Ford Focus Mk2 2.0 TDCi starting problem

sparkymark75 · 6 Mar 2012 at 10:05

The past few weeks, I've had the odd occassion where my car hasn't started. It will turn over but not catch. After 2/3 attempts it then fires up. Other than that it appears to run fine. The times this has happened, it's usually been when the car's warm.

However this morning, I got in the car to go to work and the car did the same from cold. It turned over for a few seconds on the first try and then started on the second go.

Once it started, again it appeared to run fine. There was no smoke out the back but there was a smell (presumably diesel?) once it started. After this it ran fine on the 15 mile journey to work.

Any ideas what it could be? It seems to be getting progressively worse with no pattern that I can see.

ThundyCat · 6 Mar 2012 at 10:07

I'm no expert, but glow plugs maybe?

Maz · 6 Mar 2012 at 11:05

Fuel filter, glow plugs would cause white smoke (Unburnt fuel).

Maz · 6 Mar 2012 at 11:10

Stupid me, didn't read properly smell of unburnt fuel - probably plugs then.

sparkymark75 · 6 Mar 2012 at 11:24

I did read somewhere that a sign of dud glow plugs is the light on the dash only staying on for a brief second. Mines does this, it never stays on for 3-4 seconds as I thought it would (this is my first diesel car).

Might put it in for a service then as those will get changed at a service I would have thought.

The car was supposed to have been serviced when I bought it 6 months ago but being Arnold Clark, I wouldn't be surprised if all they did was change the oil or even nothing at all!!