HELP!!

[weeda]

hello me again....i know only post when something is the matter...sorry
here goes.....im in a pickle...we go to newquay (well perranporth) on thursday and the van has decided to start playing silly beggers again!
started him up this morning no problem(been sat for 2 weeks) let him sit for about 20 mins ticking over and then went out for a run (for about half hour to a hour) came back turned off cleaned polished and tarted him up went to start him to move him to his parking slot.....wont start????? turns over no prob (till i flatten battery tryng to start it) just turns over and over until dead???? now this has happened before and i thought it was the battery so got brother round to check it and its ok so is alternator?once battery is re charged it may well start again fine...till next time??? help please i am not looking forward to the 300miles plus drive to newquay with a tempramental van!!!
thanks in advance
a hormonal 5 month pregnant louisa x

[fodtommo]

OK - if it turns over no problem I dont think its the battery as it wouldnt turn over much, Fact that it happens after a run suggests hot starting problems. This can have a number of causes that are often a process of elimination im afraid. Dont know what engine youve got - that would help diagnose, but the symptoms you describe suggest to me fuel vapourisation?

[weeda]

hi sorry forgot to put what it is...its a 1.6d watercooled 1982

[fodtommo]

Oh OK - diesels shouldnt have a problem starting when hot, they prefer it that way! they should require nothing from the starter except a single turn. Is the fault intermittent? I think it mihgt be nothing more than a stop solenoid problem, this is pretty much the only thing that will cause then engine to churn over without firing - it stops the fuel from being pumped in. When you stop the car it blocks the fuel line, when you turn on the idnition it is supposed to lift allowing fuel through. I suggest that you check the wire to the stop solenoid and check its not loose. Clean up the terminal and the connector. Ive had similar problems down to nothing more than a bad contact on it. It might be worth getting a spare to take with you as they are easy to change, but be very careful not to get any dirt in the hole, even a tiny spec results in the opposite problem (you cant turn it off!). FYI it is located on the top/rear of the fuel pump with a single wire going to it, directly in the middle of the engine bay when you take the lid off. if his dosnt work it could be the supply to the solenoid. I honestly cant think of anything else , air getting into the diesel system would result in lumpiness and lack of power when running so I dont think its that.

[weeda]

hiya, many thanks for the reply i appreciate it, i am no mechanic at all i do try to understand things and am eager to learn but i think changing a starter motor may be a little out of my expertese? (sp) it is a intermittent fault, it will start for ages no problem and then do something like this and it is more ofen when it is warm or just had a run, it has been known to do it when cold and just "click" and it has been mentioned about the solenoid on the starter motor having a flat spot? it does eventually start or i jump start it.
am getting really worked up now as its so close to the long journey i have to make. am in the rac do you think if i called them out they will change it?
thanks

[weeda]

do you mean a spare stop solenoid or starter motor? is a stop solenoid a independant part? im sorry if this seems a silly question i am totally useless but willing to try.

[fodtommo]

Spare solenoid - dont think theres anything wrong with your starter as the motor turns over fine, just dosnt fire. Ive popped a pic in below theres a white circle showing the stop solenoid. Its underneath the bigger pipe with a wire coming off it ( iknicked the phot off google images as I cant be a***sed to take the bed outa mine on a sunday evening ). it comes undone with a spanner / socket. Hope this helps

[weeda]

thanks this is very helpful i am better when i have a picture to follow, so i need to get a new stop solenoid? and check all the connections on this one? will i be able to change it ok then? where do i get a stop solenoid from b4 weds?
thanks again

[fodtommo]

hiya, many thanks for the reply i appreciate it, i am no mechanic at all i do try to understand things and am eager to learn but i think changing a starter motor may be a little out of my expertese? (sp) it is a intermittent fault, it will start for ages no problem and then do something like this and it is more ofen when it is warm or just had a run, it has been known to do it when cold and just "click" and it has been mentioned about the solenoid on the starter motor having a flat spot? it does eventually start or i jump start it.
am getting really worked up now as its so close to the long journey i have to make. am in the rac do you think if i called them out they will change it?
thanks

Ok - can you clarify when it does it - is there nothing or is the engine turning over & not firing - this is very important, I read it as if the ngine was churning over until the battery died eventually, but the clack is a starter solenoid and is very different.

Ignore my perevious post until we clarify this!!

[weeda]

what has happened today is....i started it after 2 weeks of being stood, no problem, let it tick over while i washed it then took it out for a run for approx 40 mins, no problems running. came home turned it off and polished it and left it for about 2 hours, came to start it to put it back on drive and it wouldnt start, turned over fine until i flattened battery trying to start it (after about 5-6 turns of ignition eventually it went flat)
this has happened a few times before and i think i have jump started it when i have flattened battery instead of taking it off to charge. this time i have took battery off and its on charge tonight.
in the past it has not started and "clicked" instead but after a few tries it starts!(its a very frustrating problem as it might run after this fine for a while?) however i dred having to stop it when im out incase it wont start!
hope this is a better explanation

[fodtommo]

OK - I do not think the two problems are connected, although they both involve different solenoids!

The problem you had today and have had before is I think the stop solenoid on your diesel pump as per above advice and photos. You should be a ble to get a new from a decent parts factor (ie: not halfords!) look in yellow pages - call them in the morning they can usually get parts in by lunchtime. - someone local to you in club 80-90 might be able to recommend? It should set you back loads £20 - £30 tops? Take it with you if you have the problem cal the RAC and get him to change it for you! (take the picture above - you can give it to him when he starts to try and plug his laptop in!)

Th other probelem is your starter motor solenoid / starter motor and you probably need a recon unit BUT check all the connections on the back of it first - again a loose one will cause similar issues... Its not a monster job to change as easy to get to etc, but by the same token, if youre not that savvy a decent garage should have it done in an hour

Hope this helps...

[weeda]

thanks again for the reply, i am on the mission of locating the stop solenoid this morning in the hope i can buy one today and replace or get the rac to replace it. so far im just staring at the engine lol
thanks again

[BOXY]

(after about 5-6 turns of ignition eventually it went flat)

That sounds like it went flat far too quickly unless you kept it turning over for a minute on each turn of the key. If you've got a local battery centre ask them to check battery and the alternator output. I know you said your brother checked it out for you, but did he check the voltage drop when cranking the engine or just put a voltmeter across the terminals?

[fodtommo]

What Boxy says above is true and this would relate to the "clack" problem, I missed the 5 or 6 turns of the key, a good battery should churn your motor for a fair old while. However a warm diesel should start almost immediately as they basically start on their own engine heat. But you should get basic battery / alternator check done.

[weeda]

hi again thanks for the help, am on my way to a friend with a garage, have charged the battery and its started (as predicted) will get him to do those checks.
also go you know what stop solenoid i will need? am hoping to get one tomorrow