Please Help Galaxy 1.9tdi And Starting Probs

[pmcn500]

Ok please bear with me as i am Mrs PMCN500 and not too hot with the technical bits lol........

 

We have just spent a small fortune getting the galaxy through its MOT and are now considering the expense of getting the timing adjusted but want to rule out any other problems first.

 

The car has been reluctant to start at times for the last year or so but always started after turning the key a few times to activate the glow plug light and never had any problems once it had been used starting again unless it was very cold. Over the last two months however the car has been taking an age to start and has been coughing and spluttering for up to 5 mins before it eventually turns over and starts. When it does this we get a fair amount of white smoke out the exhaust.

 

The glow plugs were all changed at the MOT a few days ago and its not really made a difference although 3 of them were not working at all when checked. I tried to start the car late last night and it was having none of it at all so i left it and tried again 1st thing this morning where it fired up no problem with the 1st turn of the key. I switched her off and tried again half an hour later where again it started although this time it was lumpy and reluctant but i left it to run for 20 mins or so to heat it up............... i have since gone out half an hour ago to start it again and its doing the same as last night............. the engine appears to be turning over but refusing to start.

 

Are there any relays we should be looking at or anything else we are missing or does is sound like the timing is out?........ The timing belt was done 3 yrs ago just after we got the car but not at a dealership to may be slightly out?....... we have had the car checked for problems on the reader thing (vag-com i think ) and it says there are no faults?

 

Well done if you got this far and any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

Lisa x

[Phil]

Check This link out as a starting point TDI Club Forum, but this issue is generally related to the relay 109 problem, the poor running could just be a knock on effect of the relay not tripping in.

Vag-Com would not report the relay issue as the relay powers the ECU so if the Relay is NOT switching ON the ECU then there is nothing to log or to record the event, if that makes sense.

 

Hope This Helps.

Phil

[pmcn500]

Thank you for your help Phil............ I am not sure that relay 109 is the problem as by looking through the posts on here and the tdi forum (for many hours lol) it seems to be that if Relay 109 is at fault then the glowplug light fails to show and this is showing everytime we try to start the car.

 

As i said we have been trawling the forum to check for issues/pointers and so far have tried

 

1- We thought the crankshaft postion sensor might be the problem as over the last few days the car has been beeping when trying to start aswell, we counted the beeps and initially we were getting 5 beeps so ordered a sensor from a local parts company (who have been brilliant) for

[Jayton]

Get the glow plug power bar checked, could be that not enough power is getting through to the GP's or a dodgy connection some where in the GP powering system.

[seatkid]

He sprayed the engine with something flammable?? and got it started.

:)

"Easy start" spray - the quickest way to ruin a diesel engine, it can ruin a piston in next to no time. I'm surprised they used it!

 

I think you need a new battery.....and a new air filter....and probably a new fuel filter (when was it last changed?)

 

Also check the glow plugs are actually operating (measuring voltage on the busbar) and check whether the glow plugs replaced with a reputable brand (Bosch,Beru,NGK) as cheap brands fitted by some back street garages are as good as the faulty ones they took out.

Edited December 24, 2010 by seatkid

[pmcn500]

He sprayed the engine with something flammable?? and got it started.

:)

"Easy start" spray - the quickest way to ruin a diesel engine, it can ruin a piston in next to no time. I'm surprised they used it!

 

I think you need a new battery.....and a new air filter....and probably a new fuel filter (when was it last changed?)

 

Also check the glow plugs are actually operating (measuring voltage on the busbar) and check whether the glow plugs replaced with a reputable brand (Bosch,Beru,NGK) as cheap brands fitted by some back street garages are as good as the faulty ones they took out.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply................. Paul is going to get a new air filter and new fuel filter today as the AA man reckons although we paid for a service (at a supposed to be reputable garage) that they haven't been changed!!.......... the guy from the AA tested the glowplugs as these were all changed for Bosch ones at the MOT last week (different garage) and they were fine according to him. Do you think the battery needs replaced even though it has been tested and is saying good?.......... I am more than happy to change it if its going to get the car going again :) .......... I tried the car again last night after posting and it wouldn't start again and this time i am getting 2 beeps when trying.

 

I am going to get Paul up now and get him to pop up to Perth to get the air and fuel filters and we know our local parts man can get the battery in for us today if required.

 

I really do appreciate all the advice and help you guys have given.............. I just want out Taxi to work again..........

 

Lisa x

[chrispb123456]

Ok please bear with me as i am Mrs PMCN500 and not too hot with the technical bits lol........

 

We have just spent a small fortune getting the galaxy through its MOT and are now considering the expense of getting the timing adjusted but want to rule out any other problems first.

 

The car has been reluctant to start at times for the last year or so but always started after turning the key a few times to activate the glow plug light and never had any problems once it had been used starting again unless it was very cold. Over the last two months however the car has been taking an age to start and has been coughing and spluttering for up to 5 mins before it eventually turns over and starts. When it does this we get a fair amount of white smoke out the exhaust.

 

The glow plugs were all changed at the MOT a few days ago and its not really made a difference although 3 of them were not working at all when checked. I tried to start the car late last night and it was having none of it at all so i left it and tried again 1st thing this morning where it fired up no problem with the 1st turn of the key. I switched her off and tried again half an hour later where again it started although this time it was lumpy and reluctant but i left it to run for 20 mins or so to heat it up............... i have since gone out half an hour ago to start it again and its doing the same as last night............. the engine appears to be turning over but refusing to start.

 

Are there any relays we should be looking at or anything else we are missing or does is sound like the timing is out?........ The timing belt was done 3 yrs ago just after we got the car but not at a dealership to may be slightly out?....... we have had the car checked for problems on the reader thing (vag-com i think ) and it says there are no faults?

 

Well done if you got this far and any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

Lisa x

Hi Lisa/Paul

Diesel engines fitted to the Galaxy and other modern cars are direct injection which in your case you shouldn't have the starting problems of the old indirect injection engines, don't want to confuse you waffle so what I'm saying is providing engine is mechanically OK your engine will start without glow plugs connected thats why you didn't notice any difference when plugs were changed but they do help with smoke emissions and smoother running after engine has started.

 

Unlike the PD engine in the MK2 you don't have an electric fuel pump in the tank to supply fuel to the injection pump, it has a separate pump inside the injection pump which only pumps when cranking engine therefore you really need to check all fuel pipe connections between injection pump down to tank including fuel filter and injector leak off pipes connections, you may be drawing air in the fuel system.

 

Engine starting by using easy start may confirm air in system

 

You are killing your battery every time your cranking it over and it doesn't start, will need charging for at least 48 hours minimum before condemning it.

 

Also check the electric stop solenoid on the fuel injection pump for intermittent power supply as this needs constant supply when ignitions on, no power no start.

 

When you change the fuel filter carefully check the o ring on the plastic connector,you will benefit if you can fill the new filter with clean diesel before you fit as there is no hand primer you will again have to crank it over to get the air out the system

Edited December 24, 2010 by chrispb123456

[pmcn500]

Right....some progress !!

 

We decided to bite the bullet and have bought a new Battery (Ouch !!).... replaced the air filter.... and have a new oil and fuel filter ready to fit... (will do this next week)

 

Connected new battery up.... and.... it started first time !!...switched off....started again... first time again....no delays...no coughs (phew...!!) have driven it around 20 miles....switched off several times when stopped....and each time it has started first time without fail...

 

However.... lol

 

There is a distinct lack of power now..... never rains but it pours huh !!

 

Car starts absolutely fine....but wheezes ??? when trying to accelerate.... then seems to kick into life a bit....but still not what it should be...?

when accelerating, you can hear a distinct wheeze...almost as though the turbo was loose...disconnected (is this possible ??) it does build up to normal speed....slowly.... but does lack power.

 

I appreciate everyone is going to be busy with Christmas now.... so wont expect any replies for at least a few days....at least its starting now !!

 

Thank you to everyone who has helped us.....Hope you all have a lovely Christmas & Happy New Year :)

 

Paul & Lisa

x

[marinabrid]

could be the maf sensor, try taking off the connector and if the car runs the same then chances are its kaput,

you will find the sensor on the pipework where the air filter box is

 

always worth a try even just to eliminate it as the problem.

[pmcn500]

could be the maf sensor, try taking off the connector and if the car runs the same then chances are its kaput,

you will find the sensor on the pipework where the air filter box is

 

always worth a try even just to eliminate it as the problem.

 

Thanks for the advice..... would it show up on a fault code reader thingummyjig..??

 

I've just purchased a vagcom kkl lead and a stand alone reader on fleabay.... on advice from one of the other members (Zorgman)

so fingers crossed, we can get to the bottom of it when they arrive....

 

Many Thanks again

Paul & Lisa

Edited December 24, 2010 by pmcn500

[marinabrid]

not sure about it showing up seems to be a lot of poor running related to it and not showing up, but the easiest way is to simply unplug it see if there is a difference,

 

dont know what stand alone reader you have, usually you download the vagcom software free from a firm in the usa called rosstech then get a £15 lead from ebay you of course need to use a laptop so you can get it to the car

the programme that it installs on your laptop is the same as the vw garages have it very goood and free you cant do all the options with it unless you pay to upgrade it but i used it now for 6 years and sorted things out. rather than give you a fault code to look up it tells you on screen the fault code and what the fault is, you can then press the clear button and remove fault codes

 

the whoosing noise could indeed be a air turbo pipe holed or loose, all hoses and vacuum pipes in particluar need carefull checking for splits or holes a maze of problems arise just with a small air leak.

 

once you actually get galaxys running well they are great cars, we had them for 10 years now. just persever a bit

Edited December 24, 2010 by marinabrid

[tona955]

Hi

Perhaps you have dislodged the MAF sensor when changing the air filter or messing around in that area or even some of the vacuum pipes.

[seatkid]

The misc bleeps were the clue that the battery was shot!

 

My bet is someone removed the large corrugated air hose from the MAF sensor (or further back) to remove the lid of the airbox to change the air filter. Check it's been put back on fully and correctly with the clips on in the right place. The wheezing will be from an air leak here and of course the MAF sensor wont be seeing the correct airflow because of the leak and restricting power.

 

Also check the plug in the MAF sensor is connected in case that was also disconnected.

 

Here's a picture to help, the corrugated hose is at the back. The MAF sensor connector is the thing just to the left of the oil filler cap in the picture.

 

 

I would leave the oil and fuel filter until the weather's better! :)

Edited December 25, 2010 by seatkid

[MartinWindsurf]

I was having similar slow starting issues on my 2000 1.9Tdi 97k miles, previously always started on the first turn. Problem first appeared as the weather turned cold on Oct 2012.

Tested the glo plugs, 1 of 4 open circuit so I bought 4 good quality new ones and fitted them - easy job. Still poor starting.

On the next cold morning, checked the voltage on the glo plug supply bar during the pre-heating phase = no volts at all.

Was due a new cam belt so got the garage to investigate further for me at the same time as doing the cam belt (not a Ford garage).

They said their restricted diagnostics package had failed to pinpoint the cause, but they had changed the usual pre-heat relay anyway, had no effect so they didn't charge me for that.

Got the car back with new cam belt fitted but still poor starting, they recommended I take it for diagnosis at a fully equipped Ford garage.

Forgive me but I have had bad experiences with my local Ford garage so was reluctant........ after more research on this Forum and the limited info in the Haynes manual, I decided to spend some more time checking and testing it myself.

I was not confident about this because on my Galaxy the relevant fuses and relay would seem to be buried in the dashboard behind the fuse panel, certainly nothing within reach under the bonnet. The article and video elsewhere in this Forum suggests that's not a nice thing to dismantle, so I was hoping I would not have to do this (I don't have a dry warm garage to do the work in).

As luck would have it, the first thing I checked was the water temperature sensor on underside of the water hose that's right in front of you when you open the bonnet. I had assumed previously this must be working ok as the engine temp gauge on the dash was working fine. ( I now think the dashboard temp gauge has a separate sensor )

I went to check the connections to this sensor, thinking I might find corrosion or something like that, but as I went to unclip the connector plug, I noticed that one of the 4 wires to the sensor was broken! It had been partially covered by the cable wrap so I would not have seen this before. I figured this 1 wire might have been a little shorter than the other 3 in the connection, so perhaps had been carrying the weight of this minor cable loom for the last 12 years and finally given way. The break was right by the connector plug, but I managed to bare some copper and solder an extra inch of new wire to it and then make good the whole connection.

Went to the ignition key and bingo!  Started first turn, just like for the first 12 years! Phew!

The Haynes book says that unplugging the temp sensor is a good way to fool the engine computer into thinking the water is cold, and so helps you test for volts to the glo-plugs even when the engine is warm. But clearly from my experience, if the temp sensor connection is faulty, the engine computer can react by not putting power to the glo plugs!