Engine starting

[Amber]

Gidday, When I started up my 2.8lt 4JB1 Mu this morning, it breifly ran a bit hairy (less a cylinder or 2) for a couple of seconds before coming right. Also the light on the fast engine warm up button came on so must mean it's pretty cold outside today. Does that mean 1 or 2 of the glow plugs may not be operating properly. It starts perfectly first pop in summer and up until now but the first lot of snow has just arrived. Should I bother getting them looked at or is it just normal. Also, when do you know if you need to get the injectors looked at.

[geeves]

Might have a glow plug issue but weather its worth worrying about is up to you. Remember when turning the key on to wait till the glowplug light goes out before starting.This might be all you trouble is. The glowplug timer circuit is known to fail and most auto sparkies just replace it with a fixed timer.
A test for this circuit is to open the bonnet and look at the therostat housing There are 2 wires attached to sensors there Remove the right hand one. The glow plugs will then stay on for 3 min and the engine will start properly. Dont run it like this as this sensor is used for pump timing so runs like a dog once it has a little heat build up.
If its like what my bighorn has been like for 5 years then its only going to play up between 5c and -3c below that the timer works again and above that it doesnt need to work.We dont get below -3 in nice warm Wellington very often
Most diesel places tell you the injectors should be done every 100000km but if the power and ecconomy is good and its not smoking too much they are probably ok.
the 4jb1 engine always smokes at idle a little bit.

[Amber]

Thanks for the handy tip. That's interesting about the sensor having something to do with the pump. Is that why the engine is noisier when cold if you drive away before warming it up a bit till it warms up.
Cheers for your help

Amz

[geeves]

Mine does this about 3 times a year for about 1/2km down the road. I assume its normal as nothings ever broken in 7 years.