gingeRS

how tricky is this job on a 2004 focus TDCI. i'm only used to working with diesel engines 9 litres and upwards

need to fault find a problem with my folks car, it is getting impossible to start early in the morning. i will check the battery first as i have heard rumours on these delphi equipped cars when the battery voltage drops below a certain threshold, the ECU doesnt work and therefore the car wont start.

i have also heard pf syncronisation issues between cam and crank sensor xcausing starting problems, is there a way of checking this?

if anyone has any advice it would greatly appreciated

regards

gingeRS

no one

focusv8

Check (electrical)continuity across the glowplugs before you remove / waste money on new ones.

luke_rs1800

1st check is the milage of the car and to see if the plugs have ever been changed.. as this will be the most simple indicator that they need changing... also once started does it start easy after when its warm ? and when it finaly starts from cold i take it blows out a nice bit of smoke ?

gingeRS

plugs were changed in 2008, about 20k ago

will check for smoke when i do the cold start tomorrow

luke_rs1800

also drain the filter as it may have some water in it, thats a fair milage.. they have put cheap plugs in there and the cold weather has killed them. ye when it finaly starts in the morning check for smoke if there is then its definatly plugs. and like i said let it warm up turn it off then back on if it starts straight up again then thats a good indicator they need changing to.

gingeRS

it starts fine from warm....so it could be the glowplugs

i have also noticed that when starting from cold the engine shakes quiote violently....like the injection events are worng and causing a misfire from cold. once the engine starts it idles dead smooth

regards

Rory

Madbradz

If its missing when cold, I would say 90% glow plugs

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

not too bad to change, they are quite deep and normally come out OK providing theres no build up of shit and they dont snap.

no.1 is always the hardest in my experience, so start there