Lazy starting DG

[StuM]

Hi folks,

I've got a 'lazy starting' 1.9DG. It always (touch wood..) starts and normally first turn, but is slow turning and is getting worse. Now, I have read tonnes of stuff on here (thanks!) about various starter issues, but before digging I wanted to 'show' you what it does first so that if it is obvious I can get to the root quickly. So, if a picture is worth a thousand words then a video is hopefully worth a few more, so if you have time to take a look, your advice would be much appreciated:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLX43EDoWAk

First camping of the year is in a fortnight, so thought I'd better have a look.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Stu

[kevtherev]

My initial thoughts..
Sure is a lot of smoke on start up...
I'm wondering as there's so much oil... your cylinder(s) are nearly in hydraulic lock.!




Do those tappets quieten down after a run out?
they are very noisy

[StuM]

Hey Kev,

It smokes like that when it's been sat for a while - in this case it hadn't been turned over in 5 days. Basically smokes as soon as it starts and then never again - had my Dad follow me and apparently no smoke when out and about.

Tappets do indeed quieten right down once warm. I still have to do my oil change to stick some 20W50 in there to hope that helps...

Not liking the sound of hydraulic lock.

So.. you think starter is ok, but is struggling against other issues?

[kevtherev]

does it do the same when there's no smoke?

like when it's warm and you turn it off and then try to start again soon after?

[StuM]

When warm it tends to turn over slowly but fire much quicker, say second turn.. sometimes it is incredible how little (and slowly) it turns before firing...

[kevtherev]

I think that rules out a hydraulic lock then
So we're basically down to poor connections and earths... and possibly a worn out starter and bush

[StuM]

Thanks Kev - time to get my hands dirty again

Cheers,
Stu

[CovKid]

Starters can get weak although they usually get much worse when the temperature plummets.

[monkeyboy]

Hi Stu, had the same problem... Done what i thought to be the prime suspects earths, rebuild starter turned out to be timing was way out and running advance!
So maybe get that checked before shelling out for out!!

good luck

mark

[StuM]

Hi Stu, had the same problem... Done what i thought to be the prime suspects earths, rebuild starter turned out to be timing was way out and running advance!
So maybe get that checked before shelling out for out!!

good luck

mark

Ah.. thanks Mark. I did time it not long ago when reinstalling the electronic ignition, but since then I've replaced a dodgy vac advance on the distributor, so possible that it is out again. Will check.

Thanks again.

Stu

[StuM]

Hi folks,

Just to follow-up on this, I had a good poke around today and took the earth strap off the gearbox nose and gave it all a good clean up with a wire brush. Strap itself looked in decent condition and now has nice shiny copper ends. I cleaned up the chassis too and reinstalled - covering the lot in Vaseline. It does seem to be turning over better now, but not all of the time. I've bought a new starter bush, so that is next to try.

The smoke definitely only appears at cold starts and once the initial cloud passes no further smoke whilst driving or stationary.

I've changed the oil and filter today - now running 20w50 and the tappet noise is much reduced even when cold.

So.. I was all pleased.... until... took it for a short run out and as I pulled back into the drive 15 minutes later, the coolant light started flashing. Stopped engine, popped the lid and checked both the coolant tank and the expansion tank - both at the right levels. Once cool I took the dalek cap off and found the underside covered in butterscotch Angel Delight (well, sadly not that). Cleaned that off and as soon as I did water from in the cap poured out the spout... looks like the gunk had blocked the Dalek cap. Cleaned up the cap, reinstalled and bled some air out the rad for good measure and the van now running ok with no further flashing red lights. Couldn't see any more gunk in the tank.

Browsing the forum I found a few threads re residue in the coolant that led me to fear that (as an old, Italian mechanic once described a scooter of mine) 'the engine, it is like an old man who approaches his retirement'!

Interested in peoples' thoughts on this - time to start searching for a replacement DG?

E D I T: thinking about it, is flashing red temp warning, or coolant level? If it is the latter, I'm confused!

[mark1967]

I had a good poke around today and took the earth strap off the gearbox nose and gave it all a good clean up with a wire brush. Strap itself looked in decent condition and now has nice shiny copper ends. I cleaned up the chassis too and reinstalled - covering the lot in Vaseline. It does seem to be turning over better now, but not all of the time.

I had this problem and many other weird electrickery type problems including not charging properly,a temperature gauge with an overactive imagination and all sorts of other stuff.I also cleaned up the earth strap and where it met gearbox/body etc with only temporary results.It ended up at the point where I was getting ready to sell the van as I was so peed off with all the niggly faults.Until I realised that the body end of the earth strap is bolted to a plate bolted to the body.This is another connection liable to rust,muck etc. so I cleaned up a bolt hole at the side of the plate by running a tap thru it to clean the threads,bared the metal round the hole and bolted the earth strap to that instead.
The difference was unbelievable starter now turns over quicker than a quick thing,alternator now charges at 14.0 volts all the time and the temp gauge now behaves itself as well so its worth a try

[StuM]

Thanks for that Mark. I'll have another look at that and might try a second strap too. Fingers crossed!