glow plugs change(806 hdi)

[aliben]

Hello everybody
My ex 806(a friend's got it now) probably needs a glow plugs change as it only starts with easystart.
Has anyone done it and could give some tips( heard they were at the back of the engine, basically where your can hardly access them).
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Aliben

[Peter.N.]

Hdi's don't normally rely on the glowplugs to start although I'm not saying that isn't the problem but I thimk its more likely to be low rail pressure.

Peter

[411514]

The fact that it will run on easystart would agree with peter's diagnosis that it is more likely to be fuel delivery related than ignition

[spider]

They are at the front on a 2.0 unit.

I would agree a fuel issue maybe though as if the pressure is not high enough the ecu will not open the injectors. Easy start (which they get addicted to, strange but true) would work as it would run on that then the fact its been turning at a reasonable speed would be enough to increase the fuel pressure enough for the ecu to signal the injectors.

Is the cranking speed good enough ? , they do need to whiz around at a reasonable speed to fire up.

[CitroJim]

Yes, going on from what has said the HDi only pre-heats when the brass monkeys are really shivering. If all is good it'll start and fire with no glowplugs working at all even when it's Antarctic. It may not run very smoothly but it will fire and run.

The glowplugs do however come on to post-heat and stay alight for a few minutes even at quite mild temperatures to ensure smooth and smoke-free cold running.

That it won't start on anything but easystart indicates a much more fundamental problem and as said, it's not good to keep using it. It works by causing a small explosion and this does the same damage to the engine as severe detonation (pinking) would in a petrol engine. It can even hole pistons and damage the ability for valves to seal.

Nasty stuff

One simple cause of hard starting, after confirming the battery is good, is bad fuel. There have been a few instances on here where an HDi has been difficult to start or won't start and a drain and refill of good fuel has cracked it.