Rover Cold Starting

DiG

DiG

DiG

Associate
Joined
16 Mar 2004
Posts
2,257
Hi,

I've got a Rover 220 SDI, R reg and all winter its had problems starting when its cold, got to the point where it would take 10+ seconds of turning over before it would start every morning!

Took it to a local garage and they replaced 3 of the 4 glow plugs (4th is a right pain to get to so left it) and checked the relay, however its still really difficult to start

When it does start a lot of smoke comes out the back, I guess this can't be good for the engine so I want to try and get it fixed! What could be the problem?

Thanks for your help!
 
My 306 1.9D is suffering in these cold mornings, it starts first time but is very reluctant to do so, mine usually takes around 5-10 seconds plus I have to give it some gas for it not to cut out, would this be an issue with the glow plugs?
 
I give the plugs three cycles, then start, and it still turns over for 10-15 seconds, I did have the cam belt done just before winter, worth getting the timing checked? How much do you think?
 
Try looking for a fuse for the glow plugs, my old Golf used to blow it quite often even though it was a large piece of metal compared to normal fuses.
They take one hell of a current to get warm.
 
It's probably your battery, i had the same problem on my first car (1.5 metro diesel :D)

After a service and replaced the glow plugs it was a bit iffy in the cold, put a heavy duty battery on and all was good :)
 
I have the same engine in the 420 as this, and even on cold mornings I don't bother glowstarting, just turn the key and after about 4 or 5 cranks it starts on all 4 and works fine.

That's on a V plate, but is exactly the same lump and glowplug setup, but mine's just had a new battery so I'd check that, and also the fuel pump timing as that is critical as mentioned above.
 
Sods law says the duff plug is the one you can't get to. My ZX diesel had no starting issues through both winters i had it for, but neither were as cold as it has been recently. Diesels do have a reputation for being difficult to start when it's very cold.

The smoke is nothing to worry about, it's just it couldn't burn the fuel you put through when you tried to start so it's blowing it out of the exhaust.
 
The Edge said:
Sods law says the duff plug is the one you can't get to. My ZX diesel had no starting issues through both winters i had it for, but neither were as cold as it has been recently. Diesels do have a reputation for being difficult to start when it's very cold.

The smoke is nothing to worry about, it's just it couldn't burn the fuel you put through when you tried to start so it's blowing it out of the exhaust.
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if the other 3 are ok it should start, as some rovers don't even have a 4th glow plug in that hard to get at cylinder
 
Sone said:
its a diesel rover, isn't sluggish actually pretty good? :D
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Its better than the 1 litre euroboxes the rest of the students on campus drive! I like it, bit of history! lol I'm going to have a look at the battery and get the timing checked, will report back!
Thanks for all the advice, hopefully it won't cost too much
 
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