Pug Expert 1.9 diesel van - Hard to start

Odds on it's the glow plugs that have died. How old are they?

Yeah, I with Duncan on this, its the glow plugs. I've just replaced mine after the same sort of symptoms, now my car starts first time.

Yep ;-)

There's no Haynes AFAIK; there is a manual of sorts available from eBay, but it's not very good.

First step must be to check the glow plugs actually glow.

Chris

I see they do not cost a lot, but how easy or hard are they too change.

Fairly easy, but you'll want to disconnect the battery so you need the code, then undo the wire & unscrew with a deep socket. Of course they might be rusted in & IIRC the one at the end is difficult to get at but 3 out of 4 aint bad when you're trying to get it to start. I think it's easier with a hot engine but Mr Cheerfull's probably done far more than me:-)

I have changed a few sets :) even though I hate french cars I still end up fixing them occasionally. I keep two specially bent spanners that were made up solely for that vehicle. As you say three are straightforward, one is not. I have undone them mainly when cold, but hot sometimes and it doesn't seem to make much difference, so far I haven't broken one off (clutches desk)

I would test each one in situ before removing any of them, remove all the leads to the glowplugs, if any of the threaded posts are loose then that one is always changed regardless, then get a power lead from the battery and put the end to each glow plug in turn, provided you get a good healthy spark then that one will work ok. If only one or two are faulty I would just change those ones. I have had as many new ones fail in a short time as ones that have been in for years. Some vehicles it is so much work to change all the plugs it isn't much encouragement to change them unnecessarily (volkswagen/volvo 6 cyl springs to mind, the ones behind the pump)

Oh & really really don't buy unbranded ones, you want real ones (Pug or Beru) & the engine changes in 2003 from the XU9 to the DW8 & I don't think they're the same plugs.

On the XUD engine you can ''knobble'' the post start glow period by adjusting the microswitch on the pump throttle arm so that it's made all the time. That extends the glow plug life by about 500%.

Julian.

How hard is it to do the HDi engine? I assume maybe incorrectly they have heater plugs, my 130K Berlingo van is taking a little time cranking these cold mornings.

Alan...

With the HDi, the plugs are not fired up until below 0deg C.

Tim.

it is listed as a 0.8 hour job to change the lot, so can't be too bad

I have some wobbly tools from Teng (properly called double flex wrenches). Make doing glowplugs a piece of, but I doubt I'll ever buy another diesel...

I saw those in GSF, but thought that they were rather pricey for what they were going to get used for (bear in mind I avoid French cars). Certainly an owner.driver isn't very likely to buy a set. IIRC they were about 25 quid for the pair of two.

There's a boring calculation, will you save more on the cost of glowplugs than you spend on diesel?

Actually I got that wrong, the microswitch must be adjusted so as it's open circuit all the time. ie since the post start glow only functions during the first few degrees of throttle lever travel you must adjust it so that it thinks the throttle is more open.

I tell you what, joking aside, it's saved me a fortune in plugs and time over the years especially on the intercooled car - taking the IC off was the best way, but took time.

Old style XUD had no prolonged post start glow operation, just a basic timer - plugs lasted for years and years. later XUD's with post glow operation chew up plugs every 18 months or so if you do many short journeys.

I think all this bollocks is to do with emissions, and a slight reduction in Diesel ''knock'' following a cold start?

Julian.

Yup, it's main purpose is emissions. They're pretty crap when cold.

Thanks for that, for what they cost might get some, once it's started the first time in the morning it's great for the rest of the day. I do have an engine shudder/shake at around 1500rpm in any gear cleared by

Alan...

Engine/Gearbox mounts going soft. Probably more aggro than it's worth unless it gets worse or you're going to keep it for years.