peugeot 806 hard to start

[rainydays]

I have recently got a peugeot 806 and it is a real pain to get it to start. When it was running yesterday the exhaust smoke had a whiteish appearance to it and it would not start today. My lass was trying to start it this morning, it was cranking but would not fire. She told me that the water in diesel warning light was illuminated.

I tried to start it tonight but it would not go. Tried the bleed screw on the fuel filter housing but nothing came out of it.
One thing that i have noticed though is, the metal pipes attached to the fuel pump, which go to the injectors are corroded. I think that it could be drawing in air due to the corroded pipes. Does this sound about right? If so does anyone know where to get replacement pipes from?
Thank`s for reading and replying

[oneday]

if the pipes are from the pump to the injectors they will be pressuized so wont draw air in

[rainydays]

Ok, back to the drawing board then. If they were corroded right through then they would be squirting diesel out yeah?

[wirdip]

I had this problem just before xmas, same whitish smoke etc, turned out to be the glowplugs. try turning ignition on and wait for yellow glowplug light to go out, then quickly turn off and back on again till yellow light goes out and try to start. If it fires this is a sure sign that the glow plugs are at fault, they are vital especially in this cold weather. good luck.

Regards Alan

[rainydays]

I gave it about 3 pre-heats with no joy

[rainydays]

I have not checked the glow plugs yet. Does anyone have a quick/accurate test metod?
Just tried to jump start it with my work van, but no joy.

[Hell Razor5543]

The simplest, most reliable (and, be bl00dy careful, because it is the hottest) way is to remove the plugs, mount them one at a time in a vice (holding them on the socket shoulder), and then apply the right levels of power (as it would get when fitted into the engine). The glow plug should glow very quickly at the TIP (if they glow in the middle they are faulty). Please ensure there is nothing inflammable near them, and you allow plenty of time to cool down before touching them.

I cannot stress this enough! If they are working they will get VERY hot VERY quickly, and take a long time to cool back down again. If you are not happy doing this, or cannot be sure to be safe, DON'T DO IT!!

[rainydays]

i am brave enough to try that

[Hell Razor5543]

Then I wish you both good luck and good care. I hope that it is just down to faulty glow plugs. Somebody I knew had problems starting his 306 in the cold months. Turned out 3 plugs had stopped working completely. Replacing all 4 plugs with a good make sorted that problem out.

[rainydays]

Slight update, i have just braved the elements and removed the glow plugs. What a bloody mission, why are they always hidden behind things. Managed to snap a spigot that a fuel line connects to.
Discovered that three of them are shot, only one glows when i follow Hell Razor5543 method, Many thank`s.
I also measured the resistance between the threaded main tip and the hex shaped part where the spanner fits to remove them. Readings were as follows:
Good one 0.3 ohms
Bad ones: 316, 1766 and >1999 ohms respectively. Is this the correct points when you are measuring the resistance?
They were all NGK plugs by the way

[myglaren]

Beru glowplugs are the Citroen/Puegeot recommended ones. Be sure to get the right ones for your engine though.

[rainydays]

will do

[Hell Razor5543]

I'm glad I was able to help. As I said on my last post, I hope that it is just the plugs.

I think (but I am NOT certain) that you measure from the lower thread (where the glow plug screws into the block) and the upper thread (where the positive wire goes).

[rainydays]

Replaced all four today and it started instantly

[Hell Razor5543]

Brilliant!! I am glad that the forum has been able to help. Happy motoring.