Diesel Starting

[kiwi]

So I am new to this Diesel stuff and happy to start learning about the BX all over again with the diesel version.

Not sure if this is a problem or not however it dont seem right.

Start the car and wait for the yellow/orange glow plug light to go out correct!

Ok so if I try to start it as soon as the light goes out I get nothing. however leave it a few more seconds and I hear the relay I assume for the glowplug go clunk and then it starts no problem.

So is that normal and how long is a reasonable time for the light to be off before the relay engages?

Glow plugs seem to ring a bell as a cause so anyway to check them?

btw, its summer here so double digits even in the morning so not weather related.

[JayW]

The way it SHOULD work is: Turn key to no. 2 position, light comes on to indicate glowplugs heating, when light goes out you should then turn engine. You shouldn't need to wait longer than the lamp extiguishing unless the plugs are tired or you have a dodgy heater relay.

Most likely though it sounds to be tired glowplugs and not unusual if they haven't been changed for a while or are cheapies.

Try heating them twice in quick succession, if it starts immediately it would be a clear indicator.

[kiwi]

Try heating them twice in quick succession, if it starts immediately it would be a clear indicator.

I dont understand what you mean by this? Remebr newbie at diesel cars Trucks, buses no problem but cars...erm

[Tim Leech]

Try heating them twice in quick succession, if it starts immediately it would be a clear indicator.

I dont understand what you mean by this? Remebr newbie at diesel cars Trucks, buses no problem but cars...erm

I think he means, turn the ignition off and back on again immeditaly so the glowplugs act twice, my 19TZD on cold mornings sometimes responds better to having two lots of preheating.

[Gibbo2286]

What's happening here is the light going out prematurely, quite a common problem on the BX when the control relay gets a bit old and tired.

You can do as has been suggested and run it twice by switching off and on again, or switch on and listen for the relay to click off, usually about ten or so seconds after the light goes out, or try counting down to fifteen ...sixteen .......seventeen until you find out what gives you the best result.

Or if you can get one fit a new relay.

This of course all assumes that the heat plugs are in good condition.

[kiwi]

What's happening here is the light going out prematurely, quite a common problem on the BX when the control relay gets a bit old and tired.

You can do as has been suggested and run it twice by switching off and on again, or switch on and listen for the relay to click off, usually about ten or so seconds after the light goes out, or try counting down to fifteen ...sixteen .......seventeen until you find out what gives you the best result.

Or if you can get one fit a new relay.

This of course all assumes that the heat plugs are in good condition.

Thats making some sense yes it looks like the light is going off prematurely, so maybe your on the right trail with relay.

Since I have only had this car since late september its not had the joy of a cold morning start. Then again since I got this car its not stopped raining either

[mat_fenwick]

Ok so if I try to start it as soon as the light goes out I get nothing. however leave it a few more seconds and I hear the relay I assume for the glowplug go clunk and then it starts no problem.

I read this slightly differently to most I think - do you mean by this that the starter doesn't turn when the light goes out? If this is the case then it suggests battery voltage dropping too much under load which is insufficient to crank the engine while the glowplugs are also drawing current.

[KevR]

Ok so if I try to start it as soon as the light goes out I get nothing. however leave it a few more seconds and I hear the relay I assume for the glowplug go clunk and then it starts no problem.

I read this slightly differently to most I think - do you mean by this that the starter doesn't turn when the light goes out? If this is the case then it suggests battery voltage dropping too much under load which is insufficient to crank the engine while the glowplugs are also drawing current.

That's what I thought too - sounded as if nothing at all was happening when he turned the key, rather than engine turning but not starting. If that's the case, the other possibility is corrosion in the connectors somewhere, but most likely in the big connector that goes to the postive battery terminal and lives either under the battery tray or between tray and air filter area.

[rmattila]

That's what I thought too - sounded as if nothing at all was happening when he turned the key, rather than engine turning but not starting. If that's the case, the other possibility is corrosion in the connectors somewhere, but most likely in the big connector that goes to the postive battery terminal and lives either under the battery tray or between tray and air filter area.

That, or the earthing cable that connects to the foot of the hydraulic pump. I've had that phenomenon on two Diesel BX's, and in both cases, the earthing cable had come loose for some reason.

[kiwi]

Not really had a chance to do an indepth check over due to time of year and in NZ everyon goes on holiday it seems until late January.

I timed the sequance for starting and several tests all came back the same
8 seconds Light Out 15 seconds relay clicks and starts the car. One thing I did notice is that turning the key in between those times you could hear the starter click.