306 D Turbo Glow plug problem

Hi,

I'm having a problem starting my 1.9 306 D Turbo. When I switch the
ignition on, about 50% of the time, the Glow Plug indicator light does not
come on & the car won't start. Also, when it does start, the engine sounds
rattly & I get pale smoke for about 10 seconds. I have replaced the relay
located behind the battery, but still have the problem.

I replaced the whole engine not long ago & it was fine for roughly the
first 450 miles.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

I'm having a problem starting my 1.9 306 D Turbo. When I switch the

The pale (white) smoke is unburned fuel. Test for current at the glowplugs.
On that engine if they're not heating up it's amazing it starts at all.
DaveK.

 

Thanks,

Current to the glow plugs is fine 50% of the time & the car will start &
then run without any problems. Its when the dashboard light does not come
on that baffles me. When this happens, the plugs do not heat up & the
engine will not start at all. I have no idea what the root of the problem
is.

When it works, I can actually hear the relay (behind the battery & when I
have the bonnet open) click on when the glow plug light switches on & off
again when it goes out after a few seconds. Then the car will start. On the
occasions that it does't start, there is no activity from the relay
whatsoever. As mentioned before, I have changed the relay but the
intermittant problem remains.

I tested the plugs when the engine was replaced & they were all fine. I
think they were all new but the unburnt fuel does suggest that at least one
is faulty.

Any Ideas?

Electrics baffle me.

 

AAARGHH!

I took the car to a 'specialist' yesterday & he found no faults whatsoever
despite checking Glow Plugs, Relays..... everything. The problem still
persists though.

Has anyone even heard of this intermittant problem before? It seems to be
unique to my car.

 

Intermittent problems are usually dirty contact related. Try cleaning all
contacts associated with the system. Pay particular attention to earths for
corrosion.
Mike

 

Ah yes. That's a very good idea. I'll have to wait till Saturday to check
it out but I'll check & clean all the contacts involved.

Thanks,
JG.