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[TheBoy]

Little Bro' has a 2.5l 1998 diesel Ford tranny, non turbo, pre common rail, obviously. Its a horsebox, so is rarely used, 200-300 miles a year max, as its really only for taking the horses to the vets, although it sees more use transporting large items around the TB family

Anyways, this time of year, its a pig to start, often not able to at all. Spins over fine, but no firing. If/when it does, it chugs until to fires and runs properly.

My immediate thought is glow plugs, or water in the filter (he hasn't checked this yet).  He says he can't see any glow plugs in the head  .  He has never seen a glow plug light on dash.

Anyone know if it does have glow plugs?


An additional problem, during oil change, he is seeing a fair amount of metal filings. He's not had chance to remove sump to see whats in there. Could this be a symptom of so little use? Or something far more sinister?  He's never adjusted tappets on it, that is unlikely to cause this?

[Kevin Wood]

Don't suppose it has a heater coil in the air intake instead to aid cold starting? Might be worth a look.

In addition, a lighter weight oil might just reduce the drag enough to get it going. Ford used to do a reasonably priced 5W30 Semi-syn for the Zetec, IIRC.

All starter connections need to be tip top, as does the battery and starter itself. The faster it cranks the more likely it'll start without the benefit of glow plugs.

I don't like the sound of the swarf in the sump. Of course, if anything has worn and the compression is low, it'll make cold starting worse.

I wouldn't have thought valve clearances would make a huge impact unless they're a country mile, which would be making a racket. Then again, it's a transit diesel, I'm not sure you'd notice any level of tappet noise.

[Kevin Wood]

.. of course, if the valve clearances are too tight, it will have a big impact on dynamic compression, so yes, worth checking the clearances, I'd say.

[tigers_gonads]

What the mileage TB ?

[tidla]

No glow plugs on these as they are a di engine.

Usual cause this time of year is not enough power in the battery for a quick enough spin. Best cure is to wire up a second battery on the other side of the engine bay. ( there s a proper location for a second battery)

Clean out the inlets if its done a few miles and blank the egr while your there.

[TheBoy]

Should add, battery always has a week on, week off connection to a smart charger.

He said he couldn't find a preheater for fuel. But are you suggesting it possibly one in the air duct?

BTW, has winter diesel in

[Olympia5776]

Join , introduce  and post. You'll get an immediate answer .
http://fordtransit.org/
I have used this site for many years now and their response is always helpful and quick.
Good luck.

[Gaffers]

Once the easy fixes such as glow plugs are tested, the presence of metal filings and difficulty starting when cold suggests bore wear.  If being used infrequently without letting the engine run at idle to move the oil around better post-long-stand then that could have brought on the problem.

Leak down test?

[TheBoy]

Cheers, all passed on

[Marks DTM Calib]

Are these the ones with the cold start as part of the pump where the fuel quantity is increased and the timing retarded? Easy enough to tell as there is a lever at the back of the pump, sometimes connected to a wax stat in the inlet (seen the linkage stick and the wax stat fail). If you spot the lever check it and move it and try starting

These also needed a twin battery setup really (think it was optional)

[hoofing it]

No glow plugs on these as they are a di engine.

Usual cause this time of year is not enough power in the battery for a quick enough spin. Best cure is to wire up a second battery on the other side of the engine bay. ( there s a proper location for a second battery)

Clean out the inlets if its done a few miles and blank the egr while your there.

As he say DI no gp's also check the lift pump on the side of the engine is working also the fuel filter for water.
Gas oil tends to go cloudy if left sitting for to long when it gets frosty its somthing to do with the die that alters chemistry. The gas oil pump at my work does it every year when it gets frosty and JMW are forever cleaning the pipe work and filters out

[zirk]

Had one of these a few years back that was a company hand me down, right pig to start in the cold winter days, turned out from doing the homework that it was missing a second battery on the other side of the bay, fitted one and was fine ever after that. The batteries do need to be like for like though.

[Nick W]

Also, it might have a hand pump near the fuel filter. If so, it's worth using it before trying to start the engine. Every little helps; it's then a matter of getting it to turn over fast enough to get the fuel and compression working. A second battery is a good idea.

[bigegg]

I've run these old 2.5di n/a transits for years - usally with astronomical mileages
Every one of them has had problems starting when cold.
Every one of them has been fixed by:
Clean battery terminals.
New battery.
New starter.
New alternator.
Second battery.
(in that order).

The good thing is, when a van is due for scrapping (after about 9-12 months, cos that's how much MOT they have when I buy them),
I just take off the batteries, starter, alternator, and 2nd battery fittings, and put them on the replacement.
I can do the job in just over an hour now.

If it's been stood for a while, it could be that fuel has gelled in the filter/pump/or pipes.
I know it's disparaged, but a quick blast of "easy start" will get it going - the way I see it, a 15 year old van is disposable, and a new(er) engine is only about £100, and takes about 2 hours to fit.

[Kevin Wood]

I know it's disparaged, but a quick blast of "easy start" will get it going - the way I see it, a 15 year old van is disposable, and a new(er) engine is only about £100, and takes about 2 hours to fit.

This is a horse box, though, so guessing there may be a premium  on the unusual body style.

I think, for occasional use, I'd be tempted to fit a coolant pre-heater if the van is a keeper. Easy start is never a good idea unless you're starting it to take it to the scrappers.