Hi guys,

I've recently brought a Vauxhall Corsa with a Fiat 1.3 JTD diesel engine. Since buying it, I've found that the car takes a few seconds to start, and is sluggish for the first half mile, then it is perfect afterwards. My local garage says it's not a problem, but I am not satisified, so I'd like a second opinion. My garage suggests going to a diesel specialist. As the engine is a Fiat, I think it might be a good idea to go to a Fiat specialist - but not main dealer - can anyone suggest a respectable Fiat specialist, preferably with knowledge of diesels, in Sheffield please?

Thanks for your time in advance!

Take It - When its cold - you have this problem?

its is a common fact that when its cold the diesel goes more thick, so car will feel sluggish yes as its struggling to burn the diesel (as you said in the first 1/2 mile)

Same for Starting - Brothers Vauxhall Astra (1.3 Turbo) is same
Take a few seconds to start and a mile to get working properly

Should always take it easy on a cold engine

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

Take It - When its cold - you have this problem?

its is a common fact that when its cold the diesel goes more thick, so car will feel sluggish yes as its struggling to burn the diesel (as you said in the first 1/2 mile)

Same for Starting - Brothers Vauxhall Astra (1.3 Turbo) is same
Take a few seconds to start and a mile to get working properly

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying! I see where you are coming from, but the problem is definitely not normal. Once the engine starts, it won't go over 2,000rpm even if I mash the accelerator deep into the carpet (as a test), and it can't go up my steep road, it constantly stalls. And this is even when the ambient temperature is 15 deg C. Once (and only once) when the temperature was 17 degrees, it started instantly.

Before the Corsa, I had an '01 Astra with a pre common-rail Isuzu 1.7 diesel engine with 110,000 miles on the clock, and that never failed to start instantly once the glow plug warning light has gone out - even when it was minus 10 degrees C outside - I kept having to check the "D" on back to make sure I had a DERV...

My company also has a massive fleet of battered, poorly-looked-after Combo vans with the exact same engine as what's in my car, and I've driven over 20 different ones through last winter, through the snow, and they all started instantly.

The issue of thick, cold diesel is less of an issue nowadays due to fuel heaters and high pressure fuel pumps diesels has nowadays. My friend thinks I've got faulty glow plugs which seems to be the most likely issue I'm having. I saw somewhere on-line that on Fiat diesel engines, they tend to last for 75,000 miles before needing replacing. Of course, I could be wrong...

Regardless, I've found a specialist and am going to see them on Wednesday to see their thoughts. I'll update this as I find out more.

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated!

If you turn the engine off when it's hot (after being used) will it start straight away? If not then you can rule out glow plugs....

Yes it starts straight away when hot... and both garages has told me it's definitely not the glow plugs as apparently the ECU will flash up an error message if they're faulty.

The diesel specialists thinks it's the injectors, but I'm not as convinced...

Thanks for your time!