bad start up and blue smoke. E320 CDI

[sammo1985]

Hi all,

I have an E320 CDI 56 plate which recently has been turning over fine but taking a while to start, on start up occasionally it will blow a big puff of blue smoke which lasts for a few seconds. I've been told that the battery has probably had it, but would this also be connected to the blue smoke?. The car runs beautifully under load and on idle, its also never done this before. Any ideas?.

 

[Zu11y]

Could possibly be the glow plugs

 

[sammo1985]

Changed the glowys September last year. :-(

 

[Dieselman]

I suspect an air leak into the fuel pipes or filter.

 

[SL300-24]

Glow plug relay I would suspect....get the codes read and go from there..

 

[AndyPCD]

I would also be looking at the glowplug relay too.

 

[sammo1985]

Would unburnt fuel be possible with it keep turning over then starting. ?

 

[SL300-24]

I am 99% sure this will be your glow plug relay, engine spins but does not fire for a while usually only on the first start of the day when cold.

 

[sammo1985]

Ok thanks, going in thursday to my specialist, and what he doesn't know isn't worth knowing. He gets the cars the Mercedes themselves can't fix so I'm sure he will sort it. I will update everyone as soon as I know, although what does a relay cost?

 

[SL300-24]

Ok thanks, going in thursday to my specialist, and what he doesn't know isn't worth knowing. He gets the cars the Mercedes themselves can't fix so I'm sure he will sort it. I will update everyone as soon as I know, although what does a relay cost?

Around £130 from the main dealers.

 

[c5jganno]

Suspect timing chain stretched mate.
(Advertising removed)

 

[BlackC55]

I very much doubt a stretched chain. It is very likely to be a faulty glow plug relay.

 

[BlackC55]

Suspect timing chain stretched mate,

You have to pay to advertise here too. Contact the admins. It's not expensive at all.

 

[sammo1985]

Went to specialist today and he fitted a brand new Bosch Battery, its huge. He thinks that the blue smoke is to do with the extended turning over. Battery has been drop tested and was not great. Thets put it this way, the battery was 7 years old. So due to go I think, STAR didn't find any faults whatsoever. fingers crossed I will know properly tomorrow on a cold start.

 

[sammo1985]

Went to specialist today and he fitted a brand new Bosch Battery, its huge. He thinks that the blue smoke is to do with the extended turning over. Battery has been drop tested and was not great. Thets put it this way, the battery was 7 years old. So due to go I think, STAR didn't find any faults whatsoever. fingers crossed I will know properly tomorrow on a cold start.

Right, car still starting badly and smoke. Everything else though is ok? Glow plugs fine, relay fine, Car running beautiful?

 

[Auto-mobile]

Was the relay tested, regardless of the short test on star? As said it very much sounds glow plug/relay related.

 

[mbenz1]

There may be a possibility that a glow plug relay/module fault may not show up on STAR or any other fault code reader? As others have said, its most likely the glow plug module. Had exact same problem on a 280 CDI V6 (same engine as your car). Check if the glow plug light turns on and off as it should, when starting the car...

 

[sammo1985]

Yeh light goes on and off. When I had a fault last time with my plugs the light stayed on. So I new then it was an issue, infact other equipment was run on the car to find issues but nothing is showing up. I'm sure my specialist will find out what it is, as he's found things before that no one else has, so I have full confidence in him.

 

[SL300-24]

When my glow plug relay went the dash light lit and went out as usual. It took a long time for the engine to fire on the first start of the day and smoked just like yours.
It did show up a fault code on my code reader as open circuit.
I changed it and no problems since.
TBH quite a few people have tried to help you with the same advice including some well respected Mercedes Indy's, so I am not sure why you seem a little reluctant to act on it.

 

[sammo1985]

No I'm very thankful for the advice, as the relay is now done. But unfortunately hasn't solved the problem. :-(. Would crappy injectors be a cause? Surely again it would show up performance issues.