Peugeot Boxer X250 cold start problems (1 Viewer)

[gplatt2000]

Hi all

This is my first post and I’m wondering if anyone cal help with a mechanical problem I’m having…

I have a 2007 Peugeot Boxer (X250 / Ducato / Relay) with the 2.2HDI engine (which I believe is a Ford Puma - not the Iveco unit in the Fiats). Since I bought it (2 years ago) I’ve been having an issue with starting in cold weather. Below about 2°C the engine will struggle to start, as shown in the video here:



It’s never left me stranded yet (touch wood) – it will usually eventually start after a few attempts. As soon as it’s been running (for even just a few minutes), it will always start fine again. So it’s only ever happened when left overnight.

I fitted a new battery a couple of weeks ago but that’s not solved it. No error codes showing from OBD. It was serviced a few weeks ago (oil change, new air/fuel/oil filters) and that didn’t help. I had it at the mechanics, but they couldn’t recreate the issue – it only happens when it’s really cold, and even then maybe only about 30% of the time.

Has anyone experienced this problem, or is there a known fault? I’ve read about water ingress problems which can effect glow plugs and fuse/relay box. Other than that, I’ve no idea: I’m not at all mechanically knowledgable! The ‘crunching’ sound (at end of video) in particular sounds worrying.

Any help much appreciated – thanks in advance.

Gavin

 

[Jim]

Hi Gavin

Just to let you know that you aren't being ignored. Your post has only just this minute gone live as we moderate first posts that have links in them in our fight against spammers. People can see your post now

Thanks

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Your digital oil level readout is showing 5 empty squares - how's the oil level ?
The battery sounds like it's struggling to turn the engine over.

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[chatteris]

oil level readout is showing full you get less squares as level goes down. i would check and clean all earth straps and maybe add an extra one

 

[Wissel]

I had the same (2010 Boxer). In the end a new starter motor (was about £60 on eBay) and replacing the earth strap sorted it. It's been great since.

 

[chatteris]

are all the glowplugs working, I have one not working but still starts ok

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[MC 55 FUN]

oil level readout is showing full you get less squares as level goes down. i would check and clean all earth straps and maybe add an extra one

Odd - our digital oil level on our old X250 Peugeot showed 5 darkened squares when the level was full.

 

[chatteris]

have you put some injector cleaner in it,

 

[chatteris]

Odd - our digital oil level on our old X250 Peugeot showed 5 darkened squares when the level was full.

My 2007 shows less squares when it was down a bit before last service showed 4 or 3 if parked up with nearside wheels on kerb

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[Two on Tour]

Down one square.

 

[Euphony]

I know it’s not a motorhome so not like for like but I had a Mazda RX8 many years ago and they are renowned for both cold and hot start issues, in the end I needed to replace a standard battery with the highest cold crank amp battery I could find, it solved the issue instantly.

 

[Mr B]

Sounds like the battery is bolloxed

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[gplatt2000]

Wow, didn't expect so many replies so soon, thanks everyone. Had no idea those blocks represented oil level so thanks for pointing that out.

I replaced the battery two years ago with a Yuasa that had come highly recommended so I hope it's not the battery.

I'll check earths tomorrow and get multimeter on the battery, and report back.

Thanks again

 

[gplatt2000]

Forgot to say, I ran some 'Wynns Xtreme Diesel System Cleaner' through about 3,000mi ago and I've (mostly) used premium diesel since. Worth trying some injector cleaner too I suppose.

Fingers crossed it's a dodgy earth, will look into starter motor if not.

 

[gplatt2000]

Edit: replaced battery two weeks ago (not two years ago!)

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[TheBig1]

putting a jumplead from battery negative post to the engine block will show if its an earth strap. clean the terminals too when the battery is uncovered

 

[Bart]

did you check or replace the glow plugs ? as surely if it ALWAYS starts when warm would this be an earth issue ?

 

[TheBig1]

poor earth = weak glow plugs
poor earth = poor starter till engine warm

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[EX51SSS]

 

[refail]

How about fuel filter air leak

 

[Louis]

Yup, agree with - sounds like starter or poor earth connection,

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[gus-lopez]

As others have said I'd be looking at the earthing as if that is a new battery it should be spinning the engine over far faster than that , even allowing for the fact that it is energising the glow plugs. Additionally as has been mentioned by others I would also have got the biggest cca battery that would go in the space.

 

[Spanner]

I recently had a similar problem with a VW Golf diesel, a diagnostic scan indicated an incorrect reading on a coolant temperature sensor, when the sensor was checked in situ with a meter it was within range so ok, turned out to be a poor connection on the plug even though it appeared 100% perfect, a squirt of contact cleaner and a wriggle of the connector fixed the fault.
A diagnostic scan when stone cold may help but intermittent faults are often difficult !

 

[gplatt2000]

I checked and cleaned up the battery --> cab earth strap yesterday, but unfortunately that didn't solve it. It's in the garage later this week for its MOT so I'll ask them to replace the engine earth strap and see if that helps.

I'll post back as anything develops, but as it's intermittent it might be a while. Interestingly someone else did mention a dodgy sensor – "A common problem with early X250 vehicles is sloppy temperature measurement. At temperatures a few degrees above freezing the ECU thinks it doesn't need the glow plugs, so the vehicle is hard to start, while below freezing point it starts fine." – so I'll be keeping a log of weather. Might brave some Scottish skiing where hopefully it'll get properly cold!

Thanks again for all your help.

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[Bart]

I checked and cleaned up the battery --> cab earth strap yesterday, but unfortunately that didn't solve it. It's in the garage later this week for its MOT so I'll ask them to replace the engine earth strap and see if that helps.

I'll post back as anything develops, but as it's intermittent it might be a while. Interestingly someone else did mention a dodgy sensor – "A common problem with early X250 vehicles is sloppy temperature measurement. At temperatures a few degrees above freezing the ECU thinks it doesn't need the glow plugs, so the vehicle is hard to start, while below freezing point it starts fine." – so I'll be keeping a log of weather. Might brave some Scottish skiing where hopefully it'll get properly cold!

Thanks again for all your help.

Have you any jump leads you could use as a temp gearbox/engine>>Chassis earth strap to see if it makes any difference.

 

[Allanm]

I noticed you waited a long time after the glow plug light went out before you tried to start it. Have you tried to start it immediately the light goes out?

 

[Chris51]

I had the same (2010 Boxer). In the end a new starter motor (was about £60 on eBay) and replacing the earth strap sorted it. It's been great since.

+1 starter- motor cured mine-it wont start if it doesn't turn over fast enough.

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