AX 1.5D starting probs

[JohnD]

Have you made sure that the hand primer is rock hard immediately before turning the starter?

[Xantidote]

You mentioned getting the mechanic to check valve clearances. Did this happen?

The 2 XUD engines I've had have never really needed any adjustment, except when head has come off for other reasons, but certainly there have been posts about closed up valve clearances, so some members (don't know what engines) have had problems.

What's the car's mileage? Worth getting a compression test?

[3ps]

No, haven't had to the mechanic yet.

I wouldn't call the hand primer rock hard, but pretty tough to press. The car starts instantly, so if there was an air problem I would assume it would have problem starting in the evenings too, after sitting all day.

Car is at 76k miles.

I'll see how this battery goes before i do anything else.

Of course I will probably need new injectors, a new relay, a new alternator AND the valves adjusted.............

[3ps]

OK so I put in a new 075 battery last night. The car started instantly, as it always does in the evenings, but it did feel more spritely.

This morning I gave one go of the glow plug relay. It still took 4-5 seconds to start, but the turning over was definitely much stronger and faster.

I think I will leave it a while and see what develops or if it takes longer on colder mornings.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

JpS,
Good to hear youv'e gained some inprovement just in time for the winter by the sound of it.

I hope you charged the new battery over night at least hefore you put it on the car?

could just have been low amps available for cold starting, neglected batteries start to suffer in the colder weather, esspecially as we start to use our headlamps for short journeys. what is it thay say it takes 20 mins of driving to put back what is drained from the batrtery to start the engine.

top up after a spell of hot weather if it is a serviceable battery (if it needs it) and charge on a 4 amp charger for a week and your battery should see you through no probs. I neglected mine this year and have had similar problems in my xantia 1.9TD. my speedo and rev counter dials maxed out and stayed there because I had to jump start the car to get it home silly mistake really not servicing my battery properly. I have spent to much time worrying about other peoples cars to service my own battery properly.
Don't throw the old one away keep it and bench charge it for a good week at least and you might find it works fine or it'll be a good backup battery just in case.

[spider]

One quick thing to try assuming you're not "glowing" it twice:

When the glowplug light goes out, do not start it immediately, count till about 5 then start it.

Reason being when the light goes out there's still full power applied to the plugs for at least another 5 to 10 seconds or until the starter is turned (its got a wire from the glowplug relay to the starter so it knows to cut them off as soon as power is applied to the starter, if nothing else to provide more current to the starter)

Or another way of doing it: When you first switch the ignition on, don't look at the light and count to eight seconds then start it. This is how the first ones were done, ie it was x seconds every time with no regard to temperature.

[3ps]

I didn't charge the new battery before putting it into the car. It has a green light indicator showing and I assume it would be OK, and it was.

My glow plug routine is to wait for the relay to click off. I can sometimes hear the click, or notice the blower increase speed very slightly....

[3ps]

Wasn't that cold this morning, but again it took 5 seconds to catch, but felt strong.

It's an old car, so I'm OK with it taking 5 seconds to catch, but I will see how it fares in colder weather before I do any more with it.

[Xantidote]

Been an interesting thread.

Hope you don't have to post again, other than to report that it's performed OK through the winter. Fingers XXXX

[3ps]

Hope so too. I really like the car. I need to divert money to other causes for a while and the 75mpg is really helping reduce costs!

I had a 205 1.8D before but I would only get about 55mpg from it, but I feel it was a bit more comfortable, and looked nicer

[RussellF97]

Keep it going as long as poss! Looking at the website http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; AX diesels are becoming an endangered species...

[spider]

Hope so too. I really like the car. I need to divert money to other causes for a while and the 75mpg is really helping reduce costs!

I had a 205 1.8D before but I would only get about 55mpg from it, but I feel it was a bit more comfortable, and looked nicer

They are good, 55mpg is reasonable from the 205 mine did about the same possibly a bit more not sure , there's no doubt that there's more comfort / space in the 205 though but the extra economy of the AX should compensate, same for me with the 106.

I did wonder if they ever should of dropped the TUD5 into the 205 as well, that might not of been that bad an idea (it does fit quite easily from a casual inspection) and I do not think it would of been 'that' slow.

Oh well.

Let us know how you get on when it gets a bit colder or if things are worsening though.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Personally I would air on the side of caution if removing glow plugs myself I have been warnned by trusted citroen specialists that Bosch plugs in particular sometimes snap in half whilst being removed, just thought that was worth a mention. Hope it all goes well from here in.

[CGATCX25GTITURBO]

tens mins with a feeler guage

[3ps]

Diagnosed as no compression in 2 cylinders. I've given him the go ahead to replace the shims.

Is there anything I should know about the best way to get them quickly, or are they something that take ages to get. Citroen part only????