"R C Nesbit" > wrote in message
...
> Catman spoke:
>> > First time it wouldn't start I called out Green Flag, and
>> > the chap put a tester across the battery engine off>12v,
>> > engine running>14v, so battery and alternator were
>> > declared sound.
>> >
>>
>> Was this a *load* tester, or just a meter?
>
> Just a meter.
>
>> If it was a load tester, I'd reckon fault glow plug.
>>
>> > New battery time?
>>
>> If it was a straight voltmeter, then this.
>>
>> > Something amiss in the ECU or sensors?
>>
>> Fix the cheap stuff first
>
> Define 'cheap' - batteries are around a ton.
>
> After a week it is consistent that with the battery hooked up
> to the pikey-but-excellent Aldi electronic charger, it starts
> after several cranking sessions with a fully charged battery,
> so ref. Z's comments about compression building up heat, I
> strongly suspect the glow plugs are fubar - however I am
> *not* going to freeze my fingers off in this weather
> scrambling around under the bonnet to replace them.
>
> I will wait until the weather warms up next week (ha!) and
> then forget about it because it will probably start OK in +C
> temps

Oh dear - just seen the weather forecast - you might want to look a little
further ahead - minus 5 is our maximum during the day until thursday this
week!