C5 Crank timing generator.

[Jetjockey]

Hello.

About six months ago I was given a C5 Exclusive tourer which was scrapped after shredding a cam belt.
I replaced all the usual suspects (rocker arms, complete timing belt kit, and even the glow plugs). The engine was flushed twice and the timing set and checked several times. I also had the injectors completely refurbished.
It’s a 2.0 Ltr DOHC. Chassis number VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Long story short, the engine runs beautifully, except for starting. To be precise, at first start in the morning the engine catches immediately but them misses a beat (or two) before then continuing to run perfectly. This only happens from cold, and never for the rest of the day. The only clue is that as the cold weather progresses, then so does the problem, back in July it was almost unnoticeable.

I have only two ideas. When replacing the cam belt I noticed that the crank pulse generator plate behind the crankshaft pulley, had suffered some damage during the previous cam belt failure. Teeth from the old belt had jammed against the generator plate and had stripped a few bits of the rubber magnetic outer coating off. Would this cause the problem?
Second, whilst reassembling the engine, I noticed that the domed head on one of the hydraulic cam followers was deformed, no doubt due to the wallop it received when the belt snapped. Against my better judgement, and due to it being a Saturday afternoon (no spares available), I refitted all of the original hydraulic lifters. I am now thinking that there could be an initial lack of Oil pressure to open the associated valve on startup.

I’m just wondering if any experienced mechanics out there could point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

[Gibbo2286]

A check of the glow plug sensor might be advisable, that engine doesn't really need them in the warm weather so they might not be working at all but as it gets colder the pre and post heating may get a bit more necessary.

[Jetjockey]

Thanks Gibbo.

Hear where your coming from but the glow plugs were changed for new (none of the original ones working) AND the supply checked on switch on afterwards. This problem was also apparent back in the Summer (remember that one hot day ) and it was the same then. Back then the vehicle knew the glow plugs were gone and reported it, the warning disappeared immediately they were changed (pig of a job). In addition to the supply to the plugs being present the glow plug indicator comes on for a second or two before extinguishing when the ignition is turned on.
No faults are reported by the management system.