basically the last to mornings ive noticed my fabia vrs has struggled to get started in the morning, i changed the oil, oil filter and air filter at the weekend,

i asked the guy about glow plugs and he said they only need changed when it struggles to start?

Could it be this? any other ideas?

Cars on 56k if it helps

Regards

So you've only had this problem since your mini service?

well its gotten worse since then yes.

anybody? before i go and buy glow plugs?

Check the battery, read the fault codes, buying things without even the remotest attempt at diagnosis is not usually a good idea.

If its just started all of a sudden then I wouldnt say glow plugs.

Did you do fuel filter change?

no im buyin that today to do tonight so will inform tommorrow morning of progress

You can test the glow plugs with a digital multimeter without any dismantling of the engine. Set meter for volts. Ignition off! Clip the positive lead of the meter on the positive terminal of the battery. Touch the negative lead to the earth terminal. 12.5 ish volts. Yes? Now touch the negative lead to the block. 12.5 ish volts. yes? Now pull the wire off each glow plug in turn and touch the negative lead to the top of the glow plug conductor. They're just like a spark plug with a central metal contact. Should show 12.5 ish volts on each one. Any major reduction in voltage reading or zero volts indicates a dead glow plug.

thanks will give that a bash tonight

how long does the glowplug light stay on, on the dash?

to be honest buddy i didnt know there was a glow light on the dash until this morning when i read about it haha!

Doh

If the engine turns over slowly. Have the battery checked. When it starts check the charging system. Multimeter set to DC volts. Needs to read 13 to 14 volts across the battery terminals.

When it starts is there a lot of exhaust smoke? Yes, then it could be a glow plug. Pull off the wires to them. Set you multimeter to resistance. One lead on a good earth the other to the top of each glow plug in turn. Full scale deflection- glow plug is good. No movement in the meter- glow plug is kaput.

If you fancy pushing the car down to Milton Keyens, I'll check it for you!

Steve

Edited 22 May, 201214 yr by Steve Neate

Well changed the fuel filter last night, and this morning car decided not to start at all, would click over but just not spark into life, had to jump start it with leads to my mums battery gonna get a multimeter on it soon but i suspect battery?

Did you prime the fuel filter?

did i do what? lol im not a mechanic, i just try things myself!

You're suppose to prime the fuel filter when you change it, by putting a little diesel in it. Otherwise it can be a bit funny about starting the first time around.

^{ahhh right got you now, well i just had a mate look at it and put a multimeter on the batteery terminals and right it enough the voltage was dropping at an alarming rate!}

^{So new battery required}

I changed battery to Bosch and and replaced all the glowplugs with Bosch too...

Fixed all my starting problems!