Starting the engine

[FDN850HU]

Dear members,
I would like to be more familiar with my mk5 96 Transit 2.5di engine. Reading back previous threads, searching on the internet regarding this engine, and having read the haynes manual, I would like to ask some questions from you. (question is at the end).

As I understand, this 2.5 NA engine starts easiest when: battery is in top condition, fuel is coming, air is coming, and have compression. I know this Transit since 2015, but i own it for a short time now. This car has a coolant heater system built in, its 230V and the previous owner used it to make the car start in cold wheather. Cold means - to them - below 10 Celsius. When it was this cold, they just plugged the van in for an hour or two, and drive. It warms up and circulates the coolant, therefore the block gets warmer. So the engine starts instantly. I guess they just created a solution for a problem that could have been fixed easier I suppose? (which i am interested in better than this non-factory pre-heater stuff).

Since i put new oil in it, new cooland pipes, coolant (flushed the whole engine), thermostat + its housing, new timing belt + water pump and auxiliary belts, and finally new battery clamps + removed corrosion on starter motor connections, the engine starts far much better when cold. I estimate that if i get a bigger and new battery, the difficult starting might dissappear for ever (that is my goal).

However, i still wonder about the flame plug. As far as i understand, this is a single thing in the inlet manifold (mine is not banana its a one piece manifold). Do I need to change this time by time? (i guess its as old as the car). Is this flame plug always in charge? or only at certain temperatures? Will this replacement bring me closer to my goal?

Many thanks for your contribution and support, i do appreciate if answered.

[Altransit]

The starter motor itself may have got old and lazy (which they do) drawing too much current from the battery, and not turning over fast enough to start the engine smoothly.
If you're keeping the van, it may be worth fitting a new one

[FDN850HU]

Thanks for your hint, i keep it in mind. Last weeks we have sub zeroish temperatures and it starts good, which was not like that before. In the meantime it turned out that flame plug operates in very cold wheather, so i ll keep it like that. A new quality battery will do the job!

[Chug]

Flame plug should operate from minus 5C

Screenshot 2025-01-22 at 23-36-28 Convert JPG to PDF online - convert-jpg-to-pdf.net - epic_training_manual.pdf.png

[FDN850HU]

Chug, thanks.

[Chug]

No problem, here is the rest of it for you

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[FDN850HU]

Saved it, thanks.