I have recently bought a 52 plate 2.2 Sri dti. The car starts first thing in the morning when the heater plug icon has gone off. If i stop, it will normally start again if the engine is still warm. If it has stood for a while it turns over and over belting out white smoke and usually eventually just about starts due mainly to a strong battery. I have been told it could be the bleed back pipes, injectors or fuel pump although nothing was evident when it was plugged in to an engine management system?
Incidentally after the 1st start the heater plug icon does not come on again until the following day regardless of the outside temparature???
Any help with this would be appreciated.
Thanks

Mark, January 2011

hi the heater icon will only come on if the engine is a certain temp ive got vectra diesel an heater plugs only come on in a morning or its really cold, with it being white smoke id say lake of fuel

roy, January 2011

Cheers Den ..... like i said the car does have problems starting after standing for a long time which suggest your theory may be correct and others. The fact it starts in the morning which is the only time the heater plug sign comes on makes it very confusing??
Thaks again

mark, January 2011

I'd get it plugged in to the diagnostics again and check the temperature information using live data.
I suspect either the coolant or ambient temp sensor is faulty.
Less likely to be leak-off pipes, injectors etc as they tend to cause problems after the car has been sitting for a long time.

den, January 2011