My Discovery 1 this time.

[Picky2k]

Can anyone shed any light on why my Discovery 1 would struggle to start when it is extremely cold??

It won't even start when jumping from another vehicle but bump starts fine.

I'm planning on changing the glow plugs, checking (and replacing) the earth strap and if need be investing in a new battery for the winter.

Can anyone think of anything else it might be??

Cheers in advance......James

[bandiflip]

Ey up James....Is your glo-plug light working on the dash ??
are you running it on diesel or chip fat ??

[Picky2k]

Yeh the light on the dash works fine. Currently running on normal diesel. Cheers fella

[bandiflip]

Have ya got power to the plugs when you switch on the ignition ??

[Picky2k]

Sure do.

[repton]

If it won't start with a jump start but will with a bump start then I would be looking at the cables to the starter motor or the starter itself, it sounds like the battery and glow plugs are working fine but there is something up with the starter.

Paul

[kingsonlim]

Similar issue with my disco 1 previously, turned out to be bad contact from cable to starter motor solenoid. Added an an additional ground cable from starter motor mount to chassis, and it helps.

[madcalc]

Check the earth from the starter motor to the chassis. After stripping the wire and cleaning the chassis connector it solved my problem. Also added earth from gearbox to chassis.

[Jabba]

I had a starting problem on an old car that was finally traced to the joint in hte positive cable form the battery. Was passing enough current for normal working but was too high resistance for starting current.

[bandiflip]

Using your jump leads,connect black to neg on battery and other end of black onto the engine itself and try it then....if its ure earth strap thats at fault it should start OK .....
With you saying you were changing glo plugs i thought it was struggling to start not struggling to turn over.

[Picky2k]

It tries to turn over for a split second then stops.

I'm going to check all the connections tomo so hopefully will cure it.

I checked power to the glow plugs again and I'm only getting 10v, is this normal or should it be up at 12v?

Appreciating your help with this guys, thanks!!

[bandiflip]

does sound like a bad earth.........check both live connections and earths

[Picky2k]

Right chaps, I have checked and cleaned all my connections and even added additional earthing and I'm still only getting 10v to the glow plugs. I'm sure this isn't helping matters when cold starting.

[Jabba]

The glow plugs take so much current that I don't think you'll see 12 V there.

[bandiflip]

To clarify the fault.... Is it struggling to start or struggling to crank over as they are two totally different faults with different ways to check