Starting a Diesel Car

jacknife

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question.

I've always had petrol cars and i recently got a 1.3 diesel fiat.

there was a problem with the car starting and i changed the battery and it went fine, then last Tuesday it suddenly would not start and i had to get it jumped worked fine and yesterday i stopped at the shop and the same thing it would not start, I tried turning it over and suddenly it started and was fine ever since.

I was just wondering if i'm doing something wrong when starting it, do I need to wait until any lights on the dash go out?

GTDolanator

there is a small light on the dash when you turn the ignition.it looks like a slighly strecthed out spring WAIT until this light has gone out 5-10 secs,then start your car.its called the glow plugs light if it does not come up you wil be cranking for a long time before she starts

Mycroft H

On anything more modern then a old tdi, glow plugs are pretty fast these days, never seen them on for more then 1-2 seconds in a modern diesel, bar for the cold weather in the winter.

Anyways wait for this to go out

Zonda999

Often in cold weather, i go through the process of letting that glow plug light go off twice before starting, just to make sure, would this be recommended or not then?

sonyvision

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

but it could just be the glow plugs aint heating up enough or something is tripping and causing it to not start for safety

PaulKK

Zonda999 wrote: »

Often in cold weather, i go through the process of letting that glow plug light go off twice before starting, just to make sure, would this be recommended or not then?

I always do this on a very cold morning. The car will start much easier so I don't think you are doing any harm.

ThisRegard

sonyvision wrote: »

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

but it could just be the glow plugs aint heating up enough or something is tripping and causing it to not start for safety

Nah, his biggest mistake would be listening to any 'advice' coming from you, nothing buy 90's pub talk is all you've said.

Max Power1

PaulKK wrote: »

I always do this on a very cold morning. The car will start much easier so I don't think you are doing any harm.

I do that most mornings too. She seems to start easier, especially if its cold.

langdang

sonyvision wrote: »

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

but it could just be the glow plugs aint heating up enough or something is tripping and causing it to not start for safety

And when I grow up I want to drive a TDI RS4...

alias no.9

sonyvision wrote: »

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

but it could just be the glow plugs aint heating up enough or something is tripping and causing it to not start for safety

If you knew anything about modern diesels, they owe their very existance to innovation by Fiat. They pioneered direct injection in cars and even used the TDI moniker before VAG. More recently they invented Common Rail as used by just about every manufacturer who makes a diesel car.

_Conrad_

Zonda999 wrote: »

Often in cold weather, i go through the process of letting that glow plug light go off twice before starting, just to make sure, would this be recommended or not then?

Try starting a diesel sierra.... In cold weather it's having a REALLY good day if it starts after doing that twice. make it 5 or 6 and a lot of cranking most times.

Or an old, tired tractor or JCB.... they can be fun* to start in winter.





*actually a pain in the ass

Marcusm

sonyvision wrote: »

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

but it could just be the glow plugs aint heating up enough or something is tripping and causing it to not start for safety

Fiat whose common rail diesel engines are so respected that GM closed its diesel plants and sources diesel engines for Opel/Vauxhall (including the workhorses of the motorway fleets) from Fiat. Rubbish comments.

Nissan doctor

sonyvision wrote: »

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

What problems does the Fiat 1.3 diesel suffer from then?

Tea 1000

Nissan doctor wrote: »

What problems does the Fiat 1.3 diesel suffer from then?

It sufferes from the same problems as sonyvision does... the problems in his head!

butrasgali

2 weeks in a row I have used the Waterford castle ferry - both times turned off my car while crossing over on the ferry and twice the cAr would not start- it's a three year old Octavia diesel rs - this is the first problem I have had with it/ any ideas why while crossing a river this should happen( eventually got the cAr moving after 10 minutes)

Lex Luthor

I always after a long run or hard driving, when I get to my destination, let the car sit for a min or 2 idling to let the turbo cool itself down before switching off.

Lord Nikon

I've never seen the glow plug light on my TDI.

brembo26

Would seals in the pump have anything to do with this? or is that just pajero's? :P

Mc Love

Always press the clutch in when starting your diesel. Think i read that somewhere before

PARKHEAD67

jacknife wrote: »

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question.

I've always had petrol cars and i recently got a 1.3 diesel fiat.

there was a problem with the car starting and i changed the battery and it went fine, then last Tuesday it suddenly would not start and i had to get it jumped worked fine and yesterday i stopped at the shop and the same thing it would not start, I tried turning it over and suddenly it started and was fine ever since.

I was just wondering if i'm doing something wrong when starting it, do I need to wait until any lights on the dash go out?

Theres the problem;)

brembo26

anyone who drives them here for the council swears by the fiat diesels.

LOTTOWINNER

_Conrad_ wrote: »

Try starting a diesel sierra.... In cold weather it's having a REALLY good day if it starts after doing that twice. make it 5 or 6 and a lot of cranking most times.

Or an old, tired tractor or JCB.... they can be fun* to start in winter.





*actually a pain in the ass

Sierra diesel! that brings back memories! they were proper agricultural!! and when you finally got them started they drove like a tractor.

101sean

Old Land Rover diesels were like that, 30 seconds of plug (no timer) and a load of winding :rolleyes:

Common rail ones like the Td5 need none at all, I've never waited for the light to go out and it starts instantly unless it gets below -10.

Lex Luthor

Mc Love wrote: »

Always press the clutch in when starting your diesel. Think i read that somewhere before

my wifes car wont start without pressing the clutch....think its more of a safety issue as its a push button start

JJJJNR

I always wait for the glow plug to go out, its just a habit from an old van I used to have at this stage.

snowman707

surprised no body mentioned that glow plugs fail and need to replaced if so happens,

however in op's case looks more like a fuel issue

gpjordanf1

neuromancer wrote: »

I've never seen the glow plug light on my TDI.

Haven't seen one in my Peugeot either?

johnayo

How old is the fiat. If it is modern, it should start pretty much straight away.

Big Nasty

Some pretty fcukin' amazing 'advice' in this thread! :eek::eek::eek:

johnayo

Looks like OP got started:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

shamwari

Those are not a bad little engine once you're used to now boost below 2000rpm. The hard start is an odd one and not a common problem either with them.

As with all common rail engines, the fuel rail pressure has to meet a minimum threshold before the car will start. A weak battery or starter, or a fuel supply issue could be behind this. I doubt if bad fuel will cause this issue because the symptoms of bad diesel affect general running in a more profound way. Likewise with the glow plugs, on a direct injection engine they are only vary rarely used in very cold weather.

If this problem reoccurs, I'd get a simple code scan done, and in particular, I'd be looking for crank sensor, fuel pressure, and immobiliser codes. If that draws a blank, if anything, I'd stick a new fuel filter on it. Just to eliminate immobiliser, try your spare key!

Finally, the usual nonsense here about the quality of current Fiat engineering is so wide of the mark that it's not worthy of the scathing response it deserves.

shamwari

101sean wrote: »

Old Land Rover diesels were like that, 30 seconds of plug (no timer) and a load of winding :rolleyes:

Yep, that's true! Loads of churning and loads of smoke!!

I once set the tickover speed on one of those by adjusting the pump idle screw till the dashboard came into focus!! I kid you not!!

BavarianCare

alias no.9 wrote: »

sonyvision wrote: »

could be dirty diesel but really think your first mistake was buying a Fiat at all never mind a diesel one, Fix It Again Tomorrow.

but it could just be the glow plugs aint heating up enough or something is tripping and causing it to not start for safety

If you knew anything about modern diesels, they owe their very existance to innovation by Fiat. They pioneered direct injection in cars and even used the TDI moniker before VAG. More recently they invented Common Rail as used by just about every manufacturer who makes a diesel car.

Not strictly true.

TDi started in early 90s with Audi 80 (developed by Bosch).
Prior to that Perkins did a 2.0 DI in the Montego engine.
And what about the HGV applications? And the LCV like Transit 2.5DIs?

The Alfa JTD was developed by Bosch who were doing work for VAG (unit injector or PD engines at the time) and BMW (for their 'd' models) and Merc for their CDi's...

Common Rail was AFAIK designed, developed and produced by Bosch. With similar outfits by Delphi (Ford TDdi).

Now, back to OP - common rails only need glow plugs to start below -15 (even though they will be slower to start). In this country glow plugs on modern CR engines are for emissions and smooth running.

Kind Regards,
Eddie.

Tea 1000

BMWcare wrote: »

Not strictly true.

TDi started in early 90s with Audi 80 (developed by Bosch).
Prior to that Perkins did a 2.0 DI in the Montego engine.
And what about the HGV applications? And the LCV like Transit 2.5DIs?

The Alfa JTD was developed by Bosch who were doing work for VAG (unit injector or PD engines at the time) and BMW (for their 'd' models) and Merc for their CDi's...

Common Rail was AFAIK designed, developed and produced by Bosch. With similar outfits by Delphi (Ford TDdi).

Now, back to OP - common rails only need glow plugs to start below -15 (even though they will be slower to start). In this country glow plugs on modern CR engines are for emissions and smooth running.

Kind Regards,
Eddie.

Bosch worked with Fiat/Alfa in the development of CR engines. Bosch had their expertiese in injectors, and Fiat patented the CR design. If Bosch had developed it on their own, they'd have patented it!