a battery in good condition will get you a long way! Had some serious problems in -15C, but after I got myself a new battery and the CTEK XS4003 everything cranks smooth.
The XS4003 does the same job as the 7000 but with just a little less amp. The sweet thing is that it's half the cost.
http://www.ctek.com/en-gb/consumer/mxs-4003.aspx FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

redlabel wrote:

a battery in good condition will get you a long way! Had some serious problems in -15C, but after I got myself a new battery and the CTEK XS4003 everything cranks smooth.
The XS4003 does the same job as the 7000 but with just a little less amp. The sweet thing is that it's half the cost.
http://www.ctek.com/en-gb/consumer/mxs-4003.aspx

Hi Redlabel

the XS4003 is a great choice. Unfortunately not available in SA. The main difference between the 4003 and the 7000, is the "supply" function, that the 7000 has got. This allows the change of battery without losing any of the settings.

I am glad to hear that you are back on track again. I Winter just charge once every 4 weeks and you won't have a problem. With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff

I have the ctek 7000.
The supply mode is useful also if you wish to use the ctek as stand alone power supply unit, so supplying 13.8v.
The ctek web site has lots of useful information on the maintenance of modern batterries. Good reading for those of us are still thinking in the terms of 1990's batteries! And backs up what Disco George is telling us.

Nazca Sand Eddie wrote:

I have the ctek 7000.
The supply mode is useful also if you wish to use the ctek as stand alone power supply unit, so supplying 13.8v.
The ctek web site has lots of useful information on the maintenance of modern batterries. Good reading for those of us are still thinking in the terms of 1990's batteries! And backs up what Disco George is telling us.

Thanks for the comments, I was cranking the engine for about half hour so I'm not supprised it was starting to struggle!
I don't think it's the battery, today again at -3 it started fine, even doing the normal start instead of the 2 stage start.
To be honest I'm not sure what to do next! Can someone tell me what the coil plugs do, I've been getting mixed advice.
Many thanks.

You could measure the glow plugs. I think it was Allex who wrote an instruction where you use a ohm-meter with one end to the plug and the other to ground on your car.
ah found it:
"On-vehicle resistance test
During the on-vehicle resistance test, the first
-multimeter probe must be connected to the glow plug
electrical connector and the second probe must be
connected directly to the engine block or a good earth
point.
Values:
• Infinite resistance: Glow-plug filament damaged
(glow plug defective).
• Resistance less than 1.0 Ohms: Glow-plug filament
not damaged (glow plug OK).

Fault Diagnosis and Rectification Glow plug relay
control circuit - short to ground Refer to electrical circuit
diagrams and check glow plug relay control circuit for
short to ground
Fault Symptoms: No operation of glow plugsPoor
starting when cold, rough running in extreme cold
conditions. Fault Diagnosis and Rectification: Glow
plug relay excess temperature Carry out pinpoint tests
associated with DTC using the manufacturer approved
diagnostic system"

Good luck.

Glow plug operation

Temperature Maximum cranking times
5+°C 0
0°C 1.5 seconds
-5°C 3.0 seconds
-10°C 5.0 seconds
-15°C 7.5 seconds
-20°C 7.5 seconds
-25°C 7.5 seconds
-30°C 7.5 seconds FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

silvermilnec wrote:

Thanks for the comments, I was cranking the engine for about half hour so I'm not supprised it was starting to struggle!
I don't think it's the battery, today again at -3 it started fine, even doing the normal start instead of the 2 stage start.
To be honest I'm not sure what to do next! Can someone tell me what the coil plugs do, I've been getting mixed advice.
Many thanks.

Hi silvermilnec

before you go into all sorts of testing routines, charge the battery fully with a decent charger such as CTEK. I personally favour the XS7000 but the XS4003 is a good 2nd choice.

Many times the charge condition of the battery is the culprit for all sorts of electronic woes.

Please let us know what the outcome was.  With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff

DiscoGeorge wrote:

silvermilnec wrote:

Thanks for the comments, I was cranking the engine for about half hour so I'm not supprised it was starting to struggle!
I don't think it's the battery, today again at -3 it started fine, even doing the normal start instead of the 2 stage start.
To be honest I'm not sure what to do next! Can someone tell me what the coil plugs do, I've been getting mixed advice.
Many thanks.

Hi silvermilnec

before you go into all sorts of testing routines, charge the battery fully with a decent charger such as CTEK. I personally favour the XS7000 but the XS4003 is a good 2nd choice.

Many times the charge condition of the battery is the culprit for all sorts of electronic woes.

Please let us know what the outcome was.

silvermilnec wrote:

DiscoGeorge wrote:

silvermilnec wrote:

Thanks for the comments, I was cranking the engine for about half hour so I'm not supprised it was starting to struggle!
I don't think it's the battery, today again at -3 it started fine, even doing the normal start instead of the 2 stage start.
To be honest I'm not sure what to do next! Can someone tell me what the coil plugs do, I've been getting mixed advice.
Many thanks.

Hi silvermilnec

before you go into all sorts of testing routines, charge the battery fully with a decent charger such as CTEK. I personally favour the XS7000 but the XS4003 is a good 2nd choice.

Many times the charge condition of the battery is the culprit for all sorts of electronic woes.

Please let us know what the outcome was.

Thanks for the reply! The engine cranks fine, I don't think it's the battery, it was -11 again this morning and took about 15 minutes of cranking the engine to get it to start! The battery new and I would think it would be flat after cranking for 15 mins but it wasn't. The glow plugs are covered under the warranty so I'm having them done on Thursday, hope it starts each morning between now and then.
Again thanks for the advice. Going back to the battery, why would it only struggle to start when left for over 12 hours?

It takes time for the engine to completely cool down. The problem you encounter will only be evident, when the combustion chamber and the diesel tract are at the minus temperatures as per your mail.

And yes I would then also start with the glow plugs. But I would still give the battery a full charge, as it will not recover on its own from that discharge due to the extended cranking.

Give it a full charge and you should then have no further drama  With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff

DiscoGeorge wrote:

silvermilnec wrote:

DiscoGeorge wrote:

silvermilnec wrote:

Thanks for the comments, I was cranking the engine for about half hour so I'm not supprised it was starting to struggle!
I don't think it's the battery, today again at -3 it started fine, even doing the normal start instead of the 2 stage start.
To be honest I'm not sure what to do next! Can someone tell me what the coil plugs do, I've been getting mixed advice.
Many thanks.

Hi silvermilnec

before you go into all sorts of testing routines, charge the battery fully with a decent charger such as CTEK. I personally favour the XS7000 but the XS4003 is a good 2nd choice.

Many times the charge condition of the battery is the culprit for all sorts of electronic woes.

Please let us know what the outcome was.

Thanks for the reply! The engine cranks fine, I don't think it's the battery, it was -11 again this morning and took about 15 minutes of cranking the engine to get it to start! The battery new and I would think it would be flat after cranking for 15 mins but it wasn't. The glow plugs are covered under the warranty so I'm having them done on Thursday, hope it starts each morning between now and then.
Again thanks for the advice. Going back to the battery, why would it only struggle to start when left for over 12 hours?

It takes time for the engine to completely cool down. The problem you encounter will only be evident, when the combustion chamber and the diesel tract are at the minus temperatures as per your mail.

And yes I would then also start with the glow plugs. But I would still give the battery a full charge, as it will not recover on its own from that discharge due to the extended cranking.

Give it a full charge and you should then have no further drama

Disco thanks, that makes sence, hopefully with a charged battery and new glow plugs all will be well, funny thing is usualy when i get problems with cars i just want to get rid but the landy is different

I am now in the same problem as you Silver. Just out of warranty and got quoted 450£ to change the glow plugs.
Heading out with the multimeter later today to measure the plugs. FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

redlabel wrote:

I am now in the same problem as you Silver. Just out of warranty and got quoted 450£ to change the glow plugs.
Heading out with the multimeter later today to measure the plugs.

WOW my quote was £150 with a 4x4 specialist in Morley Leeds.

redlabel wrote:

I am now in the same problem as you Silver. Just out of warranty and got quoted 450£ to change the glow plugs.
Heading out with the multimeter later today to measure the plugs.

Hi Redlabel

one of the problems with glow plugs is that with the buildup of soot deposits on the plugs this can lead to accelerated failure.

It is an old problem. To increase redundancy not only with the glow plugs but also with the injectors etc. start adding 2 stroke oil as per the recommendations in the 2sO thread.

Apart from the fact that the vehicle will start much quicker in sub zero temperatures, you will get multiple benefits out of this, not least of all much quieter running especially when cold.  With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff