My Ford Focus Diesel Is Having Issues Starting In The Cold!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Poor starting on the Focus TDCI due to glow plug failure, it’s a real pain to get access to work on too!
CARS, TRAINS & ANYTHING I WANT!
Hi, I'm Rick (tall big ears) & sometimes I'm assisted by Lee (short wonky eye)
From late 2023 onwards the channel will need to diversify to survive, I find myself less able to commit to cars alone on here and more interested in general life experiences, so on the channel you may also see what I get up to in my life, or just see me chatting nonsense.
Be assured I'll always make the title and thumbnail appropriate to the video so if you're only here for the cars or trains you can ignore the rest. I currently own and run 2 older cars, AGATHA is a 1978 Austin Allegro 1300 Super & FIONA a 2003 Ford Focus TDCI. I do use a modern car too which is occasionally featured (It's a Kia) and a van (Fiat) The van can be found on it’s own channel “Rick and Heather Campervanners”
Lee's cars also make occasional appearances as do a few friends cars.
Feel free to leave a comment on any video I try to respond to all of them!
I’ve booked a mobile mechanic for 2nd January 2024 to do the plugs
Not an expensive job if you do it yourself but you have to weigh the pros and cons..... crack on
Pros as discussed it’s not always cold and I can use the Kia
Cons snap in head much sweating, it’s cold I’m lazy 😂
In a future video... "Wonky repairs a Ford" 😂
Booked a mobile mechanic!
Oh go on, do it yerself, on the drive, best conditions would be sleet and high winds. Think of the content potential! 🤣🔧🪛💸
That’s the thing, in the summer I’d do it, but this time of year with a camera…. You know, you’ve been there….
Start spaying em with GT85. every day before having done.
get it done ,cos your damned if ya do,or damned if ya dont
I’m trying to find a mobile mechanic Chris
KIA VENGA 1.4 crdi ...Glow plugs ....takes about 3 minutes ...via key in turn on wait plug light go out ...10 -15 sec cycle about 2 -3 time ...and crank not long about say 20sec at most turn off wait about say 30secs and repeat after 2 nd or 3rd starts and runs ...Why not get plugs done well no one will say how much and tell tales of snapped plugs and look on face of ...never done that .not sure what it takes ...once been stared will works fine all day just the over night cold snap ...never let me down once air temp hits 50 starts fine with long crank 60+ starts first go ...as a 12 reg just live with it ...if need be out extra early and low temp say 6-7 am find run it round block 9 -10 pm night before helps ..
Our Venga diesel is the 1.6 had new plugs last year (it’s push button start) the focus is booked to have done jan 2nd
Best of luck Rick, I took ours to a local garage as I didn't fancy snapping one, I think the trick is to get the engine hot. In a past life I used to have jumbo oxy acetylene bottles for welding and they would have been great for heating around the glow plugs. Bottles had to go when Mrs K saw something about them exploding taking a couple of houses with them. Cheers K.
Got a mobile coming out jan 2nd…
I had that problem with a couple of Diesels I had, the mk1 Mondeo 1.8 I had with the Endura DE engine, a garage said to me to use the glow plugs 3 times before you crank and that should help, so I did and it did help a lot…just a hint maybe.
The other Diesel that was a pig to start until I got the glow plugs done was a mk1 Renault Master van, I had flattened the battery more than once attempting to start that.
Once I’d got the plugs done it was a hell of a lot easier.
It’s worth getting them done mate it’s been a reliable motor for you so far with minimal fuss.
Thanks for the update mate anyway, good vid.👍
Glow plugs aren’t working the method above works ok if they’re lazy…
Wow that must be a really good battery to keep on cranking it like that! I'd get a bit of easy start in the air intake 😄
I did wonder why it had a new battery when I got the car 🤣 got a mobile mechanic coming out on Jan 2nd to do it….
I think its the Glowplugs, the 1.8 diesel in my Escort in a recent cold spell took a time to start, i was told when i bought the car to cycle the ignition on and off 5 times to allow the glow plugs to start the car. When i have not used it for a while it can take a couple of cranks to start.
Yeah they’ve been replaced now
If a mobile is doing it, ask if you can film for content... a plug for him and 4 for you 😊
I think if a mobile does it I’ll be at work in the Kia. A lot of the problem is I’m at work when it’s light or away in the van at weekends, I hate the dark nights
Put the car on a trickle charger overnight if you're not going to do the glow plugs yet Rick.
Luckily the battery seems good. I have jump leads and a big battery at the ready
Just make sure the engine is warm before you try and remove the glow plugs, otherwise it's a straight forward but fiddly job.
Yeah I’m hoping to find a mobile to do it
I agree Rick, not worth the risk doing it yourself, use the Kia on cold mornings
I’m thinking a mobile mechanic might be a cheaper option. I’m certainly not doing it this side of Christmas I just don’t want the grief 👍
It’s a common issue, on the mark one focus diesel is don’t think it a permanent fix but can improve by changing glow plugs, my dad a has mk 1 estate TDCi in white lx nearly 200,000 miles on and it struggles to start in the cold but the car is been well look after never failed mot
No fixing? It’s having new heater plugs on Tuesday
@@AgathaAndAnythingthat might improve to more
@@AgathaAndAnythingdose it start better now ?
Yes it’s great now 👍
On a common rail engine like yours it should start far easier than that even with no glow plugs! I hope it is just glow plugs
It definitely is, yesterday at +4 degrees was normal today at 0 not terrible but anything negative it’s a pita
@@AgathaAndAnything I don’t envy you, Iris has been on the button like a normal day thankfully, I’d be tempted to get a can of easy start or a spray bottle with diesel in it to assist
shocking triangle of doom!
left side wiper doesn't look cliped on properly
The triangle is bad on these!
@robertsedgwick1629 it wasn’t! Good spot
@@AgathaAndAnything disaster averted! 👍
@robertsedgwick1629 absolutely!
If you want to keep the neighbours happy and prevent the starter motor from frying itself I reckon a can of Easystart is going to be your best friend on the cold mornings.
Yeah I’m just getting ready to go out now, +6 yesterday started instantly -3 today I’m getting ready to annoy….. 🤣
Trouble with that is some Diesels develop a reliance on ether even in warmer weather, but it’s good stuff.
Best not overuse it though.
Truth.
Change your glow plugs. Mine had the same problem. Probably originals. Mine were changed yesterday and the mechanic said they weren’t working
If you watch it all you’ll see why at the moment I can’t do that.
@@AgathaAndAnything yes, I just did, lol. I commented without watching. Once the cover is off the first three look easier to access and the 4th is behind the dip stick. Local mobile mechanic charged £70 and the plugs were £32 as I bought the Bosch ones. No point buying cheapies. The mechanic said they job is to get the engine hot and then take them out. He didn’t snap any and it starts on the button now. I have a habit on commenting without watching. It’s only because mine were done yesterday. Good luck getting it done as quite a few garages turned me away as they can snap and they don’t want the hassle in trying to sort it out. Get a real mechanic and they will sort it for you.
Good plan on the mobile idea…. I’ll have a look locally.