Stroppy van wont start

Post by **Bendyknees** » 19 Feb 2008, 14:37

Van has been running sweet for ages. Packed her up to come back from ireland(completely rammed+trailer behind), all of a sudden refused to start. Tow started it. Ran perfectly and got me to the port. Just about started coming off the ferry, after an age of cranking but ran perfectly all the way home. Now she wont go again. Fitted new glow plugs on sunday but she still didnt want to go. Resorted to using Adrenaline for engines(rapid start) an she fired up straight of an idled nicely. Took out for a spin an ran fine, started ok after a quick stop round a buddies to vent my frustration as well. Left again overnight and now wont go.
Battery was good( is now flat again)
New Glow plugs are working
And seem to have fuel

Have used the cold start lever, have had it pushed in. Foot to the floor an no throttle. Have even sworn an danced round it(it nearly started that time). Any1 got any other ideas?

Post by **Mocki** » 19 Feb 2008, 16:46

low compression?
fuel filter watery?
glowplugs working, but voltage low on buzzbar?
air filter blocked?

Post by **Bendyknees** » 19 Feb 2008, 17:08

The air filter looks ok(checked that before i used the adrenalin jab). Hadnt drained the filter because i have no manual pump on the fuel line and i hate the taste of diesel.Although my eber is workin fine and i would presume that would be giving out to me if i had watery fuel.
I hadnt checked the voltage across the bar. I just probed each plug with my test light.
And as for the optoin ive not covered

i Know its a slight possiblity, but it does run well once its started. It pulled god knows how much weight over 500 miles without getting hot, burning massive ammounts of oil, using much fuel, or even goin slow. I was cruisin around the 55-60 mark all way home, and after i started wit the spray i took it for a spin. It went like a rocket!(well a rocked powered by a 1600 smoker).
It smokes when u spin her over just doesnt want to pick up.
I truely hope its not the engine as i left a minter 1.9 golf engine in ireland as i was bringin another gearbox home for the van. Now the gearbox is behaving and the engine is on strike. Its a conspiricy i tells ya!

Post by **Mocki** » 19 Feb 2008, 17:39

right, so are you sure the glow plugs ARE glowing?

are you getting relevant current drain when the glowplugs are working?
sounding like not enough glow pluggin going on to me......

Post by **Plasticman** » 19 Feb 2008, 21:15

Hi Bendy,
Sounds just like the probs I had with mine a few months ago, infact it is so alike I could have written it.
Go juice and instant start-up, though if I stopped it straightaway it would only start with another dollop.
Twas the plugs, as you know an easy enough job, mine now starts up as merry as ever, well for an asthmatic oiler.
Mike

Post by **Bendyknees** » 20 Feb 2008, 18:25

Well its sorted

. Twas the metal strip fuse that was the culprit. An to think i spent good money on new glow pugs when it was a 30p bit of metal

The fuse had somhow broken but was still just about making contact, and untill i actually stuck my face right up 2 the black box i couldnt see it. Was giving 12 volts at the plugs but obviously not allowing enough current flow. So Hooray again for my van!
Have already started on my next job. Have low compression on my Autocycle