Ford Escort (1993 - 2000) - 1996 1.8TD Cold Start Problems

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Tue 30 Dec 2008 10:51
1996 1.8TD Cold Start Problems - The doomed
Hi Guys,

I have a 1996 Escort 1.8 Turbo Diesel (50,000 miles) that?s really struggling to start in the cold mornings.

Basically its taking to the 3rd or 4th attempt to get turning over fully and its very (engine bouncing out the bonnet stuff!) rough until I put in plenty of revs and let it idle for 20 seconds or so. Plenty of smoke belching out the rear end too.

Any ideas?

Had the glow plugs replaced 12 months ago on recommendation of guys on here (since done 10,000 miles) and installed a new battery. It also had full service & MOT only 25 days ago at local garage in Edinburgh.

Found a similar thread here:
passionford.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208532 and bits and pieces online relating to other cars with similar problems.

How do I check the glow plug relay?

I?m useless with anything mechanical but can give it a bash.

Thanks in advance!
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Tue 30 Dec 2008 22:13
1996 1.8TD Cold Start Problems - Kowalski
Do you have a multi meter? with another pair of hands you should easily be able to tell whether or not the plugs are getting power, one turn the ignition key the other check with the meter.
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Tue 30 Dec 2008 22:18
1996 1.8TD Cold Start Problems - Peter.N.
Just connect the meter between any of the glowplug terminals and earth, you should have about 10 - 11 volts for about 20 seconds after you turn the ignition switch to the glowplug position. If you have nothing, relay or wireing problem, 12 volts or more and all your glow plugs have gone open circuit
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Tue 30 Dec 2008 23:01
1996 1.8TD Cold Start Problems - gordonbennet
Don't mind me saying, but unless you either take out the glowplugs and check them individually, or, diconnect the link wire and test them in situ individually you can't really tell whether they are all powering up properly or not.

To check properly, i've always pulled them out and tested them with jump leads to actually watch them heat up and glow.

From the OP's description it sounds like he's firing up on maybe 2 and the other cylinders are dragged kicking and screaming into life some seconds later, hence all the smoke.

i used to keep an old ammeter for this sort of thing, if i jerry wired it into the glow plug circuit i could see the total current draw, and if i took out 1 plug to test i then new exactly how much current a good plug would draw, my only trouble its one of the many tools that buried somewhere since our move.;)

Edit, i don't think its the glowplug relay, as it probably wouldn't start at all this weather, but i'm usually wrong...

Edited by gordonbennet on 30/12/2008 at 23:02

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