i am having problems starting my fiesta 1.8 diesel 1996 (p Reg) car from cold. eventually it may start from a fully charged battery. once it has started there is no problem. there is also a lot of black smoke being emitted from the exhaust for about 20 secs after starting. i have changed the glowplugs and battery also the longer the car is left standing the harder it is to start.

Neil, April 2006

it is probly the glow plug relay.solniod -usally on the fender somewhere so they dont' get hot from motor -the black smoke is the carbon from the deisal it is probly getting flooded -the realy is not telling the glow plugs to cycle or heat up is what they do -to help the deisel combust in the cylinders -it is actualy fired on compression of the deisel not ingition or spark like a unleaded motor -cetane level not octane -you can use a can of ether spray is the safest a short spray in the air intake snorkel -what also works but is not as safe mainly long term to use is also normal starting fluid but very small amount or short burst of a spray into the intake helps the deisel combust -unless the compression in the motor cylinders are weak then it cant keep the pressure in the cylinder it needs to compress the fuel to its combustion point ---i'm a long time fan and owner of a deisal car was my second car in my life and still have it 11 years later and looking forward to another 11 or more years with -its got over 350,000 miles and still runs great ,so i hope this has helped you in some way good luck and happy motoring

J.dubak, April 2006