106 Diesel, Starts but Dies when Cold

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Weird fault with my stepdaughter's 106 diesel (1527cc TUD on an 'R' plate), as below, would be lovely if you could point me in the direction of where to look first

• Starts easily, just a moment's cranking [so glowplugs must be ok]
• Idle dips rather low, once or twice, then stalls. All within first 10seconds running.
• Starts easily a second time, runs briefly and stalls again
• Now difficult to re-start, turns over an excessive length of time, 20 to 30seconds maybe; but then starts a third time and runs fine.
• Continues to run all day fine, including starting fine after 8hours or more stood in works car park
• Fault re-occurs next morning

Lucas pump. Only ever run on proper pump diesel. Filter bypassed a while ago.

Thanks in advance

[Hell Razor5543]

A guess (but it is a guess, mind) would be air getting into the fuel line somewhere. There is enough fuel in the system to allow the initial starts, but then it has to draw fuel in from the tank, and this is what take time. If there is a fuel primer try using that next time first. It should be hard (if there is fuel in the system), but if it is soft there is air in it somewhere. Pump it a few times (if it is soft) until it goes hard, and then see what happens when you start her.

[Peter.N.]

I would second that.

Peter

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

thankyou Peter and HellRazor, of course that'd be the reason for the cranking. I'll show my stepdaughter how to prime the system when I see her at the weekend and assuming this does the trick replace the piping and fuel filter

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Thanks again for above, the realisation that it was to do with fuel delivery inspired a very simple (temporary) fix which simply involves daughter not parking the car facing uphill in allocated parking outside her flat overnight.

Clearly fuel was running back towards the tank under gravity overnight, which obviously shouldn't really happen; but its not the end of the world.

Daughter's parking elsewhere now, on the flat; as she finds it impossible to reverse into the space [oh dear, wry smile!!] and the issue's relegated to a 'low priority' for some day when I can work out how to fit some sort of 'one way' valve.

A bit surprised that the inline fuel filter (proper filter housing bypassed) doesn't fulfil this function but hey

So thanks for the inspiration guys

[Hell Razor5543]

A trick I was shown (when I was learning to drive) was to go to a large superstore car park, put several shopping trolleys around a secluded space, and then practise reversing into that space. As the trolleys are light you shouldn't mark the car, and you are not under any pressure.

[Peter.N.]

Fix some tyres round the rear quarters.

Peter