Glow Plugs

[candpdoyle]

Hi there

 

I have been having some trouble starting my xantia (96 1.9td running on bio/cooking oil mix) in the mornings.. it is fine after the first start up of the day!!

 

Have checked the glow plugs with a tester and 3 of them are reading between 10 and 11 volts... the other is dead. of course the one that is dead is the most innaccesable one behind the injector pump :(

 

First question is if they have power, does that mean the plug is fine???

 

second question is how the hell do you get at the 1st one????

 

And third, if 3 are actually working fine, why is it such a bugger to get going in the morning??

 

 

Cheers

Chris

[streaky]

i'd check power feed to one not working. if thats okay then must be glow plug.

 

running on your fuel mix if cooking oil used then i'd check your fuel filters as these can block and clog with the thicker oil so need changing more regular to keep engine supply happy. which would also account for the problems starting when really cold which a dead glow plug will not help but should still start with three.

 

to remove glow plug just remove parts close to it and it a bit of a fiddle but once intercooler/turbo pipe removed not bad to get to not that i've done it

[candpdoyle]

Cheers dude

 

I dont think it is the plugs after all :rolleyes: i ahve adjusted the way i start up now and it is MUCH better... i was starting like my landy :blink: foot to the floor and crank until it fires.. ;)

 

 

Giving the plugs 30 seconds and no accelerator seems to work fine, still a bit of a struggle and usually have to try 2 or 3 times, but i think that will improve with the weather

 

I have just treated it to all filters and an oil change, so all is good there

 

 

Cheers

Chris

[candpdoyle]

well an update that might help someone else..

 

the starting got worse and worse on cold mornings until the battery was dying before the bugger would fire up... visions of very expensive repairs were starting to appear in my poor sore head. :)

 

borrowed some money from my boss and popped over to gsf on sat morning and came home with 4 new plugs..

 

3 hours of cursing,swearing and bleeding later had managed to change 3 of them. :( the last one appears to be impossible to get at without getting behind the engine somehow to remove the intercooler pipe from the turbo :angry:

 

Any way decided to give it a go... put everything back together, changing a bit of fuel hose while at it

 

And success :( instant starting :)

 

went out this morning -4 and no troubles at all... also much less smoke on start up

 

 

So i am a happy bunny at the moment.. just need to do the drop link today... and the last job will be the spheres when i can find some money :(

 

 

Chris