Club 80-90 Forums

My 1.6 jx has been a sod to get started recently, it turns over fine but just won't fire up resulting in a fair bit of smoke, finally after about 4/5 attempts of about 20 seconds turning it over it kicks in, once it runs its fine, turn it off and on with no probs, I have searched the wiki but not found much so a few pointers would be much appreciated, Darren.

Glow plug circuit would be the first place to look I reckon

Do they have fuel lift pump before the injector pump my defenders all had problems with starting at some time and it was always that. The fuel would drain back overnight . My diesel is a bit tempramental

No they don't.

If not glow plugs an air leak in the fuel system.
I hope it's glow plugs.

Good luck,

Ringo

Hey Ringo, check the fuel filter (on the right hand engine bulkhead). It has a non-return valve in it, which prevents fuel draining back to the tank. I had the same problem as you, replaced the filter and all was hunky dory after that. Cranking your engine for 20-30 seconds pulls the fuel all the way from the tank, but won't do much for your battery!

Had a look at mine yesterday. Got back from a week away, defender had a flat so decided to take the t25 for a run to the shops . Would it start? Would it f!!!. Finally got it fired up and did the shops then sat in the car park for a while cranking it over before it fired . Got home and had a look at the glowplug circuit it seems fine but just about every other wire in that part of the harness has perished insulation . Patched them all up and mental note made to remake that section asap. Wired the plugs direct to the battery nadda! Finally got it going after ages cranking then sat watching air bubbles flow from the filter to the pump and air bubbles flow from the return to the filter. Checked over the pipes and noticed quite a lot of diesel lodged in the pump support bracket. Assumed a leak on the pump but further checking revealed that the pump itself was nice and clean and dry. Then noticed puddles in the injector
wells on 1 and3. the rubber plug thing on 1 was split and the pipe from 2 to three the same.

I've ordered replacement pipe etc so will wait and see. Why does the return pipe go back to the filter then back to the tank? I'm sure that if it went back to the tank direct it would not cause this problem as the leak seems allow the filter to syphon back to the tank when it gets half empty and the bubbles flow towards the filter with the engine off.

boxer wrote:Why does the return pipe go back to the filter then back to the tank? I'm sure that if it went back to the tank direct it would not cause this problem as the leak seems allow the filter to syphon back to the tank when it gets half empty and the bubbles flow towards the filter with the engine off.

A local diesel specialist to me, on explaining my symptoms to him, said straight away - get rid of the filter that takes the return line and just plumb it directly back to the tank. He said this because they are prone to leaking and over the years he's seen this problem loads.

IIRC the reason VW had this configuration was to warm the filter up from the warmer fuel in the return line?

Ringo

Cheers riingo I think the earlier filter doesnt have this feature will see if I can track one down

Right sorted the return pipes replaced all of them back to the clear plastic feed to the 'preheat' thing on the filter. Got it going and it seems to be a lot smoother on tickover already! Still had a leak on number 2 injector from the pipe running 2 to 3.
It was impossible to fit it all the way down the nipple so I've joined 3 to 1 and 1 to 2 with the rubber blank on 2. Now instead of the pickup going 1-2-3-4 return it goes 2-1-3-4 return. I'm pretty sure that is fine but thought I'd better check?
Anyway it doesn't appear to be leaking anywhere so thats the first(hopefully last) air leaks dealt with. I will order an earlier filter next without the preheat.

Just been out to it and it started after standing an hour which is better than it managed before I changed to pipes. Leave it now till the morning.

Make sure that you park either nose up or on the level to reduce the drain back.
My private parking space was nose down.
I had the same problem and it was the bleed off (return) lines, they were perished.

After that I always kept a metre of the pipe in the back.

I permanently solved it by fitting an ADY petrol engine.

Bit drastic but I'll keep it in mind. Just been out again and it started as soon as I turned the key! Result.

It's always nice when you get result.
I replaced my yearly usually after bringing the old girl out winter storage.

Started again no drama at 09.00 in the frost! so i think thats one niggle fixed. still going to change that daft filter though.