Mk3 2.0 Tdci - Intermittent Starting Problem

[jingars]

I have a 2007 Mk3 2.0 TDCi Galaxy that. Last Sunday it refused to start, resulting in my first ever Gren Flag breakdown call-out. The glow plug light extinguished very quickly, and on the turn of the key the car gave the impression that it was going to catch, only to turn over and over with nothing other than a lot of noise and the smell of diesel from the exhaust.

 

The breakdown chap attended in just under an hour and the damn car started second time for him.

 

This morning the car started and got me and my sons to the rugby club, but when we came to leave we had the same symptoms as previously; a very brief flash of the glow plug light and then now't. It started after some 25 minutes or so of occasional attempts.

 

I have a Bluefin remap unit for the car. Both the fails have been with the standard Ford map installed, but a re-map to the Bluefin suggested map made no difference this morning.

 

I have owned the car for the last two years and this is the first issue I have had with starting.

 

A trawl of the technical section shows that has been talk of a glow plug relay being an issue, but is this a known MK3 issue?

 

A suggested diagnostic test sequence would be most welcome - as would any other advice.

 

Thanks in advance.

[gregers]

welcome to the forum jingars,

sorry cant help you with your problem,but have deleted your other post :huh:.

[jingars]

Thank you, and thank you :huh:

[Jez_Whaley]

Sounds like air is getting into your fuel system - it often can be the throttle control casing.

[captainpp]

I had a problem with my previous 2.0 TDCi S-max, when in France last year.

 

One day, after driving it for several hours, it wouldn't start - turned over but didn't catch at all. After about 10 minutes it finally started. The next day it wouldn't start again - and no amount of trying worked.

 

It got towed to the local (French) Ford dealer, where they eventually fixed it. Now, my French isn't great, but I think they said that they had no idea what was wrong with it, but when they reprogrammed the ECU it all magically started working again. Not what I wanted to hear before a 9 hour drive back to the UK, having to stop for fuel, lunch, etc on the way, but it did the trick, and didn't have the same problem again.

[b-a-s]

hove you fixed problem? came across same problem this week and it was wiring harness chafing on fuel feed pipe in front of cam belt cover, hole was so small no fuel leaked from it. If you would like a photo i still have damaged pipe

[Goldgalaxy]

Hi folks i have been having the same problem now with my mk3 07 plate Galaxy.The cure was to replace the starter motor.

I bought a 2nd hand starter from an online dealer.Got it fitted to the car yesterday and now the problem is solved.

I have been on the net for 6 weeks reading all the same problems etc..The brushes in the mk3 starters burn out hence the car not starting from cold and once hot can start all day long..Love my Galaxy. :) Galaxy now your starting again .

[EYW]

_{Hi, I have had a similar problem. About 3 months ago I couldn't get my 2.0TDCi to start. I’ve never had any problem before. After many attempts I used a recovery service for the 1st time and they towed to a garage. They found the fuel line had air in it. They removed the air and it was fine. Couldn't find a leak but decided to change the fuel filter housing as that has been known to have a problem with hairline cracks. It gave me the same problem the following day but started after a couple of attempts. It was then fine for about a month when the same problem occurred again. It had been on a sloping drive (front of the car higher) overnight. After getting it on the level, leaving it for a hour or 2 and having lots of attempts, it eventually started. I've not had any problems with it since.}

 

_{I'd like to find out what is causing the air to get in the fuel line; it clearly wasn't the fuel filter housing! Has anyone any ideas?}

[Scorpiorefugee]

I may be totally wrong but the old Galaxies had a long tank mounted front to back and on a steep drive with low fuel it was possible to leave the fuel at one end and give an empty tank effect. OK if you start it and run off the drive quickly but if left running to warm up it could take a full battery's worth of cranking to get it going again.

[EYW]

Hi, Thanks for the follow-up on this. I don't think it is likely to be the cause as my Galaxy is 2009 and it had a pretty full tank at the time. I have to say that I still haven't had any more problems with this but I am a lot more careful when starting the engine and I never park on slopes anymore! I'm still keen to find out what caused it as I'm convinced it will strike again.

[Mattes21]

Hi guys,

I've been having the same trouble with mine. I've just changed all my glow plugs and still just as hard to start!

The glow plug light literally flashes up for less than a millisecond on the dash display.

I had the car booked in for Friday 14/12/12 to have plugs done so left it on the drive and used my mothers car for work.

Came out to it Thursday and put the key in, glow plug light stayed on and car fired up first time!!

But now the car is back to not firing up first time again...

Have been reading up on this a lot...

General ideas seem to be a) glow plugs b)glow plug relay or c) air in the fuel lines

Seen as I've done the glow plugs, I wonder if it's worth changing the relay?

 

What am I looking for? In the bonnet fusebox? What number? And what price are we looking at for new relay?

 

I need to solve this problem once and for all, it's more embarrassing that I'm sat in a 57 reg galaxy but it's. Starting like an old rover diesel!!

 

Any help appreciated!!

 

Thanks in advance

 

Matt

[Meanie]

Hi,

 

Have the same problem but mine has been very intermittent but lately has got worse and takes some time to engage.  However, there seems to be no pattern and just turns over even when it is hot.  Immobiliser has been suggested as a problem but as usual Ford are not very helpful and obviously when they have the car, it of course starts first time!!!!!!  I don't have friends with a Galaxy but could someone tell me if when you turn the ignition on, does the fuel pump make a noise?  I thought it did but cannot hear anything when I turn the ignition to the on position.

 

Thanks for any help. 

[Scorpiorefugee]

Hi,

 

I've just been re reading this and another thought struck me and it relates to the comment about the glow plug light not coming on for long so probably doesn't apply in all cases. The old MKI and possibly the MKII had a 2 part coolant temperature sensor one part of which was used for controlling glow plug timing and probably lots of other things but did not affect the temperature display. If this part failed then the glow plugs were never activated. Fine in the summer but could cause a 10 second delay in firing up in the winter and possibly more sever starting problems depending on engine design etc. Obviously, no warning codes and no way of testing other than with a meter or replacement. 

Probably not related but possibly worth a mention.

[Mattes21]

Right... Hi all...

Still experiencing this problem!

It's becoming very annoying now to say the least!

 

Update so far...

 

I've had the glow plugs changed! Still no change to starting...

 

I've replaced the fuel filter and rubber seal and removed all air from fuel lines! Believe me when I say that was fun (slight sarcasm)

 

Still no change... I can't get my head round it, I would love to change the glow plug relay! But I've no clue where to look or what I'm looking for...please if anyone has an engine diagram or just knows where it is or where I can buy one? Need this sorting ASAP

 

 

 

Please......

[Meanie]

I changed my key for the spare because I heard there could be problems with the key and immobiliser.  This seems to have sorted the problem for me but will obviously have to get the other key reprogrammed at some point. :29:

[33hilton]

Hi, I had the same problem on my 56 2.0 tdci. It would happen randomly, didnt matter how much fuel was in the tank, whether it was parked up or down hill, whether it was hot or cold, wet dry sunny or snow. Fraud said it needed a new battery so they fitted one..2 weeks later same thing again. This time they replaced the butterfly flap on intake pipe,(part description is actually carburettor)!!  Apparently it was not returning to proper position when engine was switched off, so it wouldnt start.  Seems to have done the trick..touch wood.

Edited March 28, 2013 by 33hilton

[Meanie]

Problem for me now finally sorted, it was a leak on the pipe joining to the inlet manifold. :)