Video – Diesel Won’t Start when the Engines Cold – White Exhaust Smoke (+ What are Glow Plugs?)
Have my Glow Plugs Failed?
This video shows why your diesel may be difficult to start when cold, and why you may get white smoke out the exhaust? It could be your glow plugs are faulty, or the glow plug circuit and its controller?
The brief description that follows below, helps explain why your vehicle doesn’t start easily when cold, and why we need to test the glow plugs…
Petrol engines start with the assistance of a spark from a spark plug to ignite the fuel. Whereas diesel engines start using the compression of the fuel mixture. However, diesels don’t like starting when cold. Hence diesel engines are fitted with glow plugs that heat the air fuel mix to aid starting when cold.
If a diesel engine is running well and starts easily when the engine is warm, but won’t start when cold, (or takes ages to get it started when cold). It could be an issue with the glow plugs, the glow plug system (module, relay, or voltage supply). This video shows how to test glow plugs without a multimeter (test meter).
Other Glow Plug Videos:
- Diesel Won’t Start when the Engines Cold – White Exhaust Smoke:
- How to Remove and… Where are they Fitted?:
How to Test Glow Plugs:
- With a Test Meter – The Complete Guide:
- Without a Test Meter – The Complete Guide:
- Without a Test Meter – (short version):
- Still Fitted in the Vehicle (Resistance):
- Removed from the Vehicle (Resistance):
- The Supply Voltage & Timer (Voltage):
- Measure the Continuity:
More Detailed Info:
More detailed information can be found on this page: Diesel Won’t Start When Cold – How to Fix Glow Plugs: (Opens in a new window / tab)
