strange starter

good morning lads,i have a 2000 dt that has done 300k and the last few mornings when i go to start her up she turns over for about half a turn and it seems like the engine just locks up,i try to start her again and it can do this 3 or 4 times engine turns a quarter or half a turn and then seems to just lock up and try it again the engine turns no problem she starts but for 3 or 4 secounds seems to be firing on only 4 or 5 cyls,she seems to clear her throat and away she goes,when she is running its really good no problems the motor pulls well,if you start her during the day there is no problem flick of the key every time so it just seems to be when she has been left standing over night,the thing that worries me is this engine seeming to lock up,i dont think it is the ijnition switch,some thing tells me it could be the desiel injection pump,as always any advice would be most welcome

Weeping injector letting fuel into the cylinder causing a hydraulic lock, or a clapped out starter motor are my guesses.

dodgey starter motor could be,but why just first thing in the morning and the rest of the day ok,could it be faulty or worn intank fuel pump?

Landy lance said:

dodgey starter motor could be,but why just first thing in the morning and the rest of the day ok,could it be faulty or worn intank fuel pump?

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As Datatek said, could be a leaky injector, the cylinder fills with diesel overnight - does it smoke heavily when first started?

Landy lance said:

dodgey starter motor could be,but why just first thing in the morning and the rest of the day ok,could it be faulty or worn intank fuel pump?

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Why would a faulty in tank pump cause it to lock and not turn over?
A starter motor with clapped bearings letting the armature rub on the field metal will do funny things as will a reduction geared one where the mechanism is full of crap.

no heavy smoke when she first starts,just went to start her again and it went flick of the key,it just seems to give problems when she is left over night,so are we ruling out the intake pump and injection pump?

I dont see as Data says how it can be a fuel pump.I would go with a dodgy starter motor or leaking injector/cracked cyclinder head.Both may allow fuel to drip into the cyclinder overnight and cause a hydraulic lock in the morning.Check your oil level if it is increasing then probably have diesel dripping into the sump.

Landy lance said:

no heavy smoke when she first starts,just went to start her again and it went flick of the key,it just seems to give problems when she is left over night,so are we ruling out the intake pump and injection pump?

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Yes.

Check the battery voltage when the engines being cranked or locks, first thing in the morning with a multimeter across the +/-, could be a duff battery (recovering after a short charge), bad wiring connection between battery/starter motor (including any crimped cable lugs heavy or light wiring), bad earth and/or a starter problem (armature bearings, brushes/brush holders, armature/field winding), burnt contacts in the pre-engage solenoid. Just a few bits to check...

ok if its a faulty injector is there a good sucess rate of getting them cleaned or does it mean a new set,without sounding stupid can a new set just be dropped in or do they need to be set up to the engine

The only way to stop an injector weeping is to have it overhauled/reconditioned, removing/replacing them is not generally a bad job to do, except the wallet takes a beating big time having them reconditioning......sorry

the motor is still under warranty with the dealer i bought it from,whats the betting the injectors arent covered

Landy lance said:

ok if its a faulty injector is there a good sucess rate of getting them cleaned or does it mean a new set,without sounding stupid can a new set just be dropped in or do they need to be set up to the engine

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Try Diesel Bob, you would have to post them but I doubt you would find a place in Portugal to do them. They are plug and play, no set up.
If the engine is under warranty, the supplier should deal with it but first you need to be sure that injectors are the problem.
zzr made a good point about the battery and connections.

Here in Portugal any Bosch Diesel Service shop will overhaul the injectors for you. There are many of them around so it should be easy for you to find one near your location. If you need help, feel free to drop me a PM.

there is a bosch service center in ansaio,and i think there is one in tomar which is only 15 mins away,but i will take it back to the dealer first and see what he has to say,to be fair to the guy he has been really good with any problems we have had so far but time will tell