Citroen Xantia - starting problems

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Wed 3 Oct 2012 18:42
Citroen Xantia - starting problems - ben busk

i've just got a xantia 1.9 terbo desil and its haveing trouble starting on a morning after heating glow plugs twice for 30 seconds it still takes 1/2 minutes off turning it over to get it started and it kicks out a cloud off white smoke after that it runs well and starts up wen warm not sure iff its plugs or injectors

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 4 Oct 2012 00:12
Citroen Xantia - starting problems - Avant

Moved to Technical.

It could be glowplugs, or also possibly that the fuel feed is faulty.

Years ago SWMBO had an otherwise reliable 205 diesel which had the same problem after it had been serviced and the garage had dislodged something in the system so that fuel slipped back into the tank after switching the engine off..

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 4 Oct 2012 16:51
Citroen Xantia - starting problems - Peter.N.

Agreed, try pumping the primer before you try to start, if that doesn't help you probably have one or more failed glow plugs. A quick way to check is to connect a voltmeter between the glow plugs and earth, any connection will do, turn the key to the glow plug position and check the voltage, you should have 10-11 volts for about 15-20 seconds, if it is nearer 12v you have one or more glow plugs failed.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link