Vectra B - Cold start problems

[dazrick68]

Vectra B 2.0 dti estate.
Had to put rear wheels on a ramp when I left it for more than a day otherwise it wouldn't start. Found a tiny hole in the spill pipe so replaced it and seemed to cure problem. But during recent cold weather it struggled to start and as it turned over the petrol gauge went from Half-full (which it was) to empty. When I turned the ignition off then back on the gauge showed half full until I turned it over when it dropped again. Eventually it started and gauge showed properly. What's going on???? I'm baffled.

[motormaniac]

Common fault for non start on on the DT series engine is usually the leak off pipes going to the injectors-the plastic t-pieces can also become hardened and start to crack,hence letting the vacuum in the system be lost and your fuel all dribbling back to the tank.this leaves the fuel lines empty,hence the bad starting.Try replacing all of the leak off pipes,and t-pieces,and this should cure the fault.As for the fuel gauge dropping when starting all i can assume is that the battery is not fully charged after you have cranked it over for a while,and the instruments are not getting full signal/voltage.