KZN130 Staring issues

[adm_sx]

Hi all,

I hope my question is quite simple, forgive my ignorance being new to diesels

My "N" reg SSRX is sluggish starting, I have read through other threads with similar titles but they seem to have slightly different starting issues.

When I turn the key from cold after the glow plug light goes out the engine attempts to turn over, although rapidly loses energy like a faulty battery with the volt meter on the dash showing a considerable drop. However it will usually start on the 2nd/3rd turn of the key almost immediately with no noticable voltage drop.

Warm starting is not a problem and the volt meter reads about 16v whilst the engine is running.

So, where do I start?

Should I change the glow plugs first? and if not where else should I be looking? I did run some injector cleaner through which has made little if any difference.

I hope you guys can help,
Many Thanks

Adam

[steved]

Start by checking the battery and leads with a volt drop meter not the one on the car most garages have a proper one, go from there to the starter motor brushes which can cause problems if the battery's ok, don't change the glow plugs unless you have to the after market ones are not a patch on the originals which are mega bucks.

[goodcat]

Hi all,

I hope my question is quite simple, forgive my ignorance being new to diesels

My "N" reg SSRX is sluggish starting, I have read through other threads with similar titles but they seem to have slightly different starting issues.

When I turn the key from cold after the glow plug light goes out the engine attempts to turn over, although rapidly loses energy like a faulty battery with the volt meter on the dash showing a considerable drop. However it will usually start on the 2nd/3rd turn of the key almost immediately with no noticable voltage drop.

Warm starting is not a problem and the volt meter reads about 16v whilst the engine is running.

So, where do I start?

Should I change the glow plugs first? and if not where else should I be looking? I did run some injector cleaner through which has made little if any difference.

I hope you guys can help,
Many Thanks

Adam

i currently have the EXACT same problem as you mate. i havent got round to actually checking things yet though. been lazy lol.
however a little tip for the short term......when you start her from cold/in the morning, turn the key all the way around till the glow plug light goes out, then do this again another couple of times before you start her up fully. you should find she starts first time.
obviously not a solution but it less annoying than waiting for her to start by just sitting there cranking her over.

cheers for the pointers there steve. ill check the brushes on the weekend.

[SlaveOptics]

I would definitely agree with goodcat.... That is what I am doing.... My country is not even a cold country but yet, at d very first ignition of the day, I need to at least glow it twice or more.... not more than four tho.... I know its sounds like we're killing that glow plug rod life faster but my heart breaks over long cranking and big cloud of ignition smokes.... But my surf do smokes on start-up... hot or cold...

[skinflint]

Had the same problem but fixed it!!!!

Hi all,

I hope my question is quite simple, forgive my ignorance being new to diesels

My "N" reg SSRX is sluggish starting, I have read through other threads with similar titles but they seem to have slightly different starting issues.

When I turn the key from cold after the glow plug light goes out the engine attempts to turn over, although rapidly loses energy like a faulty battery with the volt meter on the dash showing a considerable drop. However it will usually start on the 2nd/3rd turn of the key almost immediately with no noticable voltage drop.

Warm starting is not a problem and the volt meter reads about 16v whilst the engine is running.

So, where do I start?

Should I change the glow plugs first? and if not where else should I be looking? I did run some injector cleaner through which has made little if any difference.

I hope you guys can help,
Many Thanks

Adam

My surf had the same problem and i turned out to be the glow plug realy it was running the glow plugs ok but had a short and was still pulling power after the glow plug cycle

Dom

[goodcat]

i solved my starting problems last week. turned out it was just a dodgy battery connection! i just wedged a screw inbetween the battery terminal and the connector. it had just become loos over time and it wouldnt tighten up anymore. i had noticed the previous owner had done the same on the other battery.
check the connections. there shouldnt be ANY movement when you give them a wiggle.

[peterthegrate]

poor starting

I see you've fixed it, but here's my experience, or more precisely, experiences:
About a year ago, I had the symptoms you describe, at first crank the engine turned over with some reluctance, but was Ok after another attempt. This turned out to be a failing head gasket; presumably water was leaking into one of the cylinders effectively raising the compression. Blow the water out by cranking & then it would be OK. So one question would be: is it consuming coolant? (mine was slight at first, but got steadily worse). Since replacing the head gasket, cranking has been fine.
Another observation, or perhaps just a theory, is that at our local filling station here in Spain "normal" diesel contains 15% bio-diesel. Since using this fuel, I have noticed that the engine now needs two or three attempts to start (when cold), whereas it would usually start first time previously.

Peter

[SlaveOptics]

Its d battery....

I just change both of my batteries and wolla...... no sluggish start and drop volt during start nemore.... even on morning cold, it start like a champ after only single prewarm.... using Century NX120 x 2piece Maintenance free battery... But i bet this wont last long as MF century battery only giving 6 months warranty for Diesel Motors....