Engine: S60: Diesel starting issues....

[MrJames]

Well I've exhausted the obvious things so thought I'd ask for some help on this one, the car cranks for longer than it should around 5-8 turns before it fires, during these turns at times it sounds like it wants to go but doesn't it all started when the weather got cold, during the summer in started nice and easy, might be a coincidence though?

Steps I've taken....

Glow plugs, tested them and all but one was out of spec so replaced with Bosch ones from Opie Oil so definitely genuine.

Diesel filter, replaced with genuine volvo one a couple of weeks ago.

Leak test, all injectors performed well under the limit, could've left it another 5 minutes and been fine, all injectors performed about the same.

Battery, It was dying, after a full charge using a good quality charger, left disconnected after a few hours it went down to 12.5v then the next day was between 12.2-3 and during cranking was dropping to 7-8v so that has been replaced with a Yuasa battery.

I've attached a screenshot from Vida during cranking, this was before the battery was changed but not had the chance to repeat the test yet.

*EDIT* Forgot to mention the car is a 2003 S60 E3.

Thanks for any help and suggestions

[Longhouse21]

In tank fuel pump?

[MrJames]

Originally Posted by Longhouse21

In tank fuel pump?

Judging by the amount of diesel everywhere when I got the filter housing back on slightly wrong the in tank pump is probably ok?

What's the easiest way to check it? Also the fuel rail pressure seems to go up pretty fast when cranking or should it rise faster?

[Bashy]

Make sure the connectors to the glow plugs are ok too, also double check that you have deffo bought the correct plugs.

I spent the most part of a year trying to figure out a poor start, mine also included misfiring too. That was down to a dogdy connector, although ive now made sure they are connected 100%, i still have the slow start and i think thats down to the starter motor....

[MrJames]

I've got next week off work so I'll give the connections a good checking, the plugs opie supplied are Bosch 0 250 203 004 having trouble find a cross reference for the part number though.

It did something new earlier which could point to starter issues, during cranking it sounded like the bendix solenoid disengaged as the starter just made a whizzing sound, guess I'll give all the starter connections a check and check main earths and such.

[MrJames]

So I managed to get hold of a clamp meter and recorded a video of it attempting to start, I don't have another car to compare the crank speed to, could anyone tell me if it sounds normal? Doesn't seem slow to me...

*Edit* I forgot to add that the peak draw was 355 amps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhN8I6c-DE

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by MrJames

So I managed to get hold of a clamp meter and recorded a video of it attempting to start, I don't have another car to compare the crank speed to, could anyone tell me if it sounds normal? Doesn't seem slow to me...

*Edit* I forgot to add that the peak draw was 355 amps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhN8I6c-DE

Thats faster than mine when ive not used it longer than a day, it was 7 days the other day, at -4ºC, it was about 80% slower than yours, leads me to think my issue is the starter motor

[MrJames]

I just watched this video from SiRobb and his engine is spinning faster than mine on cranking so there's a problem there somewhere, guess the next job is get the connections cleaned up tomorrow! If that doesn't work I guess I'll pull the starter and give it a good cleaning....

https://youtu.be/r9XgrotkavY

[cheshired5]

Have you checked the glow plug connectors are all supplying 12V/battery voltage with ignition on?

[MrJames]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Have you checked the glow plug connectors are all supplying 12V/battery voltage with ignition on?

I haven't but it's become a problem even when the engine is warm, I can drive and get it up to full temperature, turn it off then when restarting it splutters into life.