countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
  
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| Why won't it start in the cold |
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I know this is not a Nissan forum before I get any smart comments, but couldn't find any help on other websites. What would stop a diesel engine starting properly in cold weather, especially when the glow light has gone out and the battery is fully charged.
Every morning when we try to start the Qashqai 2.0dCi (Renault engine not Nissan  ), it takes 4 or 5 attempts to get it going and then it sounds rough as anything. Once it is started once, even if only for 30 seconds it will start first time the rest of the day. This makes it difficult for the dealer to fault find.
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 4th Jan 2009 8:23 am |
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simonsi
Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Auckland
Posts: 1264
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Classic glowplug circuit failure symptom.
Forget the light, that is probably put on by the electronics, you need to see if there is 12V at the glowplugs when there should be, ie first cold start of the day. If there is then meter each glowplug and check it isn't open circuit etc etc
Can't believe a dealer is struggling with this??? Have they had it overnight and tried a cold start? Cheers
Simon
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:31 am |
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buellbeast
Member Since: 30 Jul 2008
Location: Exile
Posts: 1885
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I'm assuming you've tried checking the heater plugs?
edit: simonsi beat me to it.
Maybe worth changing them anyway if power is getting to them. There about £5 each usually.
Last edited by buellbeast on 4th Jan 2009 8:33 am. Edited 1 time in total
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:31 am |
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UNG
Member Since: 20 Jun 2008
Location: Lancs
Posts: 773
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You don't say how old the vehicle is and I am not familier with this engine, but I have loads of problems with a zafira when the leak off pipes from the injectors are begining to fail and the hard to start in the morning and easy for the rest of the day are exactly the same symptoms. I usually change the leak off pipes every 12 months now HTH "Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag'em down to your level. It's cheaper".
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:32 am |
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pom
Member Since: 10 Feb 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 1790
 
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reminds me of an old bedford pick up i used to have .....
Only used half a can of easystart most mornings 
Pom
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:36 am |
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UNG
Member Since: 20 Jun 2008
Location: Lancs
Posts: 773
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simonsi wrote:Classic glowplug circuit failure symptom.
Not on a Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 DTi ! see my Previous post, I thought glowplugs at first and changed all heater plugs and it had no effect if anything it made it worse cause I'd moved the leak off pipes. "Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag'em down to your level. It's cheaper".
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:39 am |
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countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
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To be fair to the dealer they haven't had it overnight as we haven't had a chance so I am not critical of them. It is going in next week for a more detailed look. The car is about 16 months old with 15K miles on it, so there is warranty, it's just a bit of a pain having to take it 40 miles to the dealer (unfortunately the local one has gone bust in this bad climate, shame as it was an old well respected dealership).
If I can reach the glow plugs I will stick a meter on them this morning and see if we have power, the glow light goes off within 1-2 seconds, which I think is quick at -2. The D3 in comparison takes about 8 or 9 seconds.
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:41 am |
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simonsi
Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Auckland
Posts: 1264
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countrywide wrote:...the glow light goes off within 1-2 seconds, which I think is quick at -2. The D3 in comparison takes about 8 or 9 seconds.
Ah more detail! If the light is going off quickly - and that does sound quick - possibly the ambient temp sensor is up the swanny or the engine temp sensor, if either indicate a false higher than actual reading the the electronics will turn the heaters off early. Cheers
Simon
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:54 am |
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simonsi
Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Auckland
Posts: 1264
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UNG wrote:simonsi wrote:Classic glowplug circuit failure symptom.
Not on a Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 DTi ! see my Previous post, I thought glowplugs at first and changed all heater plugs and it had no effect if anything it made it worse cause I'd moved the leak off pipes.
"Classic" doesn't mean "right in each and every case".
I'd still check the glowplug circuit before the leakoff pipes every time...on any engine  Cheers
Simon
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:56 am |
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countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
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Didn't even think about temperature sensor, but it would make sense. In summer the glow light doesn't even come on at all.
I will go and have a look now and see how quick it goes off now at -3.
Thanks 
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| 4th Jan 2009 8:57 am |
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countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
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It's having a melt down this morning, the airbag light is stuck on now as well  . Thought it could be low voltage but the battery seems fine and the car turns over really quickly. Also if you look through the charge indicatow window on the battery it is green.
Trip to garage for it I think.
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| 5th Jan 2009 10:18 am |
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DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
 
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starting problems could be as simple as dodgy diesel waxing up  . The D3 turned over for a good 5 seconds or more on Saturday Morning at -4 with Tesco Diesel. I filled up saturday evening with Shell and on sunday morning at -3 it started immedeatly. I know "modern" diesel has lots of additives but maybe the supermarkets have less added to their stock ? (if thats what you use) Duncan
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| 5th Jan 2009 10:22 am |
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countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
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It has Shell diesel as we have a Shell credit card with 3p off a litre and it is the most local garage.
I think it may voltage issue's, which caused the airbag to go mad now. The light is flashing away now all the time.
Dealer said to pop in later and they would plug it in to see what was happening.
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| 5th Jan 2009 12:06 pm |
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UNG
Member Since: 20 Jun 2008
Location: Lancs
Posts: 773
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countrywide wrote: the battery seems fine and the car turns over really quickly.
Thats exactly what happened to the wifes Zafira , engine turns over quickly but takes an age to start once started starts all day no problem
The fault was the leak off pipes seems to be a problem with the modern diesel engine but has not been an issue for long enough to be a "classic" fault, when somebody suggested this was the fault (he was an ex vauxhall tech who said they were baffled when they first had to cure this starting problem) I didn't believe it but leak off pipes changed engine fired first turn of the key and starting reliability was back. It is something to do with the pipe becoming porus even if the pipe looks ok visually it is worth changing them "Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag'em down to your level. It's cheaper".
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| 5th Jan 2009 12:50 pm |
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pom
Member Since: 10 Feb 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 1790
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countrywide wrote:Didn't even think about temperature sensor, but it would make sense. In summer the glow light doesn't even come on at all.
I will go and have a look now and see how quick it goes off now at -3.
Thanks
You can also try forcing a longer glow plug operation. Turn on ignition, wait till light goes out. Turn off. Repeat. Do it for 10 secs of glow plug operation and see if she starts.
Pom
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| 5th Jan 2009 12:58 pm |
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