Feckin Focus won't start - advice please?!

[Woody]

My Focus won't start.

 

I think it has SAD, as it hates winter. The rest of the year it'll start first turn of the key (after letting the glow plugs have a couple of seconds), but when winter arrives it's a sod every first start of the day. I've been using the (slightly bizarre) method suggested by some of the Focus forums of switching the ignition on until the interior light dims and switching off again, repeat five times and it should fire on the fifth! This has usually worked until now. Now it just turns over and over on the key, but won't catch. Every subsequent start is fine, it's just the first of the day.

 

The problem 'started' when I first got it four years ago, it was under dealer warranty at the time so I threw it back at them and told them to sort it. They replaced the battery, glow plugs and various things I can't remember now, none of which fixed it. So they took the advice of a Ford technician, who told them it was the starter motor at fault. They fitted a new one, problem sorted. Until the next winter.

 

I suspect the battery is at fault, as I strapped the charger onto it at the weekend and it fired up pretty easily after a full charge (but not since). I don't know whether it's relevant, but when the engine fires after turning it over a few times, the exhaust chucks out a big cloud of white smoke to choke anyone daft enough to pass by (presumably unburnt fuel?) I'm running a bottle of injector cleaner through it at the mo to see if that makes any difference.

 

It's a 2002 Focus mk1.5 1753cc TDCi, about 68k on the clock and doesn't get used every day, which is probably the root of the problem.

 

Any advice welcomed before I waste money on a new battery that might not fix it!

[Stixy]

Had exactly the same problem on my parents car

 

Look at the air intake where it goes from the intercooler to the manifold there is a air shut off flap to prevent run on and it can stick closed its operated by a vac unit

 

next time it wont start give this a gentle tap with your key and watch the linkage to see if it moves

[atomic punk]

I had a similar problem on my TDDI focus, it would be fine all summer but come winter the engine turned over so slowly it wouldnt fire from cold. It turned out to be a knackered starter motor.

 

And yes I do get a big white cloud - it always clears after a few seconds so I've never bothered to investigate.

[Albert Ross]

The white smoke is unburnt fuel, suggesting that the glow plugs or relay are having issues.

[gimble]

Had this problem over last 2 years finally fitted a new starter motor and....all is well so far anyway . Still get the white smoke problem just start it when no-one is around