Another Citroen problem

[endorfin]

For once not an XM problem, car is behaving reasonably well at the moment, there...I've jinxed it!

The girlfriend has a 1997 (P) Citroen ZX 1.9D auto (XUD engine) When we bought the car last January it had 90k on the clock, all seemed well until we tried to start it the next morning, took ages. Checked glow plugs all were dead. Replaced them with Bosch glows, started perfectly until down the line it was getting harder and hard to start when eventually under 6 months later and about 3k miles it was back to how we bought it. Checked glows again, with multimeter and physical test with a battery and jump leads. all dead.
Put 4 new Beru ones in, perfect starting now again 2k miles down the line it's starting to struggle again....

Obviously something wrong here...glows should last far longer than this, I've had many XUDs and never had this problem. What could be causing this?

Getting new glows isn't a problem the local scrappy has loads of XUD engines and the glows can be had for pennies, just hate the scraped knuckles, dropped bolts and oily hands every few months!

[Dieselman]

If you keep fitting second hand glowplugs no wonder they aren't lasting.

[endorfin]

No, the first two sets of glows I fitted were brand new, and top brands too Bosch and Beru. I just don't want to waste money on new glows if they are gonna keep going. Its obvious there is a fault somewhere, 2 sets of glows in 10 months and 6k miles can't be right. As well as the dead ones that came with the car.

[kenhall]

Glow plug controller not switching off? Check for voltage on plugs after engine started.
Poor spray pattern from injectors? Check and calibration maybe required.

Ken

[citroenxm]

Mum and dad went through a spate of glow pugs on a 306 XLDt (turbo D engine) I think I put about 3 sets in in the space of 5 months.. A TD takes longer to start plug less though so is more nitceable then a N/a engine.

I got the feeling I did change the plug relay unit which sorted it, as the 4th set lasted then..

[White Exec]

Good advice to have the injectors checked by a diesel specialist. A poor spray pattern causes lousy starting.

Also, if the battery is past its best, this will drastically affect how well the glow-plugs will perform. A good battery voltage is essential when starting a diesel: it has to maintain the glow-plug temperature while simultaneously cranking the engine. If buying a new battery, go for the largest which will fit, with the biggest Cold Cranking Current (minimum of 600 Amps is good) available.

Chris

[Dieselman]

I would say it's the glowplug relay holding them on permanently.

[XMX]

Here you go fellow !

I'm sure THIS should fix your problem


XMX

.

[endorfin]

I would say it's the glowplug relay holding them on permanently.

I considered that but I usually use the interior light to judge when glows have gone off, the light dims when ignition is turned and when it brightens I try to fire the car up. If the interior light is dimming then brightening again isn't this indicating that the relay is working and switching the glows off?

[Dieselman]

Yes, but you should start the engine while the glowplugs are still on, not once they have switched off.

Just count to 5 then go.