Hi all,
I have as stated a 1.9D M reg Citroen Xantia. In the last year its had a severe issue starting from cold. I orignally thought pre-heaters as its the first instinct - opps! Just got a all of them changed and still the problem. Basically occours sometimes in the summer very slight, and is much much worse in winter?!?
Car pre-heats...
I start....
Revs-bounce - even when i have used the fuel system primer???
In winter they bounce so much that engine stalls....
Any ideas???
Thanks
Xantia 1.9D Starting Fuel Problem
Moderator: RichardW
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dagoodyear
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oilyspanner
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Your Xantia 1.9D has a thermostatic coldstart device - usually referred to as a diesel choke - but in fact it offsets the injection timing a bit for easier starting.
It's the cylindric thingy screwed into the thermostat housing with a bowden cable connected to the rotary diesel injection pump.
This coldstart device wears out over the years - giving diesel start problems.
With cold engine mark up the inner cable at it's end stop position w/ white ink - then notice if the cable has moved at all with hot engine (denoted by cooling fan cutting in). If no movement appearent - the coldstart device is worn out.
You may need a diesel specialist to set the cable adjusting correctly - an easy job - and could be your only problem.
It's the cylindric thingy screwed into the thermostat housing with a bowden cable connected to the rotary diesel injection pump.
This coldstart device wears out over the years - giving diesel start problems.
With cold engine mark up the inner cable at it's end stop position w/ white ink - then notice if the cable has moved at all with hot engine (denoted by cooling fan cutting in). If no movement appearent - the coldstart device is worn out.
You may need a diesel specialist to set the cable adjusting correctly - an easy job - and could be your only problem.
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dagoodyear
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Right here we go... firstly tho thanks for all the ideas so far, it helps my (and others hopefully) knowledge at least [:D]
I had a look at the cold starting device (didnt even know about it previously). It appears to be working, as when cold the lever on the pump is pulled and then when hot the cable is slack, and level back to normal position.
Its not as cold at the moment so not such an issue. It has got better with the pre-heahters, but still there. I can tell, because if you start it, and hold the accelerator down slight even just to bring the revs up to 1 and half, the revs bounce slightly, and it cant be firing correctly.
I've also put in some of the disel engine cleaner agent (maybe this is why its starting better at the mo slightly?).
Any other ideas[?]
(Strange to me how once engine is warmish or run for 5 secs when very cold, the problem dissappears, almost like fuel problem - but still there when primed?)
Any hope all reading have a good XMAS, and your citroen are starting better than mine [;)]
I had a look at the cold starting device (didnt even know about it previously). It appears to be working, as when cold the lever on the pump is pulled and then when hot the cable is slack, and level back to normal position.
Its not as cold at the moment so not such an issue. It has got better with the pre-heahters, but still there. I can tell, because if you start it, and hold the accelerator down slight even just to bring the revs up to 1 and half, the revs bounce slightly, and it cant be firing correctly.
I've also put in some of the disel engine cleaner agent (maybe this is why its starting better at the mo slightly?).
Any other ideas[?]
(Strange to me how once engine is warmish or run for 5 secs when very cold, the problem dissappears, almost like fuel problem - but still there when primed?)
Any hope all reading have a good XMAS, and your citroen are starting better than mine [;)]
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Dave Burns
- Posts: 1915
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Could be poor quality or incorrect glow plugs, glow relay not able to pass enough current due to burnt contacts, bypass it to test by shorting accross the two cable connecting nuts at the end of the relay with a heavy screwdriver.
Injectors could be in a bad way if its a high miler, good spray pattern will assist cold starting, hot running not affected to such a large degree though can cause the engine to hunt when hot.
Worst case scenario would be low compression, this will cause a lower air temperature under compression, if its not hot enough the fuel may vapourise but wont ignite, denoted by white exhaust smoke.
A timing error can also hamper starting, I would look at the heater circuit and the plugs, make sure they are correct for the engine.
It may well be a combination of these to some extent but I don't think its a fuel shortage, if a diesel wont start and it isn't because of air ingress its usualy because of insuficient temperature generation, either down to the glow plugs or compression.
Dave
Injectors could be in a bad way if its a high miler, good spray pattern will assist cold starting, hot running not affected to such a large degree though can cause the engine to hunt when hot.
Worst case scenario would be low compression, this will cause a lower air temperature under compression, if its not hot enough the fuel may vapourise but wont ignite, denoted by white exhaust smoke.
A timing error can also hamper starting, I would look at the heater circuit and the plugs, make sure they are correct for the engine.
It may well be a combination of these to some extent but I don't think its a fuel shortage, if a diesel wont start and it isn't because of air ingress its usualy because of insuficient temperature generation, either down to the glow plugs or compression.
Dave