Intermittent hard starting.

TEESIXY

TEESIXY

Senior Member
T6 Guru
A 2016 150ps. For the last couple of years it is sometimes difficult to start. It's pretty much random. Usually it will start instantly, hot or cold, but increasingly, it will spin over for around 3 seconds before starting.

Yesterday, for example, it started instantly from cold, but after turning it off to close a gate it did the 3 second trick again. I've tried leaving it with the ignition on for a few seconds before starting, makes no difference. It spins over fine - i fitted a new battery 3 months ago and the fuel filter was done 6 months ago. I guess getting it plugged in might show something, but any suggestions would be most welcome. Its only done 53k, thanks.
 
On the original timing belt?
Crankshaft / camshaft timing out of phase?
 
Is it using oil?

A diesel need fuel, air, compression.

So I'm wondering about dirty injectors?

Cylinder compression?

Maybe start with a decent injector cleaner.... Add the whole bottle into a full tank is fuel.

..

You are very low milage, so maybe things are gummed up from lack of use?
 
Dellmassive said:
Is it using oil?

A diesel need fuel, air, compression.

So I'm wondering about dirty injectors?

Cylinder compression?

Maybe start with a decent injector cleaner.... Add the whole bottle into a full tank is fuel.

..

You are very low milage, so maybe things are gummed up from lack of use?
Click to expand...

Uses no oil. I've owned the van from new. Its generally used for longer journey's, and there's a long incline on the A46 near me which, when the road is clear, that i go up in fourth, reaching the apex at speed..

I've removed a stop start defeat device yesterday, which was working only intermittently too. So will see if that helps.
 
One thing I have noticed with my van is that if I leave the ignition on for a bit before starting, it actually takes longer to crank before starting. I believe this is due to the glow plug only staying on for a second or 2, so if the ignition is turned on a left before stating the glow plugs have turned off again.
 
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I know it sounds odd but for starting problems I always suggest trying the spare key. It's unlikely, but it costs nothing to check and it turned out to be the problem once for me...
 
You could disconnect the glow plugs and see if the symptoms are the same.
 
An update on this - Removing the stop/start defeat device didn't help, but its not done it since i changed to the spare key (thank you sasquatch). As previously said, the van isn't used much atm, but it looks promising..
 
JumpShip said:
Is it turning over nice and fast ? .
Click to expand...
It's always turned over fast, and sometimes will start instantly from cold, but other times would spin for around 3 seconds, whether cold, or hot. Pretty much at random. Leaving the ignition on longer before starting had no effect either.
 
Well, the poor starting hasn't gone, it seems to be marginally worse !

Cold starting is instant, but when fully hot after a run it spins over when trying to start, eventually firing on one or two cylinders, with the starter still going, and then runs normally. Its particularly bad when is has been stood for some time while cooling down.

I emptied the fuel filter - no water or anything. I will fit another tomorrow.

Had the cambelt done at an indy, and he kindly plugged it in. A code showed that the EGR is not operating correctly. I have plans to address that, but is it possible for the EGR to leak coolant in to the cylinders (its a 150ps) ? I have never noticed the coolant drop, but as its worse after being stood with the coolant circuit still under pressure, i wondered if this was a possibility? Thanks.
 
What's the engine code?... IE cfca.

Early rev EGR coolers leaked into the inlet, showing as dropping coolant.

I'd be looking at fuel rail pressure, when cranking,.. IE hpfp.

And injector testing for clogging? Does it use oil?

Compression test for the cylinders... Low compression?

EGR blocked, DPF blocked?

Can you get a few vid clips of a good start? And some faulty starts.... You will need these to show the mechanics anyway....as it's intermittent and not a hard fault.
 
Dellmassive said:
What's the engine code?... IE cfca.

Early rev EGR coolers leaked into the inlet, showing as dropping coolant.

I'd be looking at fuel rail pressure, when cranking,.. IE hpfp.

And injector testing for clogging? Does it use oil?

Compression test for the cylinders... Low compression?

EGR blocked, DPF blocked?

Can you get a few vid clips of a good start? And some faulty starts.... You will need these to show the mechanics anyway....as it's intermittent and not a hard fault.
Click to expand...
It'a cxha 150ps, 2017, done 54k, owned from new. Uses no oil.

I went out to it multiple times last nite at around 30 min intervals and it kept playing up, and yet just now fired up instantly from cold. Will do the fuel filter, monitor coolant level and try and upload some clips. Thanks.
 
You need to put a link here to your vids on your online album, or YouTube.

Start a collection of them. this will be invaluable to a mechanic trying to diagnose.

Just video clips every start and keep them interesting ones, good starts and bad starts... From hot and cold.

Could be an electrical wire or sensor problem, with vibration?

The only way to start diagnosis is to plug in a scan tool like vcds and start looking at live PID dats..

Cranksing
Rpm.
Rail pressure,
Injector deviation,
Fuel pump run.
Turbo pressure
DPF pressure.

There will be a sign somewhere.

My intermittent hard start was down to worn cylinders, but that was on a 80k cxeb bitutbo engine...
 
So couple of instant starts on a cold engine, now its doing it on a cold engine as well. First attempt with a vid, apologies. Think it shows 4 clips, but all are the same one... Taken on board what Dellmassive has said, but thought i would put this on. Seems to be getting worse.

www.youtube.com

Michael Ash

Share your videos with friends, family and the world
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
very good. . . try to get the RPM gauge in the vid as well, as that will help show as and when the engine rpm is detected.

do you have access to vcds scan tool?


from what im seeing/hearing so far.

the battery and starter motor are good, as the engine is spinning fast enough.


there is a delayed start, once it fires does it run smooth with full power?

#####


first guess im going for low fuel rail/injector pressure - HPFP?

second guess - low cylinder compression. - similar to my crank no start.
 
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