Hi all

I have an annoying issue with my Stilo 1.9 JTD 115.
If the weather is cold (below 0 c) the car is extreme difficult to start. The lower the temperature gets, the lower the chances are that it would start at all.
As soon as the temp raises above 0 (ie 3 degrees) the engine starts in first attempt.
I got a occasional warning in the instrument panel saying I got water in the fuel filter, but that has been there almost since I got the car and is only lasting a few seconds.
The garage has checked the following:
Water/sediments in the tank
Pump
The injection system
Preheater
Changed the fuel filter (see above desription of warning)
And found no errors. The only fault they got was from some kind of pressure gauge, which they cleaned and that seemed to help for a short time.
Now the problems has re-ocurred and it feels like it has gotten worse.
The garage want to change the gauge, as it seems to be the only clue they have on this issue.
On the opposite side, I have started to wonder if there are some kind of device that checks the air-temp, and controls some startup parameters based on this...And if it could be this part that is failing.
BTW: I still got the warning about water in the fuel filter, it reocurred the same day they had changed the filter.
Is there any Stilo masterminds out there that has any idea of what could be wrong??
I don't want the garage (authorized dealer by the way) to change the whole engine because they are clueless.

Best regards
Carsten

I don't know if it is much help to you...but I have a Stilo JTD too and mine doesn't like cold weather either really...I think it is a common problem with Diesel engines (or not a problem, but a 'quirk'). In summer, mine starts just fine as you would expect, but I get the feeling cold winter days aren't the best conditions for starting a jtd.

Do you have a garage you can store it in? Might not make a LOT of difference, might just be enough to take the cold off it enough to start more successfully...when it does start, make sure you keep your foot on the accelerator for a few mins to make sure it's revving above idle (maybe about 2k)

I don't get the warnings you're talking about though on the dash...

(I'm no mastermind btw but I thought I'd let you know you're not the only 1)

Get your battery checked, it may need replacing. Stilos are power hungry especially the JTD's when starting on a cold morning.

Shadeyman said:

Get your battery checked, it may need replacing. Stilos are power hungry especially the JTD's when starting on a cold morning.

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...and this would make sense based on the fact that I am having battery charge issues myself at the min. Defo worth a look then!

Thanks for the answers. I forgot to mention that the problems started last winter. Before that I have never encountered any start issues with the car.
With respect to the battery, I even managed to empty one of the tow-services spare batteries, so I doubt that could be the issue.

If you have water in the fuel, and perhaps the fuel heater isn't working, then the water could freeze blocking the fuel supply.

jdm89 said:

...and this would make sense based on the fact that I am having battery charge issues myself at the min. Defo worth a look then!

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Davren said:

If you have water in the fuel, and perhaps the fuel heater isn't working, then the water could freeze blocking the fuel supply.

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Where is the fuel heater located?? Around the filter or somewhere else in the fuel-line??

It's the black plastic part between the filter and the aluminium filter head.

There should be 2 plugs on it, one is a fuel temperature sensor, the other is for the fuel heater.
.

Your problem sounds like a combination of cold weather, cheap supermarket fuel and a battery that needs replacing.

The fuel heater can take 5 mins to raise the temp of the fuel just 1 degree. Thats more than enough time to flatten an already poor battery or an under powered substitue battery.

The most common cause of water in fuel is "cheap supermarket fuel".

If you use supermarket fuel try changing to a better quality fuel during the cold weeks/months.

jdm89 said:

when it does start, make sure you keep your foot on the accelerator for a few mins to make sure it's revving above idle (maybe about 2k)

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I've been having starting probs with the cold but mine is more to do with the blend of veg oil - adding it too soon (before the temps are stable in double figures)

Just my opinion here but revving a cold engine is the quickest way to destroying it.

In cold weather, as soon as the engine fires I stop turning the key & allow it to idle. It needs time to get the oil out of the sump and around all the places it needs to be. I'm sort of lucky in that my engine has a slight squeak which disappears as the oil gets around.
some of the pricier oils are supposed to cling to everything (magnatech) making lubrication much easier - although I have reservations. Some manufacturers utilise an additional sump at the top of the block to help lube internals quicker - although cold oil can only be pushed so hard.
Adding a parking heater, although costly, can apparently save you money in the long run. Tests show there is far less stress on the engine when it is already warmed up & it can pump warm oil around.

sludgeguts said:

Just my opinion here but revving a cold engine is the quickest way to destroying it.

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I didn't mean red-line it or anything...i just meant increase the revs a little - basically introduce your own higher idle...as if your engine cut out (like mine did when it was really cold and starting for the first time after not being used for a few weeks) the only way to stop it from cutting out really is to increase the revs!

Did you find a solution to this?

I have had the same problem for some time now - and its getting worse so now I also have problems starting up my Stilo 1,9jtd in "warmer" weather +5 degrees.

New glowplugs and a fully charged battery helped - but still not a smooth start. It can take minutes to get the engine to start when its cold.

Hmm. I never had any sort of starting trouble with my JTD 115 in any weather and neither has anyone I know.
But the old bedford TM 14 tonne trucks we had in my army days were a nightmare to start on a cold morning.
It might be the starter motor. It's what the problem was with our old trucks!