Heater plugs??

[Baker3570]

Hi all, so since buying the X5 couple weeks ago I've been hit with a few problems but battled through most of them and sorted...

But... I noticed yesterday after work (10 hours) the car struggled to start turned over a couple times then fired up, did a trip to the shop on way home and it started fine.

This morning really struggled to start and then same again after being stood 10hours.

Once started chucked out abit of white smoke but then soon cleared

Could this be the heater plugs? And can these be tested via being put on a computer?

Thanks in advanced

[fenj66]

Brief white smoke on cold start up would indicate glow plug failure. But car should spin over fast anyway. Poor starting speed might be a bad battery.

[Baker3570]

Is there any specific way of testing the glow plugs?

[Baker3570]

Oh well could very well be battery too came to it this morning turned over a couple times then stop then again then click click click

Nice long walk to work for me 

[porku]

[quote="Baker3570"]
Is there any specific way of testing the glow plugs?
[/quote]
Not realy, easyest way with computer, beacause when you want to test them with multimeter than you need to take off intake collector beacause there is no room to check them any other way.

PS! When computer says that all of them are dead, then you have probaly issue with Glow Plug relay.

[Baker3570]

Thanks for the reply, well green flag came out to it and jumped it off there boost pack and fired up straight away. He said there doesn't seem to be a problem with th glow plugs as it didn't try and struggle to start.

He thinks it's just a bad battery that needs replacing
But now since this I drove it for about 5 miles then the self level susp inactive has now showing on the dash

[grumpywurzel]

A low battery voltage will cause other errors, get the battery tested. Sounds like it's on its last legs

[X5Sport]

And one other possible, you will need a current clamp to check it, is the starter motor.  It is a known weakness if a Magnetti Marelli starter is fitted.  It should draw 180A but can be much higher.  My E53 one failed and drew over 900A - more than the battery could deliver, and I changed our E46 one in the summer, it was drawing 540A.

Battery is very likely, but the clue for the starter is it cranks slowly - such as a bad battery would - even when the battery is fully charged.  It could kill a fully charged battery in about three starting cycles!

It is a diy job, if a bit fiddly, as it isn't the easiest thing to get at.  Replacements are available from ECP for under £220 including the surcharge which should give you about £100 back.  I put a new Bosch into the E46 and the difference was immediate.  Fast cranking, near instant start. 

Worth keeping in the back of your mind if there is no issue with the plugs or battery.  It won't throw any kind of error code.

[Baker3570]

Thanks for that, I'm going to go and have the battery tested before paying out for a new one. And work my way through stuff

[Baker3570]

Haven't had time to have the battery tested yet due to work but it has been cranking fine and starting up till this morning where it was a little colder than the other days.. Took abit of cranking (lazy) then fired up but with a big puff of white smoke took the little lad to rugby can out cranked over quick and fired up instantly

Hopefully getting it booked in for Tuesday to be checked out

[TimX5]

[quote="Baker3570"]
Haven't had time to have the battery tested yet due to work but it has been cranking fine and starting up till this morning where it was a little colder than the other days.. Took abit of cranking (lazy) then fired up but with a big puff of white smoke took the little lad to rugby can out cranked over quick and fired up instantly

Hopefully getting it booked in for Tuesday to be checked out
[/quote]

Sounds like battery is on its way out