Reluctant to start when hot

[SYNCRO]

Year of manufacture: 1990
Engine size: 1900
Engine code if applicable: DG
right hand drive
transmission type: manual
Fuel type: petrol

I've found lately that Biffa has a reluctance to start after a run.....

The engine turns over very slowly and usually catches after about 10-15 seconds, although the last time I tried it a few times and it just stopped as if battrey was flat. Had to use booster pack for extra oomph.

The battery is only 6 months old and is disconnected if van is parked up for long periods(over 2 days)

Any ideas??

Cheers Kev

[maxstu]

Sounds as though battery is not getting charged properly.

When you say reluctant when hot do you mean after a long run?

Alternator not charging battery?

Check voltage of battery when engine is hot or after long run

[HarryMann]

The battery is only 6 months old and is disconnected if van is parked up for long periods(over 2 days)

You shouldn't need to do that

If it genuinely is ONLY when hot then:

This can be a bad earth of the main battery lead or in fact any of the battery/starter leads or connections.

First then, check them all for cable resistance (vanishingly small) and clean and remake the connections at starter, alternator etc.

This sympton could also be the ignition switch start-position or the solenoid trigger cable connection.

If no luck then...

What is the battery voltage when this happens, is it actually being discharged when running ?

[SYNCRO]

He's OK on initial start up, fires up first turn..

I checked voltage into battery as 13.8v

(When you say reluctant when hot do you mean after a long run?) yep after about 15-20 miles

I'm just wondering if it is the leads/connections somewhere as he's just had a recon fitted about 2000 miles ago (connections coming loose)

Kev

[maxstu]

Earth wire on gearbox perhaps or brown wire to engine block near left hand near (closest when looking from rear in to engine bay) cylinder?

I really am stratching my head now

[Aidan]

I'd hazard it's starter motor, contacts in cap and/or worn starter motor bush in bellhousing. Will get worse and won't start cold eventually. When the starter is warmed up it won't pass enough current to spin up properly, refurb required, but first call connections on starter check and remake if necessary

[SYNCRO]

Cheers Aidan

Will check and report back

Kev

[Martin]

i would be changing the starter motor bush. first

[Simon Baxter]

Coolant temp sensor.

[SYNCRO]

Coolant temp sensor.

Wouldn't the coolang gauge go mental if sensor is u/s??

Kev

[carrie]

we had this problem on ours we would start it up and would be fine when we came to a stop after a hour and set off again after a hour it wouldnt start again we took it to vw who didnt have a clue but did say the starter motor was old and knackered so we tried to source a new one but couldnt find one . we then went to a place where they reconditioned them he took it apart and said it was like brand new so he came out to the van with wire which was about 4mm doubled up and told me to atatch it to the bolt witch holds the starter motor on and put the other end straight to the battery negative terminal . would you belive it started straight away and never had this problem again ...... Hope this helps you good luck

[HarryMann]

in udder vurds... 'urting

Refresh engine and gearbox earths, even double up gearbox earth braid, alwasy a good idea

But do check the starter spigot bush first as Aidan says

[Simon Baxter]

Coolant temp sensor.

Wouldn't the coolang gauge go mental if sensor is u/s??

Kev

2 sensors, one for gauge, one for ECU.
Usual thing with 2.1's is that they will start on the dot from cold but be a c*nt when they have been parked for a while, like going for fuel.
they crank over, just don't fire, when they do they run lumpy.
All it is is that the ECU is giving the wrong amount for fuel for the temerature of the engine as the sender unit is telling porkies.

[Simon Baxter]

I Misread the post, I omitted to read the turns slowly bit.

[SYNCRO]

No probs Si

Kev