Nissan GU 4.2TD Rough starting

G'day pitboss,

The only suggestion I could make is to get the fuel injectors and pump checked and re-set. I had my 4.2TD done by a crowd in the southern highlands, south of Sydney that we aren't allowed to name, when it only had about 20,000klm on the clock. They (as well as other mechanics) all seem to agree that the factories just grab 6 injectors and a pump off the shelf and bolt them on/in.....they don't set them up for optimum performance. Mine ran heaps better after that tune up, but I don't recall it ever farting etc on a cold morning.

Other thing to check/change might be your fuel filter.

The edic motor on my 2h goes into overfuel position when starting which I assume is a bit like a choke. Whatever provides this function on your nissan could be bung

Sounds more like your glow plugs are not working correctly to me, the old girl runs well after 30sec says the engine is fine. The fuel filter is a good one to change as above and can give you some werid problems when blocked, normally lack of power, black smoke and loads of others. The list is long.
If they are OK then follow through with checks on your injectors/fuel pump etc but not before.

I agree with Sensei - it seems that the glow plugs are falling just short of the mark and this might be related to a weak(ening) battery rather than the glow plugs per se. Borrow your mates cranking battery and test it out over the weekend - I find it much better if I wait 5 seconds after the glow plug indicator goes out before cranking the engine over - fires up straight away.
Cheers
Pete

If its still under warranty make nissan aware of the problem.My 2000 wagon had the same type of problem then took longer to fire and after a lot of dramas refused to play.checked glow plugs ,sender in the key ,immobilizer,nearly got to the stage of a new pump at their cost but the problem ended up being the fuel cutoff soliniod (spelling) which is relativly cheap and is behind the pump against the block so the pump has to come off. Let me stress this is a isolated problem I was just unlucky to have 2 go on me and my service manager was on the ball.

Sounds more like deisel wax in injectors to me , check to make sure you are getting winter deisel if in a cold climate. Also agree with Roachie ( now theres a first) have your injectors serviced by a specialist most are not setup properly.

When it's running rough have you revved it hard and noticed any blue smoke coming out the exhaust?
regards Mark.

Pitboss.
The problem is almost sure to be a loose connection on a glow plug. you can find out which one by connecting a test lamp to the stud [not the wire] of each plug in turn and get someone to turn on the glow plugs for one second for each cylinder, the one where the light does not glow is the culprit. your pump and injectors are fine. Eric.

Good advice but try this before you even open the bonnet!!
When it's cold, do not start the engine when the light goes out. Wait another five seconds or so (The glow plugs stay on a while AFTER the light goes out)
Works for me on a number of diesels I regularly drive, various makes.
Cheers

on the gu the sub tank pumps to the main tank for 10 seconds` on start up so i think if tere is no fuel in the sub it will pump dry which will make idle rough or cough as i like to call it.my gu coil cab does the same thing whenj sub tank empty?