zx td starting probs

stubbsy · Unread post by **stubbsy** » 27 Jul 2005, 22:20

zx volcane td,sometimes slow to start.as in starter turns slowly.(would give impression that battery is low)got battery tested and is fine. any ideas

lighteninguk · Unread post by **lighteninguk** » 27 Jul 2005, 23:10

check your earthing?

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 28 Jul 2005, 03:12

If its done a high mileage it could be the starter motor itself, but as suggested check the earth lead from the battery to chassis and chassis to engine, if any of the connections are not tight or corroded and also the + lead from battery to starter.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 28 Jul 2005, 04:35

If you've got a meter you can check the earths easily setting it to 20 VOLTS and connecting it to the battery negative and the engine and operating the starter. You should only get a minimal reading (.25 volt) and if its more you have dirty connections. You can do the same the other way round for the positive lead.
Jeremy

stubbsy · Unread post by **stubbsy** » 31 Jul 2005, 03:39

hi all,i read on the peugeot forum a fella with a 306 is havin the same problems.he was advised to wait another while after glow plug light has gone out and then try.this is also my solution.light out and wait another 10 secs then bang no probs.what controls the heater plug times??? also on my previous dts even in my wifes td escort,they will start no problem with out heating after a journey to the shops..what im sayin is in past experiences heater plugs havnt been needed to start. sometimes 5 to 10 mins after stopping.my latest baby wont do this. i wonder is there a linking problem here somewhere.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 31 Jul 2005, 04:30

On the ZX the glowplugs glow for a while after the light is extinguished or the engine has started in the interests of reduced emmissions.
Starting performance is linked to a number of factors - injector condition/spray pattern, engine compression, starter performance. If it will start without glow plugs - fine providing it doesn't smoke which is merely antisocial.
The battery/starter system should work fast regardless of whether the glowplugs are working or not. If it doesn't you may have starter problems (sticky/worn brushes?), the wrong size battery, poor connections, battery with reduced capacity - either due to poor construction or age related deterioration. All this assumes that the thing is chargeing properly - ie after standing overnight the voltage should be 12.6 volts and when idling after a run it should be between 13.6 and 14.4 volts. The battery voltage shopuld not drop excessively when the starter is operated.
jeremy

JohnT · Unread post by **JohnT** » 31 Jul 2005, 05:12

The glow plugs should not require any longer than 6 seconds, assuming they are doing their job. The battery is either up to it or not. Have you checked whether it has the right amp? and cranking power? Unless it is has a label on it showing it can produce at least 475 amp, it is the problem, if your starter motor copes with a hot engine.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 31 Jul 2005, 13:43

Could be that your engine has lower than normal compression, not necessarily from wear, some just do. Doing what you are and leaving it for a few seconds after the light has gone out is fine. The light is designed to go out before the plugs switch off, as mentioned.

wilkobob · Unread post by **wilkobob** » 31 Jul 2005, 22:21

Had a problem like this on my zx when i bought it last year. I thought the battery was duff, but it was reading that it was ok. I tried swapping the battery with the one i had on my astra (same size) and hey presto the zx was fine. The stange thing was, the astra was fine on the zx battery also. To this day I cant work out why everything worked after.

mrbump · Unread post by **mrbump** » 01 Aug 2005, 23:57

CCA - cold cranking amps.
The one in the diesel willbe a stronger battery and would have still turned over the lower compression petrol engine with less juice in it.
Greg

wilkobob · Unread post by **wilkobob** » 02 Aug 2005, 16:23

sorry there, they were both diesels....

stubbsy · Unread post by **stubbsy** » 09 Aug 2005, 23:06

update.it was indeed the battery.took it to a mate who is a car spark today as it seemed very lazy last night.he put a hand held bosch reader on to it.was charging ok but was reading 37% efficeincy and was unservicable.new varta battery £34 all in,problem sorted.[:D]

stubbsy · Unread post by **stubbsy** » 18 Aug 2005, 15:07

update woes.comeing home from work this morning i noticed a slight glow from the battery light on the dash.so sped up a bit and still there.switched on everything in the car to c if became brighter,full lights,heater,rear window demist ect.but still stayed the same.(only a slight glow).also when ignition is on, the battery light is still the same slight glow and not the usual "brightness" of all the other dash lights. any ideas?

stubbsy · Unread post by **stubbsy** » 19 Aug 2005, 00:11

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 19 Aug 2005, 04:23

Sounds to me like the original problem might have been a dodgy earth. Or maybe the alternator belt is silently slipping - it can happen. But I'm no expert.
I'd take it straight back to your autoelectrician mate - should be an easy one for him.