New Silencer and now no starty!!

[pleasestartnow]

Hi all, hope someone can help before i put my blow up with frustration. Changed the silencer yesterday and got it all back together, had to take off the downpipe to get it on but everything back together now nicely. Started the van and she started and purred away nicely. Left it run for a bit to see if i could hear any rattles etc with the new silencer. All cosy. turned it off and started again about 20 mins later, no issue. Went out this morning to go for a spin and nothing!!! Turn the key i can hear the solenoid click and when i go to start she just keeps chugging but not starting. There is diesel in it, battery is at 12.8v when off and 12.2 when the key is turned to the second position. Absolutely stumped as to why it started fine yesterday and not today. Could i have overtightened the bolts on the downpipe flange would this cause it not to start somehow? Any help or suggestions really appreciated!!

[CovKid]

Pulled the live wire off the pump?

[pleasestartnow]

Hey man, thanks for the reply. No fuel pump wire is connected and have 11.5v when I turn the key in the ignition.

The van sounds like it's trying to start but it's just missing something!

1990 1.6 diesel as well jx engine I think

[Oldiebut goodie]

If the fuel stop solenoid wire is disconnected no fuel will get through!
Battery is now well and truly flat - get it recharged before trying again with the wire attached to the fuel pump. Shouldn't be hard to find it waving in the breeze.

[pleasestartnow]

Sorry man bad wording by me in the last post. The fuel pump is connected up there was no loose connection there. What should the voltage of battery generally be when I go to start? It's 12 - 12.2 at the moment.charging a second battery I have overnight to rule that out in the morning.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Normally charged battery is 12.7v.

[pleasestartnow]

Cheers for that, I appreciate it. Maybe the battery is my issue. All my earths look good and clean to. Sorry for my ignorance but is the battery needed for the whole startup sequence or is it just used to pull in the starter solenoid only? The fact that it started away no bother yesterday and not today is a pure head banger like

[Oldiebut goodie]

It is needed for the glow plugs and for holding the fuel solenoid open prior to the starter solenoid operating and subsequent turning of the starter motor.

[pleasestartnow]

Ah right you are. Well when I turn it off after van is stuttering and failing to start I can hear a whizz which I assume is the starter motor slowing down and I can hear the starter solenoid click as well at the start. So I am guessing they are both ok so maybe a glow plug issue or just hopefully simple as the battery isn't strong enough

[pleasestartnow]

So still not starting today after charging battery over night.

I have changed 2 glow plugs as i had only 2 spare. Both plugs i took out there was no continuity between the threaded part on top and the part that heats up and i imagine there should be? Anyway replaced 2 of them and the van seems like it is nearly there when i try to start.

Also took off the black fuel hose that goes on near the glow plugs to see was there fuel coming through, there is but its a bit slow. I dont know however should diesel be gushing out or is the speed of delivery as it is now fine. Where is the fuel pump?

Starter solenoid clicks in and starter motor sounds like it is starting, i can see the belt that is around the alternator sinning away so i am taking that as a sign,rightly or wrongly, the starter motor is turning.

All the earths look good with no visible corrosion.

Any more suggestions before i go mad?

[Oldiebut goodie]

There should be around 1 ohm resistance between the threaded portion and the body.
Check the glow plug fuse in the black box on the bulkhead.

[pleasestartnow]

Cheers for the replies. Had to walk away from it for a while there. The glow plug fuse is all good. But just after coming back to it. I think it may be fuel pump or filter. The hose coming from the filter to the engine has no fuel in it? Surely it should and same on the return line to the filter. There is diesel in it as I put in a tenner yesterday when it won't start first just in case.

Where is the fuel pump is it on the return line with one spigott going to the filter and one with the black hosing going to the engine where the injector lines are?

[Oldiebut goodie]

The fuel pump is the injector pump - it is 2 pumps in one.
Have you changed the fuel filter? I would change it if you don't know when it was last changed (fill it before replacing). And then get yourself a priming bulb to get the fuel up to the pump - a cheapo one off ebay will do. You have a better chance of it starting then. If it starts you can then remove the bulb and then see how you get on. If you need to use it again you most probably have an air leak that is allowing the fuel to drain back down somewhere between the pump and the filter - you will not see any sign of it as it is all suction up to the pump. A tenner will just about cover the bottom of the tank!

[pleasestartnow]

Hey OBG, thanks for all the help, i just came back in there and saw your message. Got her working thank fudge. Disconnected the inlet line for the fuel and just manually filled it up till i saw it coming through the return line. Few bubbles were there so was shaking the lines to get them to rise. Filled the incoming line until the fuel line stopped dropping. Slacked off two of the injectors and tried to start it. Fuel was barely dribbeling out but then it just started gushing, so closed it all back up and went for the re-start and hey presto away she went!!!

Havent changed the fuel filter so will get one ordered tomorrow. I did notice however that where there was a little pool of diesel that came out when i slacked off the line earlier was resting, at the base of whatever the injector line goes into on the engine. a few tiny bubbles were coming through there so there must be air coming through that, literally a tiny tiny amount, but still.

Started and stopped her a hand-full of times and it started away no bother.

Big thanks OBG full your help and everyone else as well, really appreciate it.
Time for a beer to reward myself and a "told you i could fix it" look for the lady haha

[Oldiebut goodie]

If you leave it a couple of days without starting and it does it again it will be worth renewing the fuel lines and ensure that proper fuel line clips are used. Also, apparently people that have that sort of fuel filter where the return line goes to the top of the filter have had trouble with air ingress and the fuel draining back - my return goes to the tank so have never noticed this. I think that they solved their problem by changing to the same type as mine. ( I don't know what they did with their return then though)