Advice Needed To Diagnose Possible Injector Or Pump Problems

[mrhclarke]

Background:

2008 Avensis 2.2 D4D Tourer, 120k.

Cold start trouble only when outside temp below zero degrees

All new glow plugs fitted but has done nothing to improve it

My Avensis has been stuggling to start first time this winder whenever the outside temperature is close or below zero. When turning it over it seems to catch for a millisecond then drop. Usually after half a minute of trying it starts. Last week for the first time it failed altogether, and a stupidly flattened the Battery trying. I called the RAC out and he seems to think it is my injectors or the fuel pump. He got the car started by pulling off the small air intake pipe from behind the air filter box that goes directly into the top of the engine and sprayed Cold Start in. It fired up straight away with the Cold Start. The RAC technician also said it was running slightly rough but used some technical term I cannot remember, although it doesn't seem overly rought to me.

The RAC technician suggested taking the car to a local (near Southampton) Bosch fuel system specialist for diagnosis and repair. I have done a little looking up at injector and/or fuel pump repair and replacement costs and was horrified! Does £1200-£3000 sound right? In short I cannot afford this, or even close, and I am very worried about what I can do.

Has anyone ever experienced similar issues? Is there a way with an OBDII adapter I can buy software that can confidently diagnose the injectors or fuel pump?

Any help would be amazing.....

Thank you in advance.

[mintalkin]

when the glow plugs were fitted i presume they were tested to see if they had voltage and actually heated up.

[mrhclarke]

Well the RAC technician did hold a volt meter around some wires and did say there was a low voltage, but didn't say much else. What could cause a low voltage to the glow plugs?

[mrhclarke]

But the again the car fired up perfectly with Cold Start squirted directly in. Would this rule out glow plug voltage?

[JAPCAR]

Glow plugs usually are designed for 11V, I don't know why not 12...If you can use multimeter, It's easy to check the voltage yourself when put Ign. ON. I checked and it was around 11, but when ran the starter, it dropped about 9-10 (probably my Battery is weak).

It is good as well to check resistance to ground if you don't want to disconnect bridge between them- should be about 0.2- 0.3 ohm ( about 1.1ohm each, 4 in parallel)

[+robster+]

Check youtube for commonrail injector leak test

See what you think

[jimtaxi]

I have had problems like this since the car was new !! When outside temp is below o c it can struggle to start. I recently had the alternator replaced and this has improved the starting when o c but it can still just catch then wheeze out!!!!!!!!!!