Hi,

A couple of times recently the car has been very reluctant to start. It cranked OK and carried out cranking, and the engine fired and coughed but did not catch and run straight away. It took a couple goes, cranking for maybe 10 or 15 seconds each time before it ran properly. This latest time the car had been sitting for four days, and it was properly cold, something like -6 deg C. From memory I think the previous time was in sub-zero temperatures as well.

I'm not convinced that the problem is battery power, as although it could maybe have turned over a bit quicker it did carry on cranking for a long time and the engine was firing. No error messages or warning lights showed, or not that I can remember.

Any suggestions for what to check? I don't know how the cold start mechanism is supposed to work, could this be caused by one or more faulty glow plugs?

Weather forecast doesn't show any lower temperatures for the next week or so, otherwise I was going to try leaving the car but then giving the battery a top up charge just before trying to start.

Thanks, Tony S ----------
Tony S

Hi Tony, I had exactly the same symptoms as you last winter until eventually after cranking time and time again the battery eventually died. New battery solved the issue straight away and this winter even with the cold spells it has been fine every time.
It could of course be the glow plugs, if I remember correctly they are activated when the temperature hits 4 degrees, have you tried pressing the stop/start button with your foot off the brake pedal to turn on the ignition, wait about 20 seconds then attempt to start the car and see what happens?

Tony, Most likely case is one (or more) failed glow plugs. Even if they have failed some time ago the car will normally still start ok if the temperature isn`t too low but might be a bit smoky for a few seconds. Once the temperature drops down near or below freezing then it will struggle to start but may go eventually but will run rough for a few seconds and will be smoky. You can check if the glow plugs are getting power with a test lamp or multimeter with the help of an assistant. Does the glow plug light on the dash come on when you try and start the car? ( It might only illuminate for a second or so.)

Where does the glow plug symbol appear on the dash.?
Bob

Bob, The glow plug symbol shows in the info screen in the bottom part of the rev counter. It will most probably only be on for a very brief time but the glow plugs remain on for a time after the light has gone out to aid emissions.

Mine the basic td4s ,the section unde the tachometer is a blank not a screen.

Does it have terrain response? If so where does the green HDC symbol show when you press the switch?

dennij wrote:

.. have you tried pressing the stop/start button with your foot off the brake pedal to turn on the ignition, wait about 20 seconds then attempt to start the car and see what happens?

Thanks dondiddy I,ve now seen the light,make that lights.the decent and traction control lights come on and off when starting up.i will be watching that screen for the coil on cold mornings.could you shed any light on the left hand ind stalk ,I,m trying to push the info button on the end but there's no movement on it or symbol to say it will scrol through info on the middle screen.
Thanks Bob

Tony, the glow plugs only heat the cylinder once they reach a certain temperature they switch off. If you were to just press the start button and the external temperature was below roughly 4 degrees the glow plugs would get a signal to heat prior to the engine turning over anyway. The only difference with pressing the stop/start button first is to give the engine a chance to get a better pre-warm prior to the initial cranking taking place

Bob, Does your centre screen display the outside temp or any other info as not all models have the info screen and have a centre screen that only has warning lights and does not display any mileage or fuel info. These basic screens do not light up when the car is running as the info screens do. If yours has an info screen it will also have a button on the end of the L/H stalk the same as the washer button on the R/H stalk but it will have an I for info on it. If your stalk does not have this button then you only have the basic warning light display.

Thanks dondiddy .yes my centre screen just displays the temp ,and the usual door open etc.i will check tomorrow to see if it lights up when I,m on the move.thanks for your help.
Bob

Hi dondiddy my centre screen lights up when car running,just shows temp.or the usual door open etc.looked at left hand stalk does not look like it moves .theres no symbol on it .i will try a bit of wd40 on it to see if any thing frees up.
Bob

Look at item 9 this shows where the glow plug indicator should be, but you will have to be quick as it lights up for about a second unless it is really cold - think minus 10C or lower[/img] Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Thanks Andy131 still getting used to the freelander,stared driving it more this winter.next thing as I told dondiddy is trying to get the info on the centre screen .
Bob.