Citroen Relay 2.5 starting problems

[RichT481]

Hi all,

I have a 1995 Citroen Relay based motorhome with a 2.5l non-turbo engine. It ran great all summer but it started to become sluggish to start over the last few weeks. Once the engine was warm, it would start first turn of the key every time.

The weather has cooled down over the last couple of weeks. The van started first turn of the key 2 days ago but yesterday morning and this morning, it has refused to start.

I suspect it is an issue regarding the glow plugs, or the glow plug relay.

Should I hear a relay clicking when the glow plug light goes off?

Likewise where in the engine bay would I find it and the glow plugs? Normally I would be using workshop manuals and messing around with Land Rovers but without a manual I am struggling to navigate my way around this engine :-(

Any advice greatfully appreciated, particularly if there are any pics of diagrams which could help me.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[tonyidle]

The glow-plugs are near the injectors and have a bus-bar linking them. The glow-plug relay is IIRC on the O/S inner wing in front of the battery.

 

[RichT481]

Thanks, I'll have a rummage around. Just managed to get the van started with a hairdryer up the air intake so it's clearly an issue with the glow plugs/relay.

 

[gus-lopez]

 

[tonyidle]

Thanks, I'll have a rummage around. Just managed to get the van started with a hairdryer up the air intake so it's clearly an issue with the glow plugs/relay.

If it has happened suddenly it's likely to be the feed to the plugs rather than the plugs themselves. If plugs start to die of old age first one fails, then the next, etc. The van will start easily on three, a bit less easily on two, and will struggle with one. When you lose one it's pretty obvious because you have a misfire & white smoke (unburned Diesel) for a second or two. The misfire & smoke gets worse as others fail. So a sudden failure to start in cold weather is, as I said, more likely to be the feed (relay, fuse, etc). Don't attempt to remove the glow plugs unless you prove beyond doubt that you need to do so. They're often very tight or corroded in place and aren't hard to shear - meaning in a head off job.

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

You could take the buz bar of and test the glow plugs.