Mondeo Diesel Cold Start

[Jim C]

P Reg Mondeo Turbo Diesel

Fuel heater light and start engine light both go out at the same time when engine is cold (overnight). Car is difficult to start. Have changed glow plugs to no effect, must be an electrical problem, temperature sensor or something? Car runs beautifully once started.

Any ideas?

[larsen_huw]

Is it just me ...

Or do diesels seem to not like the cold weather.

3 threads in 3 days ... all saying they changed the glow plugs but still won't start well.

Must be a diesel thing.

[Jim C]

I still think it is an electrical relay problem of some sort, but cold start valve was mentioned in reply to another thread.

Will keep trying to sort it!

One big gripe about local Ford Dealer........ they wanted about £150 to change the glo-plugs, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!! Even if they charged twice the price I payed for my plugs (£23) then they must be charging £100 per hour labour, if the job would take Ford an hour with specialised tools etc..

Any other info about cold starting problems with Mondeos welcomed!

Thanks in advance.

[Gerry80]

Hmmm.I can't remember exactly,but I do know that the Sierra desel used to have a manual lift pump fitted to the top of the desel filter.Over time,the rubber in the pump used to perish,with a result that air would be drawn into the system.This would affect the car mainly when cold,when it's been sitting for long enough for air to leak into the fuel system.Eventually,the car would start,but only afer all the air was purged from the system.

But something tells me that the Mondeo doesn't have that system.

Try to see if there's current getting to the glow plugs,when the ignition is turned on for the first time of the day.There should be current for about 5 seconds or so.

You might be right that it's just a temperature sensor,or something.If that's the case,a new one should get you out of a hold.The thing about desels are that the fuel system must be totally air free,and air must be heated before a cold start.Unless this is the case,you'll have sarting problems.It might be as simple as a bad battrey or as expensive as an injector pump