Cranking for 5 seconds then fires up

[james_bt6]

Not sure if this is the correct terminology so apologies. We’ve had our 2017 van for a couple of months now, but noticed on cold starts sometimes the van cranks when you turn the key for up to 5 seconds and then fires up. It ALWAYS fires up, but I would like it to fire up as soon as I turn the key. If I turn the engine off after it struggled to fire up and then turn the key again, the engine starts straight away.

Doing research it could be down to needing a new set of spark plugs but then I read horror stories of them snapping and costing 5k to sort.

Just want to get people’s opinion on this and how I should handle it.

TIA

 

[johndub]

What engine?

 

[james_bt6]

What engine?

2litre 83bhp engine no. CXGA076308

 

[roadtripper]

Do you mean spark plugs because it sounds like you are describing GLOW plugs that help the engine start in low temperatures?

 

[james_bt6]

Do you mean spark plugs because it sounds like you are describing GLOW plugs that help the engine start in low temperatures?

Sorry yes, I mean glow plugs

 

[johndub]

It does sound like a glow plug issue, does it get better in warmer weather?

 

[james_bt6]

It does sound like a glow plug issue, does it get better in warmer weather?

I’ve only had the van a few months and the weathers been pretty bad since owning it. Sometimes it starts straight away but I haven’t been tracking outside temperatures. I’d say it does it when it’s below 10 degrees Celsius outside. I’ll start taking note of outside temperatures and when it does it. I’ve found a good glow plug removal garage near me who have specialist tools to remove stubborn glow plugs if necessary- do you know roughly how much a set of replacement glow plugs is? TIA

 

[mmi]

I would expect even a single glow plug failure manifest would itself as emission light on dash

Glow plug circuit open / fault code

Hi, Randomly getting the orange engine dash warning on my 2020 T6 204hp. I can clear it with Carista and the engine warning lamp disappears. Not getting any limp mode or anything. The fault code is suggesting open circuit / fault on cylinder 1 glow plug, but I am not experiencing any issues...

www.t6forum.com

 

[james_bt6]

I would expect even a single glow plug failure manifest itself as emission light on dash
View attachment 234174

Glow plug circuit open / fault code

Hi, Randomly getting the orange engine dash warning on my 2020 T6 204hp. I can clear it with Carista and the engine warning lamp disappears. Not getting any limp mode or anything. The fault code is suggesting open circuit / fault on cylinder 1 glow plug, but I am not experiencing any issues...

www.t6forum.com

No lights on dash

 

[johndub]

Having said that - does your glow plug light on the dash come on at all? and are you waiting for it to go out before cranking?

 

[james_bt6]

Having said that - does your glow plug light on the dash come on at all? and are you waiting for it to go out before cranking?

Glow plug light comes on with ignition and goes out in seconds then I turn the key

 

[roadtripper]

Have you waited for it to go out before you turn the key to start?

Glow plugs take several seconds to reach temperature, longer when it's colder. If you are trying to start before that then you will have all the symptoms of bad glow plugs, but not a light, because they have not failed you are just starting before they can do their job.

 

[james_bt6]

Have you waited for it to go out before you turn the key to start?

Glow plugs take several seconds to reach temperature, longer when it's colder. If you are trying to start before that then you will have all the symptoms of bad glow plugs, but not a light, because they have not failed you are just starting before they can do their job.

Nope, always wait for the light to go out

 

[Howzat]

Getting the battery tested would be my first check.

 

[james_bt6]

Getting the battery tested would be my first check.

Will do! Are the testers you can buy off Amazon any good or better off taking it to a garage? https://amzn.eu/d/gK8WZDr

 

[bubbadubba]

Second the battery check. Mine did this when I first bought it. I replaced the battery and changed to a larger one and it's never done it since.

 

[AussieMick]

Agree about battery. When my battery is fully charged van starts straight away but if battery is a bit discharged from van not being used and I haven't put it on a battery charger then takes much longer to fire up.
Your battery might not be holding a decent charge. Is it getting older or has it ever gone flat.

 

[Dellmassive]

defo work looking into,

low power from battery, ( slow crank & poor GP temps)

glow plug issue, (poor GP temps))

diesel injector pressure. (we know the rail bleeds down instantly after key off)

...........


look at Carister for a cheap T6 code scanner: Carista - How I Done It -

and here for a cheap battery tester - Amazon.co.uk : 12v battery tester

 

[Dellmassive]

can you get a vid clip of the cold start? ( showing the dash with the windows open so we can here the engine from key-off to crank-start)

post a link to your cloud pics/video,

or bung it on YouTube and post a link here.

 

[james_bt6]

can you get a vid clip of the cold start? ( showing the dash with the windows open so we can here the engine from key-off to crank-start)

post a link to your cloud pics/video,

or bung it on YouTube and post a link here.

Of course it starts lovely when I start filming haha iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud