of lubrication of the ether based spray. Once compression is compromised a diesel engine will not function as it is intended and the only way to get it to start would be to use the lower compression pressure ignition properties of the ether based sprays.

Granted a quick spray to prove one way or the other whether there is a problem with fuel related isues would not neccessarily cause any long term damage.

[Stevie]

Its worth considering whether the imobiliser is faulty and its not switching the fuel on.Perhaps a visit to an auto-electric garage is needed if all other avenues have been exausted.

 

ps.I agree about giving 'Easy start' a go too.Used it on various diesels over the years like cars,vans,forklifts,lorries-even cement mixers with 100% success.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

How about some of this stuff. Pure Aussie CLASS!!!!!!!! :lol:

 

syb350.pdf

 

Cheers! Hope you get it going. Happy New Year! ;)

[Guest glow4plug]

Well i got the bloody thing started! After i found the glow plugs worked fine i cleaned the plugs where the power is applied to switch on the plug. I also cleaned the connectors to the glow plugs and made sure each glow plug was receiving 12V for as long as the relay was switched on, and she fired fired first time and no problems since.