Technical Cold starting problem - glow plug(s)?

[MrMultipla]

Hello, At recent below freezing temps car has needed two or three starting cycles to start up. I think perhaps a glow plug has gone. It seems to me to be trying to start on three cylinders and cutting out. There is a real diesel rattle as it does this. When it does start after a couple of goes a puff of dark smoke which I assume is accumulated diesel from the faulty cylinder? Once started it runs absolutely fine. Warm starting is fine too. The glow plug light does not stay on or flash at all.
Does this sound like symptoms of a faulty glow plug?
Thanks!

 

[momoe]

If the car is struggling to start, accumulated diesel could be from all cylinders.

I'd check the power supply to all glow plugs, 1 out 4 out shouldn't be a problem unless temps are WELL below zero.

 

[MrMultipla]

Thanks momoe. It does fire and run for a couple of seconds off the starter just very lumpy/noisy, then it dies, so it does seems like one or two cylinders aren't firing from cold. But it hasn't been that cold and most people say that glow plugs are only a problem when it's many below zero. After two or three attempts it runs fine. I'll check the power as you suggest. Just wondering what else it could be other than glow plug(s)?
Thanks.

 

[momoe]

No issues after it's running seems to point to glow plugs and as it's not that cold, more than one to affect the running this badly.

The other thing is clogged injectors, a poor spray pattern won't help starting.

If you're confident you can identify the glow plug supply, you could 'hotwire' the glowplugs direct from the battery with a suitably sized (Jump leads?) cable.
This might help eliminate the power supply as a problem?

 

[QinteQ]

If the car is struggling to start, accumulated diesel could be from all cylinders.

I'd check the power supply to all glow plugs, 1 out 4 out shouldn't be a problem unless temps are WELL below zero.

- hardly ever the plugs, but hey anything is possible
- the 'ugly' will usually start without glow plugs even in bad weather

- I'd look elsewhere before glow plugs
- example fully charge overnight the battery
- - then try - what happens ? - eliminate battery
- take it for a long run to charge the battery
- - then try - what happens ? - eliminate alternator
- etc

 

[MrMultipla]

Thanks for your replies. As it happens it started fine today, but it was a balmy 10 degrees, so who knows? Think I'll wait and see - two days of random poor starting isn't reason enough to pull things apart, that's just character ;-) I've got a few good pointers to check though, so thanks for that.