My van is a 1981 1600cc normally aspirated diesel, RHD.
Yesterday we took her on a 100-mile round trip from Cardiff to the Forest of Dean and back with no problems. This morning when i tried to start her, she would motor but not fire. At the same time smoke (not thick smoke, but enough to notice) was seen to rise from the grill at the front of the van, in the region of the driver's side headlight. This morning she has often sounded as though she is about to fire whilst she's motoring, but never quite manages to.
I have removed the front grill and examined the area from where the smoke (which had the smell of smoke from something electrical) was seen to come, and can see nothing untoward. I have pulled out the panels under the dash inside the van where there is a lot of working, and again, can see nothing to indicate a shortcircuit or bad earth, etc. The smell from the smoke was also predominantly outside the van, not inside.
I have checked the battery voltage and it is 12.64v. I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that the glow plug light on the dash is taking a lot longer to extinguish than it used to, but i put this down to the glow plugs needing replacing. And can i take the fuel pipe off that leads to the injectors to ensure that diesel is being pumped into them as the engine motors (as i would on one of my motorcycles to check the fuel pump), or is that likely to lead to me needing to bleed the diesel system after creating an airlock when i put the pipe back on?
So, my questions are - is there something in the region of the driver's side headlight (but not the headlight and associated wiring, i've checked that) that could smoke and cause the engine to motor but not fire, or am i looking at two seperate faults?
Help!!
Psychonaut
The auction ends in a couple of hours. Sorry mate a bit rude!!! in your time of need. 
