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MK 2/3/4/5) 2.5Di wont start when cold

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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby SteveDSD » Sat May 02, 2009 6:06 pm

Mine is a bit sluggish to start on very cold mornings. Holding the clutch pedal down helps, weirdly.

Only had one morning where it wouldn't start, hadn't used the van in 2 days and that morning the temperature outside was about -8'C and the van was pointed into the cold wind, so I guess the engine and stuff got way cold. A quick charge and a hot water bottle on the battery and she started ok.

I guess everything has to be spot on to start straight off in the coldest weather. Still, much better than a bloody BL Mini in the rain.
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby MinorMatt » Sun May 03, 2009 4:05 pm

Minis start fine in the rain.... they just die when you drive through a puddle and the distributor fills with water!
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby emmbeedee » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:00 pm

[quote="SteveDSD"]Mine is a bit sluggish to start on very cold mornings. Holding the clutch pedal down helps, weirdly.
[/quote]
It is always good practise to hold the clutch pedal down when starting. If you don't the starter is having to turn the gearbox first motion shaft & gears as well as the engine. This creates a lot of drag, especially in the cold. So its not weird, just common sense.
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby executivetravel » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:16 am

An oily burning rag stuffed down the intake will help too.....lol

seen that done on big engines/trucks and diggers...
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby patrickgledhill » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:33 am

hey guys
im new to this site. my transist 1995 2.5l pick up also has trouble starting in the cold it doesant have a glow plug light and im not sure if it has them.
also just fitted a solinoid to the cold starter cable it never had one to start with, i screwed the cable on the end but is doesant seem to work do you have to push a button or something to make it go?

my window washers dont work either thought it might be a fuse or something but cant seem to fing one specifically for the washer.

if anyone can help with my problems it whould be greatly apreciated.
cheers
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Re:

Postby samson » Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:12 pm

[quote="peteranthony"][quote="sam l"]I also have this problem. I park on a hill!

I've also bought a booster from machinemart which is my backup . . .

When my batteries are fully charged from the mains and brought out to the van it will start in any weather, but (even not very) depleted batteries won't start it when it's very cold.[/quote]
Join the 'NON STARTERS CLUB'. I have . lol - but not very funny !![/quote]
i had this problem .moved the earth lead to the engine from the battery, and a lead to the body , from the engine .
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby 98tranny » Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:14 pm

hi i had same bother with my 98 r reg tranny anny!!Tried fitting a ne battery but the other morning she wouldnt start!!<just fitted a new starter motor there,so im hoping that she will start for me in the morning!!!If not dont know what to check next??Anybody any advice??
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby MrMPuk » Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:15 pm

[quote="98tranny"]hi i had same bother with my 98 r reg tranny anny!!Tried fitting a ne battery but the other morning she wouldnt start!!<just fitted a new starter motor there,so im hoping that she will start for me in the morning!!!If not dont know what to check next??Anybody any advice??[/quote]
This post tells you everything you need to try.
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby samson » Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:17 pm

[quote="executivetravel"]An oily burning rag stuffed down the intake will help too.....lol

seen that done on big engines/trucks and diggers...[/quote]
you have to hold it so it only gets the hot air not the flame on small engines
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby Screaminkiwi » Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:52 am

Mornin chaps :o) Isnt it strange..havent been on site since last feb or thereabouts..hhmmm coincidence..cold weather !! So nice to be back. I thought i,d cured my problem bak then.Mine was much the same ( 1995 190lwb ex ambulance) could do 200 miles, come home, next morning dead battery. Got a new heavy duty battery...same problem. Checked all leads/connections, but just couldnt work it out. Much as i love my tranny..not in the slightest mechanically minded, so had an auto electrician have a look..but being an ex ambulance, there are miles and miles of chuffin cables and wires running from one battery to the next etc etc..but he reckoned that the alternator was "energising" all the time, even when i turned off the ignition. He then went thriugh a process of elimination, and each night he,d call me and ask me to disconnect one wire then the next from the alternator, and let him know what the result was in the morning when reconnecting them and starting her. In the end, it was discovered that by disconnecting the wire from the battery to the alternator..in effect isolating the problem, cured the problem..so i then remembered my older brother back in the late 70s had a kill switch fitted to the battery of his mk 1 rally escort..so he fitted one..so all i do now is turn off the ignition, then turn the kill switch key to the off position, and jobs a goodun !! well..WAS..until over the past few days my problerms has started again !!! Starts first time with jump leads from my wifes VW caravelle...even from my daughters lil ford ka..and then yesterday i just ran my jump cables across to me second battery and she started first time...so my question is this..as it seems to be the alternator which is the problem ( pulling power from the battery) do you reckon a new alternator should do the trick ? I jst cant stand the thought of jumping in the van again with my fingers crossed every day for the next 3 months !! as someone else has said.."When youre van is going ..its your best friend"..but when it wont start..i start thinking how much scrappage allowance i,d get against a new one !! but even a new transit doesnt have a siren like mine :o) and doesnt get the looks i get in my orange and gunmetal ambulance with silver flames along the side !! So any help about the alternator would be appreciated folks :o)
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby ake » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:02 pm

The diode pack in the alternator is knackered, either replace it or the whole alternator
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby Screaminkiwi » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:38 pm

Thanks Ake....think i,ll replace the alternator.
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Re:

Postby johny555 » Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:22 am

[quote="Example Post"]My 2.5 Di wont start on cold mornings :!: it has been fine all summer but whenever its cold it wont start :(
do you think it will be the glowplugs :?:[/quote]
dont have glow plugs,they need them.mine was the same i got rid..tried everything..fkn thing..get a vauxhall...
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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby fastmower » Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:34 pm

[quote="johny555"]
dont have glow plugs,they need them.mine was the same i got rid..tried everything..fkn thing..get a vauxhall...[/quote]

Well it's a bit daft saying "they need glow plugs" when thousands of Transits all over the place start without them on the first touch of the key no matter what the temperature is. My County has a flame start fitted but it's never got cold enough for it to operate while I've had it - and the motor starts immediately every time no matter what.

Lots of these problems are down to lack of maintenance at the end of the day - look after your van and it will generally look after you.

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Re: 2.5Di wont start when cold

Postby bortaf » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:07 pm

Every Di i've ever owned has had the cold start problem, 90% of the time it's been the same fix, a new (usually big type) starter, the rest were battery duff, oil like treacal and dirty earth points.
Every one i've had in the last 10 years have all had the same mods, twin batterys, big starter and 3 eatrth leads on each battery just to be sure ;)
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