Hi All,
I have a 2008 x type diesel car and it won't start. Whats happened is that it was shuddering and then conking out but once you allowed it to rest it was fine. Anyway it made it home and the following day it simply didn't want to start at all.
The battery is fine, all the fuses are fine. The lead to the glow plugs had burnt out but have reconnected it and a continuity test shows that there is some power reaching this. Relay R10 gets warm when you try and start it, the engine turns over fine but its as if no diesel is getting there as there is no smell of it anywhere! Is there something obviously wrong and would a duff glow plug relay stop the car from starting? Its done 52000 miles. Any help warmly welcome!!
best
Marek

 

I would suspect the fuel pump

 

Many thanks for this quick reply, would this be the high pressure pump or the one from the fuel tank, its been run on BP diesel with next to no super market
Once again many thanks
Marek

 

I would start with in tank one.
Check for power to the pump as well

 

Many thanks again for your response. Things have moved on a bit and the recovery driver who is a bit of a techy asked if I had any Lynx, which he promptly sprayed up the air intake whilst I cranked her over. Anyway after a couple of bursts the car fired up, loads of soot out of the exhaust and spluttering. He then left and I drove it to the garage where they have more sophisticated diagnostics. Anyway the reason why it wouldn't start is definitely the fact that something to do with the glow plugs is not working, now on the way to the garage after about 2 miles the coil symbol came on and then off continuously indicating heating the injectors and then switching of only to heat again and so on. This is probably why the cable melted, but I maybe wrong, it could also explain why relay R10 the glow plug relay was just slightly warm when trying to start the car. I will find out from the garage what was actually the problem when they fix it....and will of course let the forum know. I will obviously buy a can of Lynx to have in the car as part of the tool kit.
Once again many thanks for your time in responding to my problem, much appreciated
best
Marek

 

Flashing glow plug light is nothing to do with glow plugs. When the light flashes it is indicating a fault with the EGR valve.
Usually it's because the EGR valve is stuck and given it won't start it must be stuck open.
Disconnect the EGR valve wiring connector, switch on the ignition and it should start.

To fix, remove the EGR and clean it thoroughly or replace it.
I've never replaced one. Ever! A thorough clean of the unit and the inlet manifold and associated pipework has always cured it for me.

To keep it clean........ thrash it once a month! Seriously, I know 2 police mechanics and they've never had EGR faults on Police cars!

I use Miller Diesel EcoPower additive in mine and it keeps everything clean.
The EGR gets blocked by soot, which is a result of dirt building up around the injectors which causes poor burning of the fuel. The additive keeps the injectors and the pump etc clean and the resulting clean burn and occasional hard drive keeps the rest clean

 

Many thanks for this very useful info, its the wife that drives this car and she never thrashes it, hence the problem no doubt being this. We had a 53 plate one before and we had to clean the EGR as it had problems, probably linked to her driving style. This probably also explains the amount of soot on our drive way after the reliance man "opened her up"
Once again many thanks and I will see what the garage comes back with, but will defo take hers out for a spin to clear the valve!!
best
Marek

 

Most problems of this nature are caused by driving style. It's really easy to believe that you are looking after your beloved engine by driving it conservatively and smoothly with tender loving care but the reality is quite the opposite.
Diesel engines need pushing hard quite often in order to keep them running at optimum.
Petrol is much cleaner burning so the conservative driving style works well for them but without being driven fairly hard once in a while a diesel ends up with sooted up exhaust components, dirty intake components and the cylinder bores end up being polished smooth and the piston rings then struggle to do their job of keeping oil in the sump and fuel in the combustion chambers where they should be.
Obviously, thrashing any engine to within an inch of its life will harm it, but a diesel needs to be kept 'working'.
Keep us informed of your results. Interesting to hear about other enthusiasts encounters

 

Many thanks again. Just to update the situation. The car went to a specialist diesel place and they carried a leak of test. All 4 injectors had a high leak off which had resulted in the in ability to start. Once started the thing went fine as there was enough pressure. They removed the injectors and repaired them. The glow plug wiring must have come loose and then shorted out. If the problem persists then its the fuel pump issue. Not bad for a car with a massive 51,827 miles on the clock...a friday afternoon job probably. Luckily we have back up cars as the process has taken the best part of 2 weeks!!!
Once again many thanks to the chaps who replied and hopefully this may also be of use to others with problems of this nature