Focus question

[Bren]

Our Focus frequently fails to start first time - it runs for a second then dies.

 

Sometimes second time it was fail - third time it starts.

 

Would faulty glow plugs cause an idiot light to illuminate?

 

The fact that it eventually starts leads me to think the temperature has risen sufficiently by the second or third attempt to get it going - goosed glow plugs?

 

I had no EML when they packed in on my vectra, then again I had no EML when the EGR stuck.

 

Car is a 51 plate TDCI.

[alf892]

Sounds like getting air in the fuel.......so it starts on what is in the fuel rail and then stops as it gets a slug of air.

[Cavcraft]

Does it make any difference if you turn it until the glow plug light goes out three or four times before actually starting it?

[Bren]

It has been done but not by me - the car can be a PITA to start after replacement.

[Bren]

To be honest I have heard horror stories about changing these.

 

I have a pela pump and a hand held brake bleeder - could either of these be used to pull diesel through from the tank?

[Guest Lord Sward]

I'd change the fuel filter with either a genuine example of a proper OE spec item.  They are a bitch to replace.

 

If that doesn't work, then the injectors needs checking out.  Good luck.

[Danblez]

Glow plugs only work below 2 degrees or summat I think so unlikely unless it's much worse in winter.

 

Oh and no idiot light on when glow plugs fail.

[twosmoke300]

For changing the fuel filters I use one of those 500ml syringes to suck the fuel through the filter from the tank .

70% of the time , it's works everytime 😀

[sierraman]

Could be the injector seals? Have a look see if there's any fuel pissed out round them.

[the judge]

I had same with a cam sensor. Did my nut in. 1.8 tdci it was

[SiC]

I don't know about Fords, but my experience with diesels is that when its warm, the glow plug light should stay on for a max of ~2 seconds. If it stays on far long (i.e. 10-20 seconds), then that's usually a sign that one of the plugs is dead.