Hi all. I have just sorted out an over heating problem with my 16000cc diesel escort. I am now only left with sorting out her hard starting. Some time ago I did run on petrol for a time to get home so do not know if this has agrivated a problem. Anyway once she is warm and runing she is like driving a new car, mind you not full of power, then she never was. Anyway these days when I turn her over in the mornings she starts to fire but I have to keep the key turned as well for a time to get her running on her own. she slowly picks up, it is like starting an old dumper truck. but as soon as she is runing and had a rev or two she is great. Once warm she is then not hard to start again. I have had all the heater plugs changed and checked to see if they glowed before putting them in, they seemed okay.
My battery is not the greatest but it dose turn her over fast no trouble for some time, I always get her started, but it is embarrasing to say the least. like I am windig her up
Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks all Diesel combi Pete.

 

Have you tried putting some clear pipe between the injection pump and filter housing to see if it drawing in any air?

 

When I usedto drive these years ago (wish I still did,awesome motors) I always had to put a really big battery in it or it struggled in the bad weather.
Those engines are genuinely bullet proof so you won't have harmed it in anyway.
Also worth trying a new glowplug relay,probably only a £10 or so.

 

This might be wirth trying thanks. Pete

 

I agree with you these engine are bomb proff, mine has been around clock twice and just ending third time.
I have with the glow pugs on the wire but not in the engine checked them before putting them in, the relay seemed to be working okay; you know Light on dash goes out relay clicks and the glowing is all at the right time. The other thing I might buy a new battery like you say they do seem to need some turning over in the cold especialy.
I have scraped a few of these cars for as you know the parts are like gold dust to get as with the prices of scrap being as they were some time ago all the yards dumpped them in the crushers, still makes are worth that much more I gause. Any way I have another relay I should try it thanks. Pete