citroen xsara hdi takes ages to start when running fine?

Answer 1

I have a 307 HDi; when you press your key to open the doors the ECU wakes up and starts to prepare the car for movement, so it will have adjusted itself, warmed up the diesel in the cylinders ready for when you start the engine. If a glow plug has perished it doesn't make much difference with these engines as most of the ignition is through the heated compression of the diesel. Mine started to crank for a while, I notice it more on the cold days. As long as it doesn't judder when started it should be fine.

Answer 2

Hi there, There are so many answers to this question and really it needs to be checked over properly by a veh tech, who knows and understand high pressure diesel systems, like the system fitted to your car.
Diesel cars need vast amounts of compression to start and the compression causes heat build up in the cylinders but when the engine is cold it needs a little help to start and that's why glow plugs are fitted, these glow plugs heat up the compression chamber before fuel is injected. You turn the ignition key to crank the engine and fuel is injected (which is already warmed usually with a small electric fuel heater built inline of the fuel line) through the injectors at a high pressure and boom, it starts. The heater plugs then are supplied with a small amount of power to make them warm which helps the car idle and run properly. This amount of power and how long it is supplied is controlled by the ecm which receives it signal from the water temp sensor which detects the engine warming up as it idles or runs.
The injectors are electronically controlled by the ecm and the ecm receives signals from all around the engine which it uses to determine how much fuel should be injected and for how long, ie engine speed/load, air amounts(mafs) and water temp, these all are needed to also help toward keeping the engine economical and within emission ledgislation req's.
If your car starts when cold and starts easily without any stutter or rough running then you have to assume that the compressions are ok and the heater plugs are ok but as suggested these would need to be checked properly.
If you are having problems starting your car when warm, it could be a faulty temp sensor sending the wrong temp signal and the ecm could be fuelling wrongly when warm.
You can also see that ther is alot of info needed to just start your car, may I also add that ther is also ambient temp sensors that so manufacturers use to help start cars too.
Sorry its been long winded but it should make you realise your car needs to be checked properly. I also suggest that you do not use the glow plugs when your car is warm because with high amounts of compression it doesn't need the little help. There is also fuel supply to think of as well but if it starts when cold I assume the fuel is getting to the filter and from there being supplied to the high pressure fuel pump at all times. Once or twice in my history I have seen them try to draw fuel from the return side when warm and this would cause bad starting too.
Cheers
Andy

Answer 3

2 plausible causes,one reason must be the ECT it is the engine coolant temperature sensor,this tells the computer how warm or chilly the engine is,now to not be puzzled with the indicator interior the sprint.I f it has an open cicuit this is going to tell the ECM that that is -40 f no matter if that is shorted this is going to tell the ECM that that is 465f. the different situation that it ought to is a camshaft sensor,in the journey that your engine has sequential gas injection this sensor tells the ECM even as style a million cylinder is on this is compression stroke and able to fireside,on the prompt the injector opens to spray gas into the intake. injection follows the firing order.without this sensor the gadget reverts to port injection so it cranks for a lengthy time period because it takes a wager at the position style a million is.

Answer 4

HDI engines do use glowplugs, at least the following do for a fact:
C5 2.0 HDi 2001-2005
C5 2.2 HDi 2001-2005
C8 2.0 HDi 2002-2005
C8 2.2 HDi 2002-2005
Xantia 2.0 HDi 1998-2002

I'd either replace 'em. (it's easy and if it doesn't work at least you know what it isn't) or go to a good diesel mechanic.

Answer 5

Hi, first thing i would do is change the bleed off pipes between each of the injectors!, there are 3 and a rubber bung at the 4th cylinder, these perish and make the car difficult to start, loads of other possibilities but start here, £3 from any motor factors, seen it loads of times and had friends pay out good money having cars checked to be told pump screwed, they never have turned out to be that.

give it a go,bet this is prob.

Answer 6

Pre-diesel heating time too short. Give it time with the key in before starting the engine. If not working, check the preheating coil system.

Answer 7

when you turn the key to the first position wait for the coil light to go out, this is pre-heating the diesel in the cylinders and takes a few seconds to heat up once it has should start no prob

Answer 8

sounds like heater plugs takes about an hour to fit new ones cost 5 pounds each

Answer 9

just to let you know its NOT the glow plugs
hdi engines are direct injection and do not rely on glow plugs
for starting,you need to take it to a garage to get proper assesment or youll be forking out a fortune in bits that you dont need.

Answer 10

Glow plugs One or more failed