More Rough Cold Starts...

phil-lester · Post by **phil-lester** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:47 pm

Hey guys,

having some trouble with cold weather starts like many others. in temperatures above -15c the van will start fine until the glow plugs turn off then it will chug and spit out some black soot along with some dark smoke. If i bring up the rpms to about 1500-2000 it will push out lots black smoke then run better once warm all is golden.

I have replaced the glow plugs, checked the relay and had the fuel IP seals changed. fuel filter and oil filters have been changed as well.

Any thoughts?

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:26 pm

I wonder if it was timed correctly.

Post by **Big-Bird** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:14 pm

Time to read the technical manuals on the L400.

Mr. Flibble · Post by **Mr. Flibble** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:37 pm

What are the RPMs at idle? Should be around 800.

phil-lester · Post by **phil-lester** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:08 pm

Its sitting around 800

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:04 am

Phil I have has the same problem... When the glow plugs kick out it runs pretty rough... I now let it idle for a min then drive well the glow plugs are still hot. I also will be installing manual throttle cus it runs ok around 1500-1200 and then runs fine when warm

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:05 am

I have also spent countless hours screwing with the cold start timing and cold idle circuit bit had no success

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:50 pm

Get someone to check the timing :)

psilosin · Post by **psilosin** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:47 pm

On the L400 the glow plugs are on for ~2minutes after startup so are you saying that it runs fine for 2 minutes of driving and then gets rough?

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 2:44 pm

Why would you suggest timing?

phil-lester · Post by **phil-lester** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:44 am

Yes it runs fine for those 2 minutes and then starts having trouble. Lately I have been running 2 glow plug sequences to allow the van to warm up a bit before driving it and it helps quite a bit.

Mr. Flibble · Post by **Mr. Flibble** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:08 am

403delica wrote:Why would you suggest timing?

Just a guess, but if the timing is off the fuel injection would be amiss with TDC. So perhaps the diesel is not ignighting properly, and the cylinders are not hot enough when the glowplugs are off?

That is a complete guess though.

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:40 am

any updates? mine seems to not like humidity. Gonna do a resistance check on the glow plugs and polish the bus bar and fuil filter in about a week and see if that changes anything

Mr. Flibble · Post by **Mr. Flibble** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:59 am

403delica wrote:any updates? mine seems to not like humidity. Gonna do a resistance check on the glow plugs and polish the bus bar and fuil filter in about a week and see if that changes anything

Mine does not like humidity either - it is actually harder to start at 5-10 Celsius at 100% humidity than it is to start at -5 with 0% humidity.

403delica · Post by **403delica** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:08 pm

Yah i agree! but i would still love to know why it runs rough after the glow plug cycle

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