Hi, was just wondering how other 1.9TDi owners cars were getting on with starting in this extreme cold weather,

Mine varies, sometimes it starts instantly and other times even on comparable low temperatures it takes 1 or 2 engine turns to start, this morning it was -9 and the glow plugs were on for about 7-8 seconds, when i started the car it took 4-5 turns of the engine to get going but started OK once it was going,

Is anyone else experiencing the same type of varied starting?

Is this what I should expect as with deisel it does need heat to help with compression and its just what we get with the extreme cold conditions?

Or is this pointing at maybe my glow plugs are beginning to loose there effectiveness? My car is a 54 with 85k on it.

Cheers all

If it's still on the original battery, a new one would make a big difference. -20c here, VRS started 1st turn of the key after 5 seconds glow plug light.

Probably 1 or 2 glow plugs at end of life, remove caps and check resistance/continuity to engine block, should be below 1 Ohm each.

Depending on how the car is used, glow plugs typically go after 4-8 years, so 54 reg could need replacement.

Probably 1 or 2 glow plugs at end of life, remove caps and check resistance/continuity to engine block, should be below 1 Ohm each.

Depending on how the car is used, glow plugs typically go after 4-8 years, so 54 reg could need replacement.

If it is the glow plugs any recommendations on which are the best and were to get them from cheapest,

Cheers all again

Probably 1 or 2 glow plugs at end of life, remove caps and check resistance/continuity to engine block, should be below 1 Ohm each.

Depending on how the car is used, glow plugs typically go after 4-8 years, so 54 reg could need replacement.

My diesel is a 2002 has done 200,000 on the same plugs,it probley the battery

Mine is garaged mostly, but glow plugs only need a 2 second prime before the light goes out, usually starts on the first turn. I think only once did it crank twice before firing into life.

53 plate, original glow plugs and I haven't changed the battery either.

No cold starting problems whatever (1.9 AWX) but I do look after the battery and trickle charge it if the car is unused for several days. -12 deg C here.

No diesel will start if the cranking speed is too low.

rotodiesel.

No cold starting problems whatever (1.9 AWX) but I do look after the battery and trickle charge it if the car is unused for several days. -12 deg C here.

No diesel will start if the cranking speed is too low.

rotodiesel.

mines a bit iffy on these very cold starts. I give it several preheats and its still a bit rough on first fire. Metered all 4 plugs and they read 6 ohms each, and I measured the current draw with a clamp and its about 85amps. and its split equelly over the 4 with the clamp on each one..

I have the same problem. It takes up to 5 seconds before the starter reacts on key turn. Dont think it's battery problem as everything turns on fine when i turn the key: radio, aircon etc.

mines a bit iffy on these very cold starts. I give it several preheats and its still a bit rough on first fire. Metered all 4 plugs and they read 6 ohms each, and I measured the current draw with a clamp and its about 85amps. and its split equelly over the 4 with the clamp on each one..

If the plugs really measured 6 Ohms each they would draw 2 Amps at 12V. (Ohms law).

You need to be careful measuring voltages and currents on the glow plug system as the power to the plugs is mark/space ratio controlled with a switching regulator to stabilise their operating temperature with voltage. The rather fragile Bosch ceramic plugs are rated at 7V I seem to remember. They don't seem to like high sulphur fuel or prolonged motorway running and have a habit of snapping off into the combustion chamber. Remove them with infinite care and don't put them back.

If you can't achieve a critical minimum cranking speed on a diesel, the combustion chamber will lose heat faster than it is supplied by compression - and it will never fire.

rotodiesel.

I think 0.6 Ohms was meant which is 12V/0.6Ohm = 20Amp and is about right

Edited 8 January, 201016 yr by dieselV6

mines a bit iffy on these very cold starts. I give it several preheats and its still a bit rough on first fire. Metered all 4 plugs and they read 6 ohms each, and I measured the current draw with a clamp and its about 85amps. and its split equelly over the 4 with the clamp on each one..

To Roto and V6,

I did measure 6ohms each , and 85amps too. I did think there was a mismatch as is ohms law, but i didnt know if there was any 'trickery' going on such as a pulsing modulation.

All of you who experience problems with diesel cold start should blame your batteries. It'll power everything onboard - radio, aircon etc., but if it's getting old and fatique, then the engine won't fire, rotodiesel is right about that.

One trick is to turn on your headlamps for about 15 to 30 seconds before you start the car. That activates the battery (e.g. warms it up a bit), which makes the current more powerful. This is widely used in Finland, where I live. Fuel conditioners also help, if available in the UK

Recently my -04 began to start with 2 or three cylinders when electric heater was not used but a set of new Bosch glow plugs cured that. At the moment I had 140000 kilometres on the clock.

I have put new plugs in today cold, but still miss-fires for a few secs and has a bit of smoke. the old plugs looked ok, and now measure 0.6ohms each, and not 6ohms as they did in the car.

Probably 1 or 2 glow plugs at end of life, remove caps and check resistance/continuity to engine block, should be below 1 Ohm each.

Depending on how the car is used, glow plugs typically go after 4-8 years, so 54 reg could need replacement.

Hi folks,

I'm having this problem... I'm in Germany and it's been below -10 all week. Last few days have been ropey, glow plug light takes 20 or 30 seconds to go out and it took about 5 or 6 goes to get it started... today there were no signs of life at all and eventually the battery went flat.

It's a 2001 (was 51 plate) Fabia 1.9 Tdi - as far as I know the glow plugs haven't been changed (woudl they be in regular servicing?) so is it worth ordering new ones anyway (I don't have a meter to test them and not sure I'd know how to anyway)?

Are they easy enough to change?

UPDATE EDIT:

Actually it was just the battery - after charging it fully indoors it started fine (although it was only -8) ... have to see how it is tomorrow morning.

Edited 5 February, 201214 yr by thrope