The Renault 1.9 diesel is a tough and generally reliable old lump, but it does need its glow-plugs to get it going. I managed to get mine to start on three, two and - finally - one glow plug out of four. But that was extreme and is not very advisable...
Glow plugs only seem to last between 40 - 70,000 miles from my own experience.
You don't mention much detail in your post, but I would suspect that one or more glow plugs has given up.
Grey/white smoke pumping out the back when it finally starts? After a few revs, that smoke clears?
Juddery, irregular start to the engine while you keep churning away on the starter motor, then all four cylinders fire up, one after another and the engine ticks over smoothly from then on?
Glow plugs would be the place that I would start my search.
Posted Aug 21, 2011 (13 years ago)