Vectra diesel Starting Snag

It seems that whenever the car has been left on an upward facing
gradient, the engine is likely to react by displaying fuel starvation
symptoms. i.e. being difficult to start in the same way as a petrol engine
behaves when stricken by damp ignition problems.
When it eventually does start, after straining the limits of the battery's
capacity, there follows a large black exhaust cloud and then it runs
perfectly thereafter.
I do not have any experience of diesel malfunctions.
Anyone ever heard of this one?

 

Hmm, the parking on a gradient bit could be the fuel pump, filter or
something in the fuel or return line.
But, your mention of black smoke leads me to believe your glow plugs are not
coming on, you don't say which diesel engine, if it is the Isuzu as fitted
in the older mk1 1.7 TD then it could be the glow plug relay which is a
common prob.

 

u don't mention which engine it is
however two things.

park it the otherway around!! then u won't get downhill drainage in the
pipe, but i would guess air is getting in somewhere, check the inline
filter.
2nd look for a hand 'squeezer' around the top left of the comartment, give
that a few pumps before u start (till it goes hard).

lastly, don't forget the glowplugs or the relay as the other person
suggested, if u don't know the plugs have been changed...get 'em done now b4
winter comes.

mike

 

u don't mention which engine it is
however two things.

park it the otherway around!! then u won't get downhill drainage in the
pipe, but i would guess air is getting in somewhere, check the inline
filter.
2nd look for a hand 'squeezer' around the top left of the comartment, give
that a few pumps before u start (till it goes hard).

lastly, don't forget the glowplugs or the relay as the other person
suggested, if u don't know the plugs have been changed...get 'em done now b4
winter comes.

mike

 

Oh, if you do have a relay problem on the Isuzu engine, with it sticking on,
you may find it will fry your alternator.

 

Its a 2 litre DTI manufactured 1998 first registered 1999.
Thanks for all the views so far

 

On these engines theres a fancy seal on the top of the injector which can
leak depending on which variety of seal/injector is on the engine. I
believe they are on seal no 3 now.
Neil

 

I have had this precise problem on my 2001 2.2 dti. Turned out to be
just the rubber pipes on the injectors had perished and needed
replacing at a cost of £38 including fitting and VAT by a proper
dealer. Some dealers scared me by saying possible pump, possible
injectors and to be honest I think they were looking to do as much as
they could . I used Stamford dealer near Peterborough and they were
excellent. Not so impressed with "Marshal dealer who didn't correct
it during a 20,000 service.

Apparently this is very common problem.

 

Nigel
Nice to know there are some good AND capable Vx dealers - especially near
me - I used the one in Spalding and they are useless - Service & Sales -
haven't tried parts as a "stand alone" function so can't comment there.
Just to give you some idea they changed an ash tray (I don't smoke) in the
dash because they scratched the pseudo wood effect in the valeting process
(several deep scratches) prior to sale, just trying to open it. Eventually
having replaced it some months later - they have now scratched the grey gear
tunnel mount for it - two lovely scratches! AND it doesn't open properly.
You usually have to press the top of the draw and then press the bottom and
hey presto! it opens.
What a shame they let the make and the dealerships down badly and that's
without going on about the rest of the problems.
I will remember the garage at Stamford when I next need some help and
service.
Cheers
Rob.