Xantia starting problem - 1998 TD

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 09 Oct 2008, 11:41

hi all, my xantia has begun it's 3-season starting difficulties...

been fine all summer..
all 4 glows were checked in August during the rebuild...

I am running 35L WVO and 15L DERV today.. overnight temp's probably down to 5C

One thing I noticed this morning, the LHM pump is having to work very hard as the car drops and tries to relift, as soon as engine turns over.. in fact it managed to perform this manouvere completely without the engine running, as soon as height was correct, that car stumbled into life..

So I am thinking that this problem is making a cold hard to start engine struggle a lot more...

Rear Acc sphere?

thanks,
John

Post by **Peter.N.** » 11 Oct 2008, 16:50

If the starter is turning the engine at a reasonable speed, try leaving the glow plugs on until you hear the solonoid click (about 15secs after the light goes out) . If it still doesn't start give it another application of heat, if it still doesn't go, I would suggest you have a leak in the fuel system somewhere and air is getting in. Try pumping the primer until it goes hard and then starting it, if that does it, you definitly have a leak, maybe in the primer itself. If the engine is only turning over slowly, check the battery, alternator charging rate (should be 14v across the battery with the engine running) and all the connections, especially the earth connection to the engine, still slow? Starter.
Have you tried changing the fuel filter?

TBONE · Post by **TBONE** » 11 Oct 2008, 20:10

my bro had this problem and it turned out to be air getting into the fuel filter housing so I put 2 seals in and its works ok now the seal was too thin for some reason so fitted the old one in as well to make it up

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 12 Oct 2008, 16:15

thanks chaps will have a look

have tried 4-5 glowplug 'events' so far and no difference from a single go

Its just odd that as soon as the weather went a bit cold, it wont start..

will check the GPs one evening this week and also fuel leaks

John

TBONE · Post by **TBONE** » 12 Oct 2008, 22:22

its not so much fuel leaks but air getting into the system

KP · Post by KP » 13 Oct 2008, 08:30

See how the priming bulb one goes as it often helps

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 13 Oct 2008, 10:54

ts not so much fuel leaks but air getting into the system

thanks TBone , sorry did know that but half asleep

did the priming this am.. bulb wasnt perfectly tough but it made no odds

the odd things is how quickly the car went from ok to bad starting, overnight...

will check valve clearances as per CJ's advice.. it's been about 3000 miles since head rebuild in August..

Also check/change Fuel filter

Also , get a clear fuel pipe...

Also, substitute the bat... its turning over ok, but i have a fuly charged one to try anyway

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 20 Oct 2008, 12:18

I changed the fuel filter.

the cold starting got so bad that about 1 minute was needed over the weekend...plus a few glow plug 'events'

I drove the car to Snowdonia on Friday, stopping at Leatherhead and Heathrow T5.. both times it would not hot-start either

EM light coming on and limp home cutting in for a second..
anyway, I thought sod it and drove 300 miles away from my tools and home

made the trip, no more issues, about 700 miles in two days..

One thing worth note.... on Friday I used 45L WVO and 10L unleaded.. I wonder what happens if too much petrol is used? this is the first time the car has failed to start from hot, and the first time I have seen the EM light (when not caused by Fuel filter) - any thoughts?

When fuel was low, I put 20L BP ultimate diesel in..

From now on, I may go back to derv for a bit to see if things calm down..

I am pulling all the GPs out tonight and checking them, one or two failing will not suprise me, even though they were all good in August..

sorry this is becoming a ramble.. may have to start a blog on the day to day life of my vehicles

John

TBONE · Post by **TBONE** » 20 Oct 2008, 12:25

the biggest problem with bad/old glow plugs they can burn the ends of the injectors so worth a look at

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 20 Oct 2008, 12:44

Sorry, am i missing something? Did you put above Unleaded?? In a DERV engine car... Theres possibly your problem, mixing it or not... surly you cant use petrol in a diesel engine, well I never have and NEVER had a starting issue, except glow plug issues...

P

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 20 Oct 2008, 12:46

hi P, i think a few of us do this.. it just thins the WVO down a bit..

Sounds like I went over the top this time..

For what its worth, managed about 700 miles from it with no real issues...

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 20 Oct 2008, 12:48

Ok, thats interesting... Ill keep it in mind.

Thanks 8)

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 20 Oct 2008, 12:54

Its never easy standing at a garage, with a green fuel delivery nozzle, and the words 'DIESEL' in red on the filler cap

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 20 Oct 2008, 14:03

Dilute your WVO with diesel not petrol.
If your WVO is so thick it needs petrol to thin it at the temperatures we've been having, then it's time to change WVO supplier!
In really cold climates, it's common to add petrol to help thin diesel, but it's not cold enough to make suitable veg need it.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 20 Oct 2008, 14:09

thanks Xac...

no more petrol it is then...