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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: kiff on April 07, 2008, 08:16:38 pm

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: kiff on April 07, 2008, 08:16:38 pm

So I have been chasing down a cold starting problem for awhile now.  When I fire up the car it smokes like crazy, only running on 3 cycl (#2 is not firing) and runs super rough, after about 5-10mins, she smartens up, no smoke at all and runs on all 4.

I have replaced my glow plugs, still can't figure out what the issue might be.

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: blkboostedtruck on April 07, 2008, 08:34:49 pm

time for compression test? or stickey injector or pump feed?
Duane

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: truckinwagen on April 07, 2008, 08:36:16 pm

my car does the same thing, I have to put a heater under it in the winter to even get it to start at all.

even if everything checks out alright these motors can be a pain when cold.

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: Vincent Waldon on April 07, 2008, 08:53:29 pm

Two suggestions... in the order I'd do 'em in t'were it me:


-  swap #2 injector and another one, and see if the trouble follows the injector.  

- check your compression with the engine stone cold, and then once it's warmed up

My personal experience, fwiw,  is that a diesel with good compression, good injectors, good timing, good glowplugs, nice synthetic oil, and a good battery will start at -30C without additional heaters the very first time you crank it.   If it's hard to start *something* is probably amiss.

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: truckinwagen on April 07, 2008, 09:02:52 pm

that is true, however I have chased what is wrong so long and invested too much time and money and came up with nothing, so I am happy to stop worrying and put a heater under it

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: kiff on April 07, 2008, 09:08:43 pm

the car still starts just fine.  I Don't have a compression tester for a diesel, I may try moving the injectors around

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: Vincent Waldon on April 07, 2008, 10:35:40 pm

Quote from: "truckinwagen"

that is true, however I have chased what is wrong so long and invested too much time and money and came up with nothing, so I am happy to stop worrying and put a heater under it

Yup... at a certain point you kinda hit diminishing returns on the detective work and go for what works, don't ya.

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: turbosuzi on May 21, 2008, 08:56:14 pm

how do you know if a cyl is not firing on a diesel? I am having the same symptoms and was thinking that a cyl is not firing but I am not sure how to tell or why one would not fore.

Title: Really rough when cold
Post by: kiff on May 21, 2008, 08:57:47 pm

Crack each injector, you should hear the idle drop.  Mine does not drop when cold, but does when warm.