Lorry not starting in the cold - what could be the problem??

Fiona

Fiona

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I have a 6.5 ton 2000 Iveco lorry which has started first time in the five years we have owned her. Has 2 batteries, an ordinary one and a leisure one. Tried to start on Monday to go to the beach and would only just turn over (v slowly, not enough to start). Temp was about -2 that day. Tried again the next day when the weather was about +2 and started first time. Tried again yesterday evening and wouldn't start again.

OH has checked the battery with a meter thingy and it seems to have near enough the full 12 volts, so assuming battery not at fault. Battery is about 2 years old. Lorry is used about 1-2 times weekly.

Is the starter motor at fault, or do we need some sort of additive in the engine oil, or is it an electrical problem???

Lorry starts first time in all other weather ie damp etc, and is a diesel Iveco 5912.

Anyone feeling mechanically minded this evening, or have a mechanically minded OH they could ask???

Thanks

Fiona
 
I'm assuming it's diesel? I'm no expert but I've heard that diesel engines struggle in the cold.... I'm finding even my car (which is fairly new) has been reluctant to start in the recent cold weather.
 
Our lorry does this and needed 2 new batteries. OH has fitted a cut off switch that isolates the batteries and shes started every time since. This makes sure that the batteries are completely shut off from any potential power drain. I think the damp and the cold play a big part in the non starting of lorries and sometimes I believe the diesel can freeze up.

Hope this helps a bit.
 
Yep - new glow plugs can help - my lorry when I had it hhad only one glow plug working and when I replaced them (about £25 each) it was easier to go. May be that you need a heater on the engine (like a sump heater) and you get an additive for the diesel to stop it thickening in the frost, but it sounds like the engine is just drawing too much power to turn over.
 
Does it have a glow-plug pre-heater? With my Volvo, in cold weather, you 1/2 turn and hold the key to the start position for 10 secs, let it back, then start it and it jumps in to life.
 
Hi fiona


Hubby who is a mechanic has said the below ....



Is the amp meter that your OH checked with ..... is it a meter for testing batteries or is it a multimeter ?

The next thing that would need to be checked is ... your antifreeze up to level ?

Its perfectly normal for a battery to loose performance in cold weather, Have you tried jumping in cold weather ? If it starts alright once jumped then it will be your battery .
 
Sounds like glow plug problem. My diesel 4x4 is slower turning over in cold weather - I let the orange light go out then turn the key back and on again if that makes sense!! gives the glow plugs a bit more time to heat the fuel.
 
Seemingly it was a multimeter he checked the battery with, and reading was over 12 volts.

Forgot to say in initial post that it has a battery isolator switch which was on.

Mentioned glow plugs to OH, but he says that it is only turning over very very slowly, so glow plugs haven't come into play yet?? He reckons that if it was turning over at normal speed but just wasn't catching, that the glow plugs could be faulty then.

Engine coolant levels have been checked and are OK.

Oil level is fine.

Its hardly -20 or anything, just about -3 or so. Can't believe we need a different sort of engine oil until the temperatures would get really really low.

It did start perfectly on Tuesday when the temp was above 0.

Hope I am making some sort of sense. It is due to be booked into garage for pre MOT service in Feb, but its the main Iveco garage so would rather give my credit card a break this month if poss and not have to take it in early. I will do if we need to though - not much point in a lorry which won't start in the cold.

Fiona
 
So if it starts the 'second time' or at least turns over a little faster, then the glow plugs are the problem. Thanks lilym, I'm understanding a bit better now.

At least you have suggested a way of testing whether they are the problem or whether it is something else.

We have borrowed a booster pack, and heavy duty jump leads as well in case they are needed. Have told OH that jump leads would be a worthwhile investment to buy though.

Fiona
 
Most batteries only have a 2 year gaurantee on them - which suggest that they do die after 2 years. If you can jump it fine then it will be your batteries. When ever mine hasn't started in the cold it has been a battery issue.
 
OH is an RAC man and just asked him for you, says its likely to be the batteries or the glow plugs. Diesel apparently shouldnt freeze any more like it used to. Hope this helps.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Seemingly it was a multimeter he checked the battery with, and reading was over 12 volts.

Forgot to say in initial post that it has a battery isolator switch which was on.

Mentioned glow plugs to OH, but he says that it is only turning over very very slowly, so glow plugs haven't come into play yet?? He reckons that if it was turning over at normal speed but just wasn't catching, that the glow plugs could be faulty then.

Engine coolant levels have been checked and are OK.

Oil level is fine.

Its hardly -20 or anything, just about -3 or so. Can't believe we need a different sort of engine oil until the temperatures would get really really low.

It did start perfectly on Tuesday when the temp was above 0.

Hope I am making some sort of sense. It is due to be booked into garage for pre MOT service in Feb, but its the main Iveco garage so would rather give my credit card a break this month if poss and not have to take it in early. I will do if we need to though - not much point in a lorry which won't start in the cold.

Fiona

[/ QUOTE ]


You could have 12 volts showing on your battery but the amps could be down, its more important with high amps rather than voltage, For an engine that size it would need to have at least 600 amps .

What make of battery is it ?
 
I have the same problem
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and its the batteries. I have to go and buy 2 new one's tomorrow. I thought batteries lasted 5 yrs!!!! these's batteries have been on my lorry for 2 years
also maybe The alternator !!! also found this horsebox page on the internet...
http://www.howtomendit.com/answers.php?id=215643
 
At last!!!!! Absolutely right of course. If it turns over slowly it is battery/startermotor. But since it starts when warmer,it is not the startermotor.Also ensure you have the winter grade oif engine oil,it allows the engine to crank more easily.Incidentally a 12v battery is really 13.7 v when fully charged and pretty flat at 12.6v.
smile.gif
 
No, Batterys seldom last 5 years,does your lorry have an isolator switch.If not ,it may be just that the batterys are down. In cold weather a battery works badly because the internal resistance becomes too high,and the internal resistance needs to match that of the starter motor.starting a diesel lorry in sub zero temperatures is always a matter of luck.If a vehicle has been standing for a few days I generally put a booster charger on it and then give it a go.
 
As for engine oil .....15W40 will be sufficent enough in that engine for any weather we have here in n.ireland .

Really shouldn't need winter graded oil with conditions such as -2 .

Cold weather will make a difference to any battery, Like I said the battery will not perform as well .

It is not just volts, but mainly amps that you would need to be reading .
smile.gif


If you jump start the lorry and it starts, Then it is definitetootely your battery
smile.gif

And its not unheard of a 2 year old battery being totally knackered . Especially if its a crap brand .

Hubbys words ^ ^ ^

Hope that helps fiona and you can get sorted and out and about again
smile.gif


Col xx
 
I had this problem & it was a battery problem. Just because you get a reading of 12v does not mean the batery is any good. The initial discharge on a battery when you try & start the lorry is immense so your reading should be higher than the 12v.

Additionally get an isolator fitted & that will stop your batteries draining whilst it's left standing. There is always a drain, the tacho etc will be drawing on the battery & it will cause this problem.
 
Both my 4trak and my hubbies diesel car have been struggling to start in the cold recently.

You can buy something called 'coldstart'/ 'easystart' from halfords. You spray it a particular part of the engine, leave for a few seconds and hey presto your car will probably start. Ask someone at halfords to show you where it goes as I'm no good at explaining bits of engines! Its been a life saver for us over this cold snap!

smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Both my 4trak and my hubbies diesel car have been struggling to start in the cold recently.

You can buy something called 'coldstart'/ 'easystart' from halfords. You spray it a particular part of the engine, leave for a few seconds and hey presto your car will probably start. Ask someone at halfords to show you where it goes as I'm no good at explaining bits of engines! Its been a life saver for us over this cold snap!

smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ] thats a great idea if you want to wreck your engine
shocked.gif
its a bit like giving a horse that has a stone or other object stuck in his hoof bute to make it sound
frown.gif
 
Easy start is not going to blow up or damage your engine if you follow the instructions. It has been given a bad name by people who use it on old engines with problems .They then claim that thge engine becomes "addicted"to the stuff.PMSL. . The engine is never going to improve,unless it is repaired.In very cold conditions a wiff of easystart can make all the difference,starting.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Yes 15w40 should be adequate,but remember if the oil hasnt been changed for a while ,it wont be 15w40 anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice. Also, even though a 15W-40 is "fine" for these conditions, a 10W-40 is inherently better (and a 5W-30 even better than that, but probably overkill for this truck).
 
[ QUOTE ]
Easy start is not going to blow up or damage your engine if you follow the instructions. It has been given a bad name by people who use it on old engines with problems .They then claim that thge engine becomes "addicted"to the stuff.PMSL. . The engine is never going to improve,unless it is repaired.In very cold conditions a wiff of easystart can make all the difference,starting.

[/ QUOTE ] problem is mike they dont give it a wiff they spray a load in then it knocks which can break rings or piston ring groves if the truck is properly maintaned you will never need the stuff...
wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yes 15w40 should be adequate,but remember if the oil hasnt been changed for a while ,it wont be 15w40 anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice. Also, even though a 15W-40 is "fine" for these conditions, a 10W-40 is inherently better (and a 5W-30 even better than that, but probably overkill for this truck).

[/ QUOTE ] I use 10/40 in the newer trucks which seems to be great for cold starting, my own Atego cranks fast and starts instantly
yes thiner oil will help but my guess on this one is the battery, leads or the starter are iffy
 
Anyone thought of giving the batteries a good overnight charge, and taking the truck for a decent run? Mine is fitted with an isolator and all in-cab power drains are prevented. It means my radio doesn't hold its stations but the tacho used to sap mine's power. I haven't been out in it for a fortnight and will be shoving the batteries on charge before I do go anywhere.

We invested in a booster-charger for 24v systems and use this on occasions, but not before giving the batteries some sort of top-up charge. They do start a lorry from 'dead' but it isn't recommended!
 
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