Hi everyone new to the site have joined in hope someone can help uss with our problem please.

As the title suggests we have a 07 Ducato which if freezing or warm will start no problems. However if it’s mild it will start though will chuck until it’s left to warm up. If we try to drive it then it surges till warm and the engine light come on.

We’ve changed the glow plugs apart fro one which was working so we left it alone. Fuel lines have been replaced as has the diesel filter. We’ve heard that it could be the air sensor not sending a signal to the ecu for it to allow the glow plugs to heat the cylinders.

Though we’ve not been able to find the sensor so does anyone have an idea where it could be or another solution to the problem please.

Many thanks

What sensor are you looking to change. ?What errors have you seen from it?

Unplugging it may restore SOME control

Charlie

We have no error codes we where told there’s a sensor that tells the ecu to activate the glow plugs!! If this is correct then it seems not to be working when the weather is mild. However the information may not be correct? Thanks for the reply

Ok.
There should be a symbol on the dash.. yellow coiled wire..( john lennon specs..)

This should light for 5/10 seconds.. apparently it SHOULD be varied by external temperature.

I hope that helps

(But the plugs should only help fuel burn for a few seconds..
And in COLDER conditions.. a shortfall of heat would be WORSE starting /running)

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Ok.
There should be a symbol on the dash.. yellow coiled wire..( john lennon specs..)

This should light for 5/10 seconds.. apparently it SHOULD be varied by external temperature.

I hope that helps

(But the plugs should only help fuel burn for a few seconds..
And in COLDER conditions.. a shortfall of heat would be WORSE starting /running)

Charlie

Click to expand...

Thank you Charlie

Try some BG244 in the fuel tank. Worked for me when I had a similar issue with my Toyota Avensis T180 Diesel.

Does sound like a sensor issue. ECU thinking engine is colder than it is and overfuelling.
Decent diagnostcs lke Multiecuscan www.multiecuscan.net. will tell you what air and engine temperature the ECU is "seeing". This is a lot more accurate than just guessing. For starters what engine does your Ducato have exactly? There were quite a range fitted.

Robert G8RPI.

This could be a problem with the MAF (Mass Air Flow) a quick clean with some CRC spray (Or electrical contact spray) might help. A system scan is a must though! Or you could be going round in circles. Always look at the simplest things 1st, then take it from there. ?

Have you checked glow plug relay.
I have gone through two now.
The second one I have taken to bits.
Inside is a set of points that burn out.
Just a thought.
Light works on the dash but no power to plugs.
Got a small file on the points a few months back and it's still working.

Hi,
I too have a Ducato 2.3 120 (2007) which began to be difficult to start when cold. It started fine when hot.
The first thing I noticed was that the glow plug light only came on for a couple of seconds. When it did fire up it was lumpy for a few seconds and then settled down. I noticed one very cold morning that the glow plugs came on for longer and it started fine.
What I did then was change the coolant temp sensor. No different. I then connected the old sensor but left it outside the engine and sprayed it with a freezer spray and the glow plugs came on for about 10 seconds and the engine fired up immediately.
I have now wired a resistor and a switch into the coolant sensor circuit and I press the switch before I turn on the engine. This fools the ecu into thinking the engine is freezing and the glow plugs come on and the engine fires right up.
Does anyone know if there is a better way to sort out this problem?
I have also changed the crankshaft sensor, egr valve, throttle body (there was a code) and egr valve actuator.
Apart from the throttle body code coming up twice there have been no other codes.

Liberty hall said:

Hi everyone new to the site have joined in hope someone can help uss with our problem please.

As the title suggests we have a 07 Ducato which if freezing or warm will start no problems. However if it’s mild it will start though will chuck until it’s left to warm up. If we try to drive it then it surges till warm and the engine light come on.

We’ve changed the glow plugs apart fro one which was working so we left it alone. Fuel lines have been replaced as has the diesel filter. We’ve heard that it could be the air sensor not sending a signal to the ecu for it to allow the glow plugs to heat the cylinders.

Though we’ve not been able to find the sensor so does anyone have an idea where it could be or another solution to the problem please.

Many thanks

Click to expand...

When the engine light comes on what code comes up?

No code at all though what you described in your first post is the same symptoms. So will have a look into it.
Thank you for your reply
LH

Hi again,
Have you had any luck with your starting issues? This problem is driving me nuts. I have changed the oxygen sensor in the exhaust but still no difference. I can't think of any sensors that I haven't replaced. If anyone has any thoughts I would sure appreciate any help I can get.