mondeo mk3 diesel

im guessing its a 2.0 di, the glow plugs fitted to this vehicle are only for emissions does it re-start after a long run straight way?

maybe theres a drain on the battery overnight.

yes it starts staight away when warm, the battery is fine turning the engine over fast but wont start until bump started in gear and it is a duratorq 2.0 engine

so if your sure the battery is ok and the cranking speed is ok, then maybe its sucking in air after a long stand. good luck

thanks do you think it could be the fuel filter

Fuel filter

Fuel system sucking in air

Sticking fuel-cut solenoid (if it has one, I had this recently with a ZX TD)

Mike

given the age of the vehicle, and if its never had one for a while then it'll do no harm.

check the metal pipes around the pump for corrosion, it could be drawing in air from here

I'm interested in what you say about the glowplugs only being for emissions. I have a 4 year old TDCI with the 2 litre Duratorq 130 bhp engine. It has now done about 80,000 miles and I find that it almost never needs the pre heat. When I first had it (not quite new), it would not start without heat, but now it does so I don't heat it. Is this a mistake?

Rob Graham

thanks

This time of year you should never see the glow plug light except for the briefest time just before the engine starts. I've got a Pug with an Hdi engine and that only ever needs the glow plugs on during the winter. The better fuel atomisation from these high pressure diesel injectors helps to get the engine started when cold compared to the older engines which needed the kick-start of the glow plugs.

The other reason for not needing the heat as the car has got older is maybe due to carbon buildup in the engine giving a better seal and so faster firing of the engine when cold than when it was new a squeaky clean. That certainly is the case with the small 2 stroke engines that I race... when new they are tight and difficult to start, as they run in and get a laquer applied to the internals of burnt residue between the piston and liner they run and start better. I'm sure the deposits (with a lot of carbon in them) also lubricate the piston somewhat compared to the original metal to metal contact, making starting easier.

Chris

Yes, but one of my points was a question back to ford_technical who said glowplugs were only there for emissions. I asked whether there would be some problem if I didn't use the glow plugs if I didn't need them.

Rob