Cold Start Trouble

[Andrew_NZ]

Hi, I live in New Zealand and I have a 1994 KZN130W surf (manual). Whenever I'm out of town in winter, up in the high Country etc, I have predictable issues with cold starts. After leaving the truck sitting out overnight when I next try to start it, the engine turns over for 5-20 seconds and slowly struggles to life. This doesn't happen during daily winter driving in the city (temperatures are usually 6° to -3°C overnight, close to sea level). When I'm having trouble it's on average a few degrees colder, higher altitude and sometimes sitting for longer. I've added a link to a video of a cold start on a recent trip. This start wasn't too bad but the night before was a fair bit colder and higher altitude and it took more like 15-20 seconds to start.

Any obvious diagnosis? Advice on a fix is greatly appreciated!

Cheers.

[Dover]

daft as it may sound but, ignition to position 2 and count ten seconds (ignore glow plug light) and then try and fire it see if any better.
Try it see what happens, I had trouble with mine over winter start of this year I replaced glow plugs for Denso OEM but still no difference, really the only thing that I could put it down is a possible lazy/old relay.

As I say try it see what happens let us know

[Diezel Weazel]

Try glowing a few times in quick succession n see if it improves it ...


18+ Years of Surfs ...10 years on Spotless it was but expired last week....My other KZN 130 Yota is now also faultless to a "T", I hope !!

[Andrew_NZ]

Cheers for the advice, I'll give it a go next time.

[Albannach]

Ignore the light and listen for the clunk of the solenoid. If you don't hear a clunk, you have a buggered solenoid. If you do hear the clunk and it's still hard to start, you need a new set of glow plugs.