Just wondered if anybody has an idea what could be wrong with my car. 110 tdi with 130k. On start up the engine seems to be a bit noisier than normal for a few sec then quietens down to normal but a bit of black/dirty smoke come out the exhaust for a few seconds. Then returns to normal with no loss to economy or power. It is about due a service.

Any suggestions would be great

Maybe you have a glowplug which is starting to fail.

How is the coolant level?

Could it be glownplug? It starts ok just a little rough. I will have a look at the coolant level. What would the coolant level show?

I was wondering if the "smoke" you were seeing after it started might have been caused by a bit of coolant leaking into the cylinder(s). I suspect the car would start with 3 good glow plugs and be a a bit rough until the 4th cylinder warmed up a bit. I am only guessing though. Maybe someone with a bit more of an informed opinion will be along in a bit.

my old citreon smoked and lot and ran rough on starting when it was trying to start on only 2 glow plugs. Another thought when was the cambelt last changed?

Edited 21 October, 201015 yr by trundlenut

The cambelt isn't due yet think it's 140k that's due. I will check the coolant level also when I get home. Is there any way of checking the glow plugs or is it worth sapping them anyway? It has only started since it's been really cold so maybe your right about the cylinder

The cambelt isn't due yet think it's 140k that's due.

TDI belts are due every 60k, thus 60k, 120k, 180k, and so forth. I am fast approaching my 180k belt change

It has only started since it's been really cold so maybe your right about the cylinder

Coldness suggest a probably glowplug issue.

Edited 21 October, 201015 yr by mbames

I better check my cambelt change but sure it isn't for a while. Worth checking tho. I will look at swapping glow plugs

After a cambelt change the timing on the fuel pump was nearly a tooth out but this wasn't a problem till it got cold then it was hard to start the car. I was thinking you caould have had the belt done recently and the timing could be out.

If one of the glowplugs is kapput then it may log an error - get it checked with vcds. you're not too far from me and I could check the car for errors but I only have the free version of vcds so I couldn't check the fuel pump timing.

After a cambelt change the timing on the fuel pump was nearly a tooth out but this wasn't a problem till it got cold then it was hard to start the car. I was thinking you caould have had the belt done recently and the timing could be out.

If one of the glowplugs is kapput then it may log an error - get it checked with vcds. you're not too far from me and I could check the car for errors but I only have the free version of vcds so I couldn't check the fuel pump timing.

thanks that's very kind of you. Where at you then? Don't know why but I'm on my phone and it misses some things off!

Well this morning I left the glow plugs a few seconds after light went out and it started perfect! So lik you say it could be glowplugs! Thinknits will swap them. Can I swap a couple or have you got to swap them all? They are only £7 each from gsf

cheers to all

I think you can check the resistance of them and work out which ones are duff. iirc, one of them is a bit of a pig to change

If it was me, I would probably only swap out the dead one, and maybe keep a spare plug in the garage incase another failed shortly after.

thanks that's very kind of you. Where at you then? Don't know why but I'm on my phone and it misses some things off!

I live near Long Eaton, but I'm all over the place for the next few days.

Well this morning I left the glow plugs a few seconds after light went out and it started perfect! So lik you say it could be glowplugs! Thinknits will swap them. Can I swap a couple or have you got to swap them all? They are only £7 each from gsf

cheers to all

I changed them all over as it was fairly easy to do and only £7 each.

I think you can check the resistance of them and work out which ones are duff. iirc, one of them is a bit of a pig to change

If it was me, I would probably only swap out the dead one, and maybe keep a spare plug in the garage incase another failed shortly after.

The left hand one is slightly fouled by the pipe to the fuel injection pipework but IIRC I used a universal joint on top of the glow plug socket to get that one out. I dropped the socket into the engine bay and retrieving it took nearly as long as changing the plugs!

I think I will change them then at that price. Hopefully that will sort it an not be anything else as I have just had to have the clutch and flywheel done at I've £500 so could do without another big bill.

Thanks again chaps