Van starts, but wont idle - what's the fault?

My Ford Fiesta van starts, but then refuses to idle and dies. Sometimes it will restart - in a plume of black smoke - sometimes it won't start at all. I previously had Intake Air Temperature sensor fault code. Could this be the cause/

Asked on 15 January 2016 by Alan.kerr23

Answered by Honest John
Presumably a diesel? If so, glowplugs problem. They aren't initially igniting the diesel fuel that later ignites by compression alone once the engine has heated up.
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