hi everyone, i have a 97 escort van that hates cold mornings it takes a lot of heats and still splutters trying to start but it has its fine all day. ive had plugs replaced new battery all filters, injector pipes replaced new oil new starter motor. so any help will be appreciated as im sick of spending money on it.

 

Aledgedly Fully synthetic 0-40 mobil 1 oil helps improve cold starts but I wouldn't risk a Ł50 quid gamble just to improve starting incase this is not true!!

 

Fuel filter housing? they are prone for the diaphragm ( Spelling ) going and allowing fuel to leak back to the tank causing crap starting from cold!
A bloke in work had the same problem, got a new one off e bay for about Ł20 and cured it!
HPH

 

my van is exactly the same on cold mornings would be nice to sort it out as id imagine were in for a long winter

 

mine does this aswell think its a common problem

 

thanks for ur replies guys, its a nightmare! may seem silly question, but is it possible that grit could be in fuel filter and it could be cleaned out? or would u just have to replace the fuel filter housing?

 

as said check your fuel filter primer for air leaks pump it and make sure it goes hard if not it could have a leaking diafram
also the leak off pipes on the injectors check for leaks if they are shabby replace them there pennys
instead of trying to start the van as soon as the glow plug light goes off wait till you here a click from under the bonnet this takes about 10 seconds it will start better then

 

i had the same problem last year, the primary pump seal wasnt great and needed the "plunger" underneath the be pressed a few times, it may have been the non return value, but the garage replaced the glow plugs for me and with a new seal on the pump all is sorted, i still let the glow plug light go out twice before starting in this weather at the moment though

 

i just found a diesel leak coming from diesel pum is this a expensive job to do and i might aswell do a time chain anyone know roughly how much that would cost as usually do the work myself cheers

 

Escort van is belt not chain gates belts are best around 80 100 for kit with pully and thats a must wheres the leak coming from exactly

 

As said above wait until you here the click under the bonnet. I always do this even on a summer morning. With this cold weather I'm doing it twice tho. I've also put a new battery on just to be on the safe side.
It still chugs for the first 10 seconds but all is ok after

 

its coming from what looks like a spring on top of the pump i did go autocare and see if i could get a gasket 4 it but the fella in the shop has a pinapple up his arse all the time and just said i need a new pump