Just got yelled at due to smokey start

[impalator]

So my wife just calls me (almost in tears)... she's going to see a friend (using the Delica) and upon cold start this morning the Van produces it's usual (quite substantial) amount of smoke.

So this guy comes up to her and yells at her, she was toxifying the entire neighbourhood, being a horrible polluter etc. etc.... and that she needs an oil-change and so forth... and while she tells him that its a Diesel and that once it rolls the smoke stops (which it does) he pulls out his camera and takes pictures of the Van with her inside...

So she's all up nervous and worried.... and calls me and makes me worried too... What can a picture of a smokey start-up do against me/my wife and/or my Van?

Do I need to be worried about fines or inspections or anything like that? The Van passed aircare in September and nothing has changed since - but I have to admit that it makes a lot of smoke upon start-up... first a bunch of black puffs, then it goes gray-ish, blue-ish until you put it in drive and roll off.... it almost immediately stops smoking once it's in drive (even if "drive" and standing with the brake on)...

Any advice or feedback from anybody?

Cheers,
Chris

[patty]

the usual cold start smoke is just grey, the blueish and blacks may be indicating something. Either way the guy taking the picture was a douche. considering last year i had a blown engine and drove around for 3 months, through road checks and what not and never had any issue you should be in the clear. specially if you've passed air care!

[Spearo]

What a dipshit. Tell your wife to keep some bearspray in the van. And I am serious.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I've experienced situations similar to this, except without the camera ~ that's new. There are people out there that seriously believe that it is because of us RHDs that the "Big Three" motor companies have been going out of business. There are also people out there that believe that had we been more "patriotic" and had bought an American substandard vehicle at extortionate prices ~ there would have been no earthquake in Haiti.

These people are few. They're just loud and sound like a lot of people. Often their arguments are ungrounded.

Now the camera aspect is intriguing. Someone using loud intimidating language then using a camera that he has on hand ~ this could be construed as threatening behaviour, I would think.

Pepper spray might be a possible idea, as a last resort. I think bear spray might be a little dangerous for both parties involved, plus it is very powerful and can backfire on you if there is a breeze ~ much like the use of chlorine gas in the First World War.

Remember that any time one pulls a weapon of any sort it can be used against them, both on the scene or later in a court room. Learn gung fu instead. Apart from self defence it is also good exercise that improves both body & mind.

Falco.

[jessef]

If anyone ever experiences anything similar, please do this :

Calmly ask for that person's name, address and contact information.

If they ask why, you can tell them that you will forward this information to the police for harassment.

When someone intimidates you in your personal space, consider it a personal threat and treat it as such.

Use your judgement. If you feel the person is or can be violent or may possibly harm you in any way, make a mental note of the person's face, clothes, etc... and leave as calmly as possible.

You don't want to put yourself at any physical risk over nothing.

I've had a few people similar, and one was quite threatening.

I shut the van off, closed the door and followed that person until they became the intimidated one. I would not recommend doing this as it can aggravate the person further. I felt comfortable going for a walk and was in no way harassing the guy. Just followed him to his place, took down his address and kept the info to myself if needed for later. Never heard from him again although I've seen him around.

On the mechanical note, for peace of mind :

-Replace all of your glow plugs with new one's.
-Get your injectors/nozzles cleaned and psi tuned (at CVI or Amazing Auto).
-Remove and clean the bus bar (connects the tips of the glow plugs.
-Cut the end of the glow plug main wire off at the tip so there is fresh wire exposed. Have an electrician or someone solder 10 or 12 gauge wire from there splicing out to each individual glow plug tip. (this will ensure each glow plug is receiving equivalent voltage)
-Swap out fuel filter and bleed all the air out of the fuel system.
-Last but not least, have your timing check by CVI or Amazing Auto. If the timing is retarded (pardon the pun), you'll have dark smoke at startup.

These things above once done, usually turn a smoke show morning into a non-event startup.

[EnviroImports.com]

Hello, this may seem like a silly question, but ive had people that dont do this and have had OVER a year of Terrible smoky starts even in summer
when you start your L300, are you waiting for the Second Click of the glow plugs? as you turn your ignition on, you hear a Click coming from under you seat, a few seconds-45seconds, a second click, THEN START, if you still smoke alot after doing the mentioned, then you have some issues to sort out.
In the early spring weather we have on the lower mainland, island smoking delicas should not be putting out much in the 5-10* weather.
Hope that helps,

[FalcoColumbarius]

as you turn your ignition on, you hear a Click coming from under you seat, a few seconds-45seconds, a second click, THEN START

You mean three to five seconds, no?

[EnviroImports.com]

3-5 seconds in summer in winter it should stay on longer, it's temp dependant but most importantly waiting for the second click it's loud , loud as the first one,

[sasquatch-hunter]

Taking pictures of someone without their permission is a violation of privacy. You can sue that person .

[Green1]

Taking pictures of someone without their permission is a violation of privacy. You can sue that person .

nope, only if the picture taker is on private property, if they are on public property it's all fair game. Now if it becomes an ongoing issue over a long period of time then stalking or harassment laws may apply, but simply taking a single picture of a person in public is basically always allowed.

[jessef]

Bring a camera next time and take a picture of the person taking a picture of you.

[EnviroImports.com]

Bring a camera next time and take a picture of the person taking a picture of you.

I love my I phone with video....

[Golf Cart]

The international sign of "who cares what you think" is cheaper, quicker, and is available in 47 languages worldwide.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Impalator, So I guess we now know who reported you for parking your Delica in front of their house, eh? This is when you send that house address to all those websites that mail spam, so they will recieve free info on hearing aids, funerals, adjustable beds, etc. By the way, the only time mine smokes on start is if I forget to let the double click glowplug occur. Christine.

[jessef]

Start ordering pizza's