Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Discovery => Topic started by: aog on December 20, 2004, 16:54:56

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: aog on December 20, 2004, 16:54:56

Hi All!!

Problems with Shirleys Disco. '97 XS TDI Auto. Very slow to start in morning, sounds like flat battery, but new heavy duty one fitted, took 5 goes this morning in the frost to start. If is not as cold in the morning, it starts ok, but not when really cold.

Help? Any ideas? Guess it's the starter motor, but it's fine every other time, and once it's started you could start it again. :(

Suggestions? How much is a replacement?

Thanks....

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: Range Rover Blues on December 20, 2004, 17:15:50

Check your earth strap, easiest is to use a jump lead from the block to the battery.
Check glow plugs if fitted.
Check for voltage drop up to the starter, indicates leads are knackered.
Does it jump-start any better?
How old and how thick is the oil?

When you say it doesn't start, I'm assuming it turns too slowly.  It could be a duff battery, they have a negative temperature coefficient, as they get colder their internal resistance rises dramatically.  Try taking the battery in at night! or park the front end near the house, out of the cold wind.

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: aog on December 20, 2004, 17:30:33

Hi!!

Will try the jump leads.
How do I know if the glowplugs are knackered? Is starts fine any other time, guess this is because it's a direct injection?
How do I check for voltage drop?
The oil is ok, it was serviced 3 months ago when she bought it..

Thanks

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: Paul on December 20, 2004, 17:40:11

I had a simular problem... Has it recently had a new timing belt..?

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: aog on December 20, 2004, 18:03:54

Well it had a new one when she bought the car about 3 months ago....it starts perfect every other time tho, just when it's really cold....

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: Paul on December 20, 2004, 18:14:18

I had the same problem, Started ok until it got cold.

I was trying to find my old post about it but failed.

I was told by a few people it was due to the pump
timing be a few degrease out when the new belt is
fitted and timed up, It's an easy job to adjust the
pump timing, I did mine myself in about an hour,
Even eaiser if it's not fitted with aircon.

Some photos of what I did here: http://members.mud-club.com/profiles/paul/gallery/timing

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: Wanderer on December 20, 2004, 21:17:50

http://forums.mud-club.com/viewtopic.php?t=1282

Ed

Title: Disco slow to start in morning
Post by: Paul on December 20, 2004, 21:50:13

Thanks Ed. :wink: