Will not start when it is cold?

1997 PEUGEOT 306

70,000 MILES • 1.9L • 4 CYL • TURBO • 2WD • MANUAL

CHASEBASE10

MEMBER
1 POST

Hi i have a problem with my vehicle not starting in the morning or if i leave it for over 30 minutes. i usually spray starter fluid in the air intake to get the car started without flattening the battery and it runs after i crank it. anyone know or have experienced the same? thanks

Oct 30, 2022 at 11:47 AM

STRAILER

✓Experienced Mechanic
55,267 POSTS

This can be caused by two things either the fuel filter needs to be replaced or the glow plug starter has gone bad. If you have not done the fuel filter it would be a good idea anyway because it can rid the system of water contaminants as well. If that doesn't help, I would do the glow plug igniter. Please let me know what happens.

Nov 8, 2022 at 12:21 AM

BORIS K

✓Experienced Mechanic
836 POSTS

Hello,

It sounds like you might have an air leak in your fuel system. This is very common on your car. The usual sources are the leak off pipes between the injectors (see image below) or the fuel filter seal, or the hand primer bulb. A simple test is before you first start the car pump the hand primer under the bonnet until it is hard, and it should start pretty much first time. A good test is to see if the hand primer bulb is soft when not starting, this will indicate a fuel leak (see image 2). This problem can be hard to trace as leaks in the pipes suck fuel in as opposed to leaking diesel out so there are no visible signs.

A blocked fuel filter can also cause a hard starting issue.

Have you checked the glow plugs?

Cheers, Boris

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Nov 8, 2022 at 1:05 AM

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