Peugeot Hdi Engine starting problems -  One cause and solution!

If you have a PSA HDi engine in your Peugeot or Citroen and you're having trouble starting the engine, you're not alone. This is quite a common problem amongst some earlier models.

If you're researching on the internet or going to garages many times they will direct you to problems with the fuel supply - faulty pump/relay etc.

So, I've got a Peugeot van with the 2.0 Hdi diesel engine. Starting from cold (not sub zero), it's turning over but not firing. Bit more cranking and eventually it starts.

On most diesels you would first assume a glow plug problem here. However, the Hdi engine doesn't actually use the glow plugs unless temperatures are below zero. So that rules that out.

Once started the diesel runs fine without any performance problems. Try to start again once warm and it still takes a bit of cranking before it starts. I notice that holding down the accelerator pedal does help starting. Or maybe just coincidence. That would lead you to think there were fuel problems. And having researched I ended up down this avenue since the world and his wife will keep telling you about the lift pump being faulty or air getting into the fuel lines. But if the vehicle is driving fine once started surely there cannot be an issue with fuel supply.

One thing I did note was that the starter motor did seem to struggle a bit and that the engine turning over was not consistent. Not obviously but just enough. I did think this could be down to the battery or a weak connection to the starter. On a whim I decided to change the starter motor. Sourced one secondhand from a breaker's yard fitted it same day and guess what? It started first time everytime and I haven't had a problem to date.

So the solution in this case was a lazy starter motor. You can get your existing starter motor fixed by a specialist but since a decent secondhand unit can be had cheap enough it's probably not worth it. The replacement starter motor was made by Bosch and my removed defective unit was a Mitsubishi one.

Moral of the story - before you start replacing lift pumps or start tearing your fuel supply apart, do check your starter motor! You may save yourself a lot of money and headaches.