still hard to start

Post by **uglyboatman** » 21 Dec 2005, 08:24

Hi been having a small problem with my 1.6d, it takes a lot of cranking before it will catch and start, thats using the cold start handle as well.

I have checked the glowplugs & busbar, all ok and replaced the temp switch on the top pipe (blue/white wire?) but still a problem this morning.
also i changed the short hosings on the injectors.

When i got to work i turned off and then started again, this time it catches pretty much straight away - from my last post someone said this is something to do with a vacuum still present.

Also i checked for any loose fuel pipes etc as it was also suggested air could be getting in the system. no obvious loose pipes, but i have noticed air in the right hand side clear pipe, and there was one time when i turned off the van - and i noticed a few air bubbles seems to come from the pump side of the pipe?

Its driving me nuts trying to find the problem, and i don't want to kill my battery so any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated

cheers

Post by **matt** » 21 Dec 2005, 09:24

sound like the batteys not got enough uuummph for cold cranking to me

Post by **Louey** » 21 Dec 2005, 09:26

could be that or there is air in the system. Try starting it and each time looson the nut on the top of each injector pipe a half turn or so (only enought ot let air out, not pi$$ fuel all over the engine.

Could be the battery now as you've flattened it from all the non starting efforts. You could look for a bosch or diesel specialist local to wherever you are

Post by **uglyboatman** » 21 Dec 2005, 10:10

thanks for the replys,

i will try the nut loosen method (just where the pipe comes in?) - Might have to take out the battery and give it a charge. I did get a new one suitable for a deisel about a year back though.

Cheers

Post by **T'Onion** » 21 Dec 2005, 11:35

Starting with the cold start .. i never used mine even at -5
it does sound like an injector problem
where are you ? anywhere near brickyard or antother members

Post by **uglyboatman** » 21 Dec 2005, 13:27

Im on the outskirts of leeds/bradford.

Is there a way of checking the injectors to see if they are buggered ?

cheers

Post by **uglyboatman** » 21 Dec 2005, 19:24

hi, tried loosening the injector nuts one by one, also the nuts on the other side of the pipes.

It catches straight away if stopped and then started again, but the longer its left the harder it is to start.

I stopped the engine then looked at the clear pipe coming from the fuel filter on the right, slowly air bubbles pop up from the fuel pump side, until about 2/3 of the clear pipe is air. but when running there is no air in the pipe.

any thoughts ?

cheers

Post by TD » 21 Dec 2005, 20:13

If the D is like the TD, the bubbles make no difference to my starting at all.I have bubbles , not a lot but they have always been there , for 16 years.
The ONLY reason for my van not starting when cold is bust glow plugs , even one will upset the engine, two nasty , three won't go.
Are yousure there are good?, new ones are cheap.
Is the earth good?, connections tight? realy fine?
my engine starts first time , every time from cold and has done for 172K miles, unless duff glow plugs.
injectors smoke like mad when bad, but if it's fine when hot unlikely to be injectors.
I would chnage glowpugs, but first check voltage at the bus bar

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 21 Dec 2005, 20:20

if the injectors are dirty this won't help when starting from cold, for the price of bottle of injector cleaner could be cheap easy fix.

Post by **uglyboatman** » 21 Dec 2005, 21:15

hi, cheers for the replys

i put a bottle of deisel treatment in last week - and the week before that i had taken each glow plug out and tested like suggested on here - passed a current through, they all did the same, glowing bright red at the tip then after a few seconds glowing up to past half way. The actual carbon ? bits looked intact. I cleaned up the bar and tested the voltage all the way along, healthy 12v+, and the voltage disappears when the dash light go's out.

When you say injectors smoke do you mean around the actual injector area when its hot, or do you mean smoke would be at the exhaust ? because when under load up a hill say in third, my van does pump light smoke out - but go's away when i back off.

Cheers

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 21 Dec 2005, 22:12

when starting cold does the engine crank slower than when its been used recently if so could well be battery on the way out you could stick a battery charger on over night and see if it starts ok next morning with a full charge.

Post by **uglyboatman** » 21 Dec 2005, 23:09

I think it's possible it could be cranking slower, but with all the problems starting its hard to tell - i think it's worth a try getting the battery on charge overnight though. If a battery is run down over a period of time does running the van not top it back up to the max ? Is there something different about using a charger ?

cheers

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 21 Dec 2005, 23:24

if the battery is old or starting to fail it will not hold its charge as well you said its starts fine after its been running but the longer its left the harder it becomes so yes when its running it will recharge but the longer its left the lower it it will get if after having it on charge overnight and the problem is cured then its a good chance its a tired batt thats not holding its charge, hope this make sense.

Post by **uglyboatman** » 22 Dec 2005, 08:09

cheers, that makes sense.

Im trying to figure out when the problem started, it def didnt have any problems starting over summer, About a month and a half ago i installed a leisure battery, im confident its all wired up properly, as i have done this before in another van- but im wondering if this could have anything to do with the problem ? ie the main battery not getting enough charge or something related ?

Cheers

Post by TD » 22 Dec 2005, 20:48

re leisure battery, i suppose you have a split charge relay?, which only activates with igition on?
therefore cannot leak charge. have you tried a multimeter on battery at 3000 revs? should be around 14volts. the alternator will be adeqaute to do both batteries, does on mine anyway.
Is the starter ok, is the earth to it ok, no green copper wires?, starter should spin pretty fast to get the engine going , compression 23:1.
These old vans can get earth problems, I had starter rebuilt at 100K