Diesel insignia refusing to start in cold

[Monkey Harris]

My understanding is the glow plugs are generally easy to swap, the thread is a long way from the cylinder.

The problem is the ones with a sensor are very expensive

Glow plugs get stuck solid after many years in place..

 

[Kayos]

Glow plugs get stuck solid after many years in place..

They came out of my 2015 insignia with zero effort

 

[Morrisman]

Interesting I didbt know this I must confess I thought if the cranking sounds sprites was generally grand haha

Have a charger on it and will re test and maybe stick multineter on it in morning after it's sat over night

Tbf battery is a fair age now

With batteries my general policy has always been that if one starts playing up, or even thinks about it, then replace it.

 

[dave h 2]

Glow plugs get stuck solid after many years in place..

Merc's v6 does that, 80k miles and knack and known to not like coming out.

 

[rb02259]

My understanding is the glow plugs are generally easy to swap, the thread is a long way from the cylinder.

The problem is the ones with a sensor are very expensive

Yeh I have heard that about the pressure sensor ones

 

[rb02259]

You could have some summer fuel left that's got no additives, fill up at a BP or Shell station NOT Tesco or Sainsbury's etc with new fuel.

Test them first and if they are ok leave them well alone unless you want to fit a new head gasket as well...

As others have said it's often the battery in this sort of weather, they really do just die overnight sometimes.

Edit: Sorry I've quoted @dave h 2 by mistake but the fuel thing still stands.

Thanks interesting about the fuel

I definitely don't have time or expertise to do the head gasket haha so will leave plugs alone unless sure

I also don't have any fault codes or lights that are glow plug relates although not sure if that's definite

 

[rb02259]

With batteries my general policy has always been that if one starts playing up, or even thinks about it, then replace it.

Thanks I'll prob buy one today and chuck it in

 

[Erie Fred]

Thanks interesting about the fuel

I definitely don't have time or expertise to do the head gasket haha so will leave plugs alone unless sure

I also don't have any fault codes or lights that are glow plug relates although not sure if that's definite

Diesel 911 - Diesel Fuel Additive

Diesel 911 is a winter emergency use product that restores the flow of diesel fuel to an engine caused by gelled fuel or frozen fuel filters.

powerservice.com

 

[dobbslc]

I don't think that stuff will work in the UK as we use 999

 

[rb02259]

Well all

So car has continued to start but interesting thing happened today

I did a charging test on my topdon tester and it said no output

Whenever I checked battery with car running it read 12.38

Suggests to me alternator is bad but could a bad battery cause that also?

 

[Erie Fred]

I don't think that stuff will work in the UK as we use 999

Become an importer....buy container loads, and using a sharpy, change the "Ones" to Nines" on the bottles.
You'll be the next Ron Popiel.....

 

[dave h 2]

Well all

So car has continued to start but interesting thing happened today

I did a charging test on my topdon tester and it said no output

Whenever I checked battery with car running it read 12.38

Suggests to me alternator is bad but could a bad battery cause that also?

If a cell is shorting it will. I had low volts like that on my 14 plate Jeep and things would crash randomly. Change the battery and now 14v when running and neither the radio nor heater or door locks have crashed since.

 

[rb02259]

If a cell is shorting it will. I had low volts like that on my 14 plate Jeep and things would crash randomly. Change the battery and now 14v when running and neither the radio nor heater or door locks have crashed since.

OK thanks everything point to old battery then haha

 

[m_c]

If it's got smart charging, then battery voltage might sit around there until the vehicle is driven.

 

[rb02259]

If it's got smart charging, then battery voltage might sit around there until the vehicle is driven.

Ahh I didn't know that !

 

[dobbslc]

They can also have a clutch on the alternator pulley and they can fail.

 

[m_c]

They can also have a clutch on the alternator pulley and they can fail.

The clutch is a one way clutch. If they fail, they're most likely to seize, or just fall apart.
I've only ever seen one simply lose drive without falling apart, and that was only because it was on something with a fairly wide belt that kept it in position.

 

[rb02259]

Thanks both the belt is squeaking a bit but not sure if unrelated. Was gonna pull it earlier to inspect and spin pulleys but engine bay is tight and was scared I wouldn't get belt back on easily. Might need to get access from wheel arch or underneath

 

[dobbslc]

The clutch is a one way clutch. If they fail, they're most likely to seize, or just fall apart.
I've only ever seen one simply lose drive without falling apart, and that was only because it was on something with a fairly wide belt that kept it in position.

The one on my Zafira failed with no drive.