406 2.1TD Horrible to start first thing in the morning

Discussion in 'Peugeot 406' started by energizer, Sep 21, 2004.

  1. energizer

    energizer Guest

    Hi all,

    This is my first post and I'm sure with most ppls first posts it's a bad
    problem.
    The thing is when I first start my car (when it's cold) it takes ages to
    get going. I turn the key and it just struggles to start. Once it does
    start a great plume of smoke comes from the exhaust and it then runs fine
    from then on!!!
    Also the stop light on the dash flickers on and off every now and
    again?!?!?

    Any help would be much apprieciated

    Kind regards

    Sy
     
    energizer, Sep 21, 2004
    #1
  2. If it's a diesel are you sure you're waiting for the glow plugs to do their
    stuff? Also, how old is it - my current 307HDI is the first oil burner I've
    driven which doesn't need the accelerator to be pushed to the floor when
    turning the engine over.
    Based on my experience of diesels, the plume of smoke when starting is
    normal
     
    The Man Himself, Sep 21, 2004
    #2
  3. energizer

    G.T Guest

    Hi,
    I've
    Or are they good ?
    Strange, it wasn't necessary with all Diesels I've driven (I could post a
    list of all cars I've even driven if you're curious).
    Not easy to quantize - just a little may be normal, having a black stain on
    the floor after a start may well be a proof of excess :)
     
    G.T, Sep 21, 2004
    #3
  4. energizer

    brian Guest

    First of all you are waiting for the glow plug light to go out first.
    Assuming this, you probably have had one or more glow plugs fail. Presumably
    it starts OK hot.
    What you describe is typical of glow plug failure.
    To check, remove the wire connecting all four together, and check the
    resistance of each one, from the connector to the cylender head. They are
    quite low resistance, but the faulty ones will be open circuit. If you don't
    have the kit to check this then you will have to get your friendly local
    repairman to do it.

    If all four plugs are OK, then either you have a fault in the preheat
    circuit, or low compression.
    The former you can check by putting a voltmeter between the heater plug
    connector wire and the head. Turn on the ignition, and you should see around
    12 volts showing. might be a little less. If you get no volts there even
    though the preheat light is on, then you have a fault in the preheat
    circuit, possibly the relay/control box.

    Brian.
     
    brian, Sep 22, 2004
    #4
  5. energizer

    energizer Guest

    Thanks for the replies.

    My car is a Preg 406 2.1TD Executive and is my first ever diesel! I always
    wait for the plug light to go out. I even turn on the ignition and when the
    light goes out I do it again just incase. It's fine the rest of the day.
    I'll check out the glow plugs with a garage. I hope that's it.

    Thanks for your speedy replies.

    Kind regards
    Sy
     
    energizer, Sep 22, 2004
    #5
  6. Just for interest sake. years ago I was involved with a fleet of diesel
    vans which invariably had inoperative heater plugs. The recognised (and
    recommended) way to start in winter was full throttle and run the starter
    continuously. When the engine started to fire you still kept the starter
    running until it began to rev, Then you let go of the starter. It was
    noisy, caned the battery and produced prodigious amounts of smoke, but it
    worked every time.

    Keith Willcocks
    (remove .nospam from address to reply)
     
    Keith Willcocks, Sep 22, 2004
    #6
  7. energizer

    energizer Guest

    Just out of curiosity... Is it normal that the fans turn on after the
    ignition has been switched of???

    Regards
    SY
     
    energizer, Sep 22, 2004
    #7

  8. Do you mean the main cooling fan? I haven't noticed it on my 406 but when
    I had a 405 it would run on for several minutes after you had turned off,
    and indeed locked the car and left it.

    Keith Willcocks
    (remove .nospam from address to reply)
     
    Keith Willcocks, Sep 22, 2004
    #8
  9. energizer

    Nik&Andy Guest

    I have the very same car, with over 140,000miles on the clock, and it starts
    first time every time (Quickly) without any smoke....

    I did have this problem once, a new set of glow plugs sorted it.

    Andy
     
    Nik&Andy, Sep 22, 2004
    #9
  10. energizer

    Nik&Andy Guest

    This is perfectly normal in most modern cars, in fact most cars even have a
    warning sticker under the bonnet telling you it could turn on at any time.

    Andy
     
    Nik&Andy, Sep 22, 2004
    #10
  11. energizer

    jim. Guest

    My list'll be similar to yours GT and I've never felt the need to touch the
    accelerator to start Pug diesels.
    If they don't start first turn I get the heater plugs sorted.

    Jim.
     
    jim., Sep 22, 2004
    #11
  12. energizer

    Chris Hodges Guest

    Having had an XUD in both a 309 and a citroen ZX I agree. The 309
    needed the water draining from the fuel filter quite frequently in
    winter otherwise it wasn't happy starting (but extra gas didn't seem to
    help) and the ZX needs 2 goes on the glowplugs if cold, but then starts
    a treat.

    In the OP's case I would say swap out the glowplugs (but check there is
    12V reaching them) a routine service might help (fuel filter as above,
    fresh oil etc.) if it's overdue.

    Chris
     
    Chris Hodges, Sep 22, 2004
    #12
  13. energizer

    energizer Guest

    Thanks for that guys

    My anxiety has been put to pass!

    A new set of glow plugs it is.

    Forums.....gotta love'm!

    Kind regards

    Sy
     
    energizer, Sep 23, 2004
    #13
  14. energizer

    G.T Guest

    Hi,
    It is the classic fail... A friend of mine had the same problem with his '97
    205D, it became quite hard to start (but always at first try), and smoked a
    lot more than normal, and after removing glow plugs he found out that 3 out
    of the 4 were worn :)

    Come on, it was so easy that even a frenchie was able to give the correct
    answer :)

    Regardsn
    G.T

    205 Diesel & turbo-Diesel : http://205d.fr.st
     
    G.T, Sep 23, 2004
    #14
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