Citroen saxo 1998 1.5D wont start ? pls advise

alykhalil

My wife's car Citroen saxo 1998 model 1.5L diesel just wont start. got the new battery (though old one was fine), changed the glow plugs, checked everything, checked the cam belt, alternater is fine, checked electrical connections but due to some reason the car just dont start. Yes, the engine runs, it wants to start but it just dont and some burning smell/smoke emits from the exhaust.

no where is the manual it says what the problem could be..i am positive its just minor thing and if i call a mechanic they will take 50-70 quid for a small job

any advises please. thank you

attritioner

alykhalil wrote:

changed the glow plugs

Did you check for power to the plugs? Use a multimeter/test light. Remember seeing faulty relay before.

alykhalil wrote:

checked the cam belt

How? Just removed the cover? Saw a 1.5 that had stripped a few teeth off the belt. Remove the cover and the belt looks fine, but It was off the timing, and did damage the valves.

Good luck

cc25

As you have already checked all of the more obvious reasons for non starting, here is a less obvious one.

A relatively common fault with this 1.5D engine (also fitted to Peugeot 106) is that after 50k - 60k miles or so the valve clearances can close up due to wear, to the point that the engine will not start (presumably due to lack of compression at the low cranking speed). If the engine does eventually start, it will usually run OK afterwards.

It is relatively easy to check the valve clearances, but not so easy to adjust them. To measure valve clearance, remove the rocker cover, and use a set of feeler gauges (follow procedure in Haynes manual) If, as I suspect, there is little or no clearance on some or all of the valves, then the clearances are adjusted by means of shims. Unless and until the clearances are correctly adjusted, the engine will not start. This is a job for a professional mechanic, or experienced DIY. You really need access to a set of shims of all the various thicknesses, as sometimes it takes more than one attempt to the get the clearance right especially if there was zero clearance at the first measurement).

I think this job will take 2-3 hours or so. If you know a friendly mechanic who works at the peugeot or citroen garage, they may be willing to do the job for you at home much cheaper than the main dealer!

skiddy2k

could be the starter motor, or even the immobiliser in the key and ignition barrel.

alykhalil

skiddy2k wrote:

could be the starter motor, or even the immobiliser in the key and ignition barrel.

dont know about the starter motor ! but immobiliser in the key..when trying to start smelly smoke emits from the exhaust as if something is burning....WOULD THE OIL NEED CHANGING ?

THANK YOU

alykhalil

attritioner wrote:

Did you check for power to the plugs? Use a multimeter/test light. Remember seeing faulty relay before.


How? Just removed the cover? Saw a 1.5 that had stripped a few teeth off the belt. Remove the cover and the belt looks fine, but It was off the timing, and did damage the valves.

Good luck

I see...but valves, are we talking about a professional mechanic doing it coz i am not much into cars..yeah minor bis and pieces ok but not major. shall i call a mobile mechanic ? would they do it ? thank you much

alykhalil

cc25 wrote:

As you have already checked all of the more obvious reasons for non starting, here is a less obvious one.

A relatively common fault with this 1.5D engine (also fitted to Peugeot 106) is that after 50k - 60k miles or so the valve clearances can close up due to wear, to the point that the engine will not start (presumably due to lack of compression at the low cranking speed). If the engine does eventually start, it will usually run OK afterwards.

It is relatively easy to check the valve clearances, but not so easy to adjust them. To measure valve clearance, remove the rocker cover, and use a set of feeler gauges (follow procedure in Haynes manual) If, as I suspect, there is little or no clearance on some or all of the valves, then the clearances are adjusted by means of shims. Unless and until the clearances are correctly adjusted, the engine will not start. This is a job for a professional mechanic, or experienced DIY. You really need access to a set of shims of all the various thicknesses, as sometimes it takes more than one attempt to the get the clearance right especially if there was zero clearance at the first measurement).

I think this job will take 2-3 hours or so. If you know a friendly mechanic who works at the peugeot or citroen garage, they may be willing to do the job for you at home much cheaper than the main dealer!

this would surely need calling a machanic...ohh i cant believe that, its just money money money isnt it ? well will have to look for a machnic and i am sure we are talking about not less than £100+...

cheers mates...

alykhalil

does anyone think that Unchanged Oil could have something do with this..? i mean lets say the oil hasnt been changed (totally changed not topped up) since 18months and the oil is black...would this cause the car to not start ? cheers and thank you again....

Silent_Bob_3

alykhalil wrote:

WOULD THE OIL NEED CHANGING ?

When was the oil last changed? Hope there's some in there or the engine could have seized. Did you notice a lack of power or reduced speed the last time it was on the road?

alykhalil

Silent_Bob wrote:

When was the oil last changed? Hope there's some in there or the engine could have seized. Did you notice a lack of power or reduced speed the last time it was on the road?

SORRY I WASNT CLEAR ENOUGH...YEAH THERE IS OIL, RIGHT LEVEL BUT ITS JUST black..YOU SEE...WOULD THIS CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT START ? CHEERS...(sorry about the caps, just noticed it)

margaretclare

Hi aly

I've just asked my husband who has half a century's experience in 'mechanicking' cars and here's what he says:

Oil change is absolutely essential for any car, between 6,000 and 10,000 miles or every 6 months depending on which comes sooner.

For a diesel car you need special oil, high in detergent. Read the handbook (he says!!) You also need to change the oil more frequently with a diesel engine than with a petrol engine.

We recently had a friend come round in a panic - he'd just acquired a diesel car and what did he do? Went and put petrol into it, that's what! You haven't been trying to run a diesel car on petrol by any chance, have you? It may sound daft, and I wouldn't have believed it only we saw it happen to someone we know!

<<would this cause the car to not start ? cheers and thank you again....>> Again from the horse's mouth ( a qualified mechanical engineer and car DIY-er sitting beside me) - No, it wouldn't cause it not to start. It WOULD cause the engine to wear out quicker!

Aunty Margaret