06 Mondeo 2 litre TDCi cold start issue

Bawnmore · 05-07-2018 09:28AM #1

Quick post here to see if anyone recognizes symptoms I'm seeing.

When I try to start the car from cold for the 1st time in the morning or after it's been unused for a few hours, it takes maybe 4 seconds before it turns over. Sometimes it won't turn over on the 1st try but it's rare. After this initial attempt, it starts up perfectly fine on the 2nd attempt every time. Same if I turn the car off after it's already been started - it'll turn on perfectly fine when I try again. When it does start (on 2nd try), there's usually white smoke out the back which I'm guessing is extra fuel built up being burned.

Battery is new, weather being hot or cold doesn't make any difference.

Polo_Cluvie · 05-07-2018 11:54PM

I hope im wrong but id a similiar issue which turned out to be head gasket failure. Coolant was passing into the cylinders overnight making the car difficult to start. When it did start there was a lot of white smoke. Different car to yours but exact same symotoms

Bawnmore · 06-07-2018 08:27AM

That does sound similar - thanks. I'm pretty sure I have access to a pressure test kit, I might give it a shot.

Polo_Cluvie · 06-07-2018 08:48AM

Bawnmore wrote: »

That does sound similar - thanks. I'm pretty sure I have access to a pressure test kit, I might give it a shot.

Let us know how you get on.

duffman3833 · 06-07-2018 09:04AM

had similar issue with my Saab, cold starts took longer and smoking out the back once started. For me, it turned out out be faulty glow plugs. May not be same in your case but similar enough

Stoolbend · 06-07-2018 11:04PM

When did it start happening?

Any recent work done on the car?

Bawnmore · 07-07-2018 07:14AM

Stoolbend wrote: »

When did it start happening?

Any recent work done on the car?

Started about a month ago - thought the battery might not have been up to the job so replaced it. Thought that solved it as it went away for a few days (new battery probably overcompensated for whatever's happening), but it's been getting worse and worse since.

mullingar · 07-07-2018 06:59PM

Could be anything.

Start with the basics.

Any coolant loss?? If none, check glowplugs. Should be <1ohm between the tip and the engine. Check for 12V supply to glowplugs when you first turn on the ignition cold. Next get a scan-tool to see if the fuel rail pressure builds up very fast to allow a start. Only 1 crank should get pressure up to the required pressure.

Now, if all thats OK, next would be compression. Get a compression check done and also do a injector leak-off test and take it from there

Dont forget, a weak starter motor may also cause some issues. (Just compare your starter motor noise to the same engine in another car)

tomslick · 10-07-2018 02:05PM

This is a common enough problem I the MK3 Mondeo. Google Mondeo MK3 lumpy start and you'll see. I too had an 06 Mondeo with this issue. Your ment to get a software update too sort this issue. It's related to the ecu running on new engine settings but you have worn engine. I lived with the lumpy start for two years. Car had 270000 km two

06 Mondeo 2 litre TDCi cold start issue

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