1.9 DG Intermittent starting problem

[Miles]

Hi volks
My van has always started well - almost instantly - from cold (except when I had a weak battery or other issues). Also it starts well when hot - like after stopping for petrol. It has always been harder to start when warm - if left standing for about half an hour / an hour. Then it takes a bit of cranking, about 5 - 10 secs, with perhaps a dab on the accelerator pedal. In the last few weeks it has begun to be difficult to start occasionally from cold, needing several 10 second bursts of cranking, with a bit of a rest. Once it catches it sounds a bit rough for a second or two, then runs for the rest of the day as if nothing had ever happened. It idles smoothly, pulls happily up hills, and generally behaves very well. Fuel consumption seems normal. One or two years ago I replaced the battery, and now it almost never does its old trick of just clicking when the key is turned. That click never worried me particularly as it just needed turning again, once or twice. I think it clicked about a month ago, just once. I replaced the fuel pump and hoses in July which had been causing the occasional hiccup. A month ago I replaced the spark plugs after the first time it didn’t start, and thought I had sorted the problem. This morning (heavy rain) it took several minutes to start. When I tried it just now (lunch-time) it started instantly. I think it might be electrical as occasionally at the moment when I stop cranking, I can hear it fire. I suppose this means the ignition system is getting the power the starter was using.
I would be very grateful to hear if anyone has any ideas?
Miles

[Ralf85]

On the starting point, if your van is left for half an hour or more, you need to press the throttle down as you turn they key, otherwise it does take seconds to start. Somebody else will take you through the other possible problems. When was it last fully serviced?

[Miles]

The last professional service was about three years ago, six months after I got it. Since then I have been doing it myself, without being meticulous about service intervals.
Recently, about a year ago (6000 miles) I changed the water pump, drive belt, and coolant. About five months ago (3000 miles ago) I changed the fuel pump, fuel filter & hoses, oil , & oil filter. About a month ago (500 miles) I changed the spark plugs and cleaned the air filter. And just now I changed the dizzy rotor because I had one.
Yeah, I’m a cheapskate.
Miles

[Miles]

Not starting again. Maybe the damp's not helping. I suppose there are too many possibile issues for anyone to make any suggestions.

[marlinowner]

New HT leads or search the forum for the thread about replacing the metal shrouded plug caps.

[kevtherev]

This problem needs a methodical approach.
elimination of possibilities will eventually cure the issue
Start with the basics.
spark (plugs, leads, rotor arm, cap.
timing (static and advanced)
fuel delivery (pump, pump push rod, filter
air delivery. (filter, air leaks into manifold)

when it does not fire check for spark, it should be bright white

off you go

[Miles]

Thanks for the guidance Kev the Rev and marlinowner. I cured the problem for the moment with a good spray of WD40 (I should have tried that straight away). So it is electrical. I already had new plugs and a new rotor, so next will be a new dizzy cap, then if needs be, the leads or the ends of them.

[Miles]

The van has been starting OK recently, except one very wet morning when it needed a spray of WD40 to get going. However I was giving it a bit of a check-over this weekend and accidentally touched one of the spark-plug leads while the engine was running, and got a hefty shock off it. I gave the leads a good clean and a coat of WD40, but if it gives me a shock touching the middle of the lead, then the insulation must be breaking down I suppose, so I should replace them. My question is, can I replace the early (pre-84) DIN type leads with the later pin type ones if I also replace the dizzy cap, or is the dizzy itself different? Presumably the later one is an improvement, and it is also half the price.

[ghost123uk]

The dizzy itself is not different, but the coil fitting is.

I would certainly replace them in view of your symptoms and temporary (WD40) cures. May I suggest you buy good ones, there are plenty of poor (and cheap) ones out there that are not a good investment at all. I know Brickwerks (Link here) only sell top quality and if I were buying HT leads I would get them from them (in fact I did a while ago). Some folks say to take the metal spark plug covers off, but I do not do this.