Moving house, can't start diesel

Post by **MacAoidh** » 22 Aug 2007, 18:10

I'm in the process of moving house, can't start the van...

sticky solenoid has responded to tapping (thanks Mocki), now turning over only sluggishly while being jump-started from decent sized car.
Normally I'd have run the engine once a month, but haven't done so for several months, because of not knowing how to deal with the solenoid issue.

Any ideas? A bit stressed here, as I've rolled the van back into a slightly tricky position in the car park. And that's as well as all the usual moving house stuff... Also, I'm on my own here, so it's not always easy to get an assistant.

Is it just a case of getting more power out of the booster battery and into my starter motor? Or could there be another factor? I'm connecting the earth clamp to an engine mount, where it sparks nicely.

Also, what's the deal with getting the solenoid working properly? I've had a look at the wiki, nothing that I can see there.

Steve

Post by **andysimpson** » 22 Aug 2007, 19:46

Is there any smoke/smell out of exhaust?

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 22 Aug 2007, 20:00

You have to have good cranking for a diesel to fire up. Obviously the cranking speed isnt enough to get it firing. If you are going to do it by jump starting then theres two ways to do it and hopefully it will work.
either, a. Get a GOOD thick set of jump leads. Doesnt matter how good the battery is on the other car, if your leads are too thin, it wont work!
b. If your leads arent all that much cop, charge the van battery for 10 mins from the car battery and then try, should work then!

Post by **MacAoidh** » 22 Aug 2007, 21:15

No smoke/anything.

Jump leads are for diesel up to 3000cc, but I rather like the notion of charging the battery up in the other vehicle. I'll give that a go. Is ten minutes really enough to charge it up to the brim?

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 22 Aug 2007, 22:05

Nahh, wouldnt be long enough but should be enough to crank over the engine a bit quicker while the jump leads are attached, otherwise a lot of the power from the jump leads goes into charging the battery rather than going to the starter motor. Hope this helps.

Post by **MacAoidh** » 24 Aug 2007, 12:56

Went back to square one, and borrowed a battery charger. Charged overnight, had another go. Engine turned over medium-slow only, and that was with the jump leads attached as well. Then back to original symptoms after about 10 seconds.

So, solenoid etc okay. Battery presumably not. I'll get it tested after the weekend. Any other thoughts/suggestions, on the diagnosis and/or what kind of battery to get? All I know is the bigger the better, but I bet that when I get to Halfo there'll be no end of options...

Post by **jamesc76** » 24 Aug 2007, 15:31

after disconecting the battery remove one lead at a time from the starter motor and clean um up with some sand paper once all clean then check the main engin to chassis earth lead if this is manky it could be this, clean that upo as well if it looks suspect put a new one on it if still no joy than your battery might be fubard!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **TOMMY THE CAT** » 24 Aug 2007, 21:09

Fella had a real similar prob with my derv and it was I believe a bush on the starter motor?
To be honest I have a great auto electrics gaff here who sorted it out.
I tried loads of stuff to start it but it was turning over but just not quick enough to catch. ( this was not obvious by just listening to the van)
Dunno if it helps but I hope you get it sorted......no it was as frustrating as hell for me !!!!!!
Dave

Post by **rogbodge** » 24 Aug 2007, 21:46

Halfrauds have a chart on their batt shelves - your batt should be £82.99 as mine was 2 weeks ago (bought in Warrington, in transit ..)

good luck...

Post by **rogbodge** » 24 Aug 2007, 21:51

after checking all leads as mentioned above ...

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 24 Aug 2007, 21:59

KIN JESUS £82.99P????????????

mine cost me £35 from my local auto shop

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 24 Aug 2007, 23:19

One way to get the engine spinning fast enough to start would be to tow the van. Temporary measure of course but would at least let you know if the engine was running ok.

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 25 Aug 2007, 07:47

towing is the way. when i first fitted my 1.9d, the timing was out having fitted new pump etc, and was going to destroy the brand new starter motor if i carried on trying to get it going that way, so my mate towed me around an industrial estate in second gear, after about 5 minutes it started due to the high revs.

Post by **MacAoidh** » 25 Aug 2007, 21:32

Hmm, I like the towing idea as a next step. I should be able to get a friend to tow me up a hill nearby in first, then push me off it...