Smokey startup

SaBBz

SaBBz

SaBBz

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
3,244
Location
Elsewhere
I've just been out in my gf's 306 1.9td dturbo (136k) and when starting it there was a lot of white smoke, it also took quite a while to start and was quite rough (even moreso than usual) when it started. The gearbox was also very stiff, so I'm not sure if this is linked? Once the car was warmed up it was fine but the gearbox was still quite stiff. Lately it has been taking longer to start but I put this down to the colder weather. Anyone got any ideas what the problem might be and what I should check?

Thanks a lot.
 
Sounds like One of your/her Glow plugs is knackered. Now it is getting colder it needs all four but through summer you wouldn't notice it. Fiddly but cheap & easy job to do.
 
Glowplugs.

Had this on the Xantia. Got better when I replaced 3 of the plugs. the other was in a stupid place so I cba to fix it.
 
Sounds like any Pug diesel to me.

Mine produced loads of smoke, but then I did warp the head, and blew the HG. :D

When I'd repaired it though, the new engine did smoke a bit, but so long as you make sure you wait for the GlowPlug light to go out, then start it, my brother doesn't do this with the 306 and is killing it...not my problem any more.

As for the box, they are not the softest of boxes certainly. :)

InvG
 
[TW]Fox;10471560 said:
Glowplugs.

Had this on the Xantia. Got better when I replaced 3 of the plugs. the other was in a stupid place so I cba to fix it.
Click to expand...

Number #1 on the left I'm betting behind a Bosch fuel pump. I had the same problem last Tuesday. It took me as long to replace that glow plug as the rest put together :mad:

As for the OP, yes glow plugs but white smoke on a DT can also be a sympton of head gasket failure so be sure to check/change the oil. I presume your GF keeps on top of the 5/6k service intervals? Without them it won't last.
With the glow plugs on cold days don't start until 4-5 seconds after the light goes out, because they are still heating up after the light goes off. In this way I get a clean start on the turn of the key each time.
 
I just went out and it started first time after leaving it for a while after the glowplug light had gone out like Stonedofmoo suggested, although the engine was still a touch warm. The oil is also a little low but there was no mayo in the oil filler cap. If it gets worse I'll change the glowplugs.

Thanks a lot for the help.
 
diesels rarely get bad enough to produce mayo.

if things dont improve get a garage to do a compression test while changing the plugs.
 
I decided I'd like ot get a mechanic to change the glow plugs as apparently they are pretty difficult to do, but I just had a quote of £105. Does this seem outrageously expensive to anyone else? A guy on this thread got it done for a tenner!
 
A tenner would be very cheap. A quality set of Bosch Duraterm plugs are £26 delivered off Ebay, after that it's just labour

If it's hard or not entirely depends on if you have the Bosch of Lucas fuel pump as the Bosch pump blocks access to the 1st glow plug horribly making it a really hard and time consuming job. If it's a Lucas pump you could do it easily in 30 minutes with the right tools to hand.
 
Got another quote at £100. Might have to do it myself if it's that much. GSF have the spanner under glowplugs, I assume this is the special tool I need to get to the glowplugs more easily? Also how do I check whether it's a Bosch or Lucas pump?

Thanks.
 
look above the pump and see if you can see the first glow plug, if its a barely visable, knuckle destroying pigswine of a git to get too then its the bosch pump.
 
This...

Pump4.jpg


...is a Bosch fuel pump. If it looks nothing like that with a spaceship thing on top then it's a Lucas. Unless it's an early car it most likely will be the Lucas anyhow.
 
I got a quote of 80 quid so just decided to do that rather than end up wasting hours on Saturday doing it myself. I'll let you guys know if it solves the starting problems :)

Thanks a lot for all the help.
 
Got them all changed for Bosch ones and now it starts perfectly first time every time. Apparently 2 of the old ones (Champion or something) were knackered and he said that one of them was really hard to change. Glad I didn't do it now as I'd only have saved about 50 quid so it's just not worth my time :)

Thanks for all the help guys.
 
Yeah that will be the first plug, it's a b!tch of a job to change that one. You made the right choice with the Bosch plugs. They will give you long service :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom