1996 p38a dse auto moody starter?

Hello all. Got a intermittent and odd starting problem just occurred. Wednesday morning after 24hrs of rain and local flooding. Outside temp. showing 5c. Turn on ignition all lights come on as normal except glowplug lamp. Turned key to start position and engine burst into life better than it ever has, almost instantaneous. several start ups with warm engine later that day glowplug light came on as normal and engine started easily. Next day dry. Outside temp. 10c. glowplug light came on and had three long cranking attempts before firing up. This morning same as yesterday. I should add that a hot start device has apparently been fitted prior to my ownership that's why glowplug light comes on even with warm engine and it starts usually no bother. Could it be engine temp sensor at fault or is that bypassed by hot start device? Can in tank pump have intermittent problem? Any help appreciated.

Usually the hotstart is just scotchlocked in. Mark up all the wires and try it without. You never know.

Thanks. will have a looksee.

I would also check the glowplugs, as the hotstart fix will be reducing their service life if they are used on every single start.

is it when the fuel gets below 1/4 tank?

ovalandrover said:

is it when the fuel gets below 1/4 tank?

Click to expand...

No the tank was full for change. Its the no glowing light on and instant start that puzzles me.

Glowplug. So called smart phone.

allanw said:

Glowplug. So called smart phone.

Click to expand...

Glow plugs are switched on and off by the ECU dependent on the temp reading from the ECU temp sensor. The length of time the glow plugs are active is dependent on how cold the temp sensor is reading. On a summers day it maybe 4 or 5 seconds on a winters day 9 or 10 seconds. The hot start interrupts the circuit from ECU temp sensor to the ECU for a set period of time and substitutes a cold reading, switching on the glow circuit. Disconnect the hot start and see what you get it maybe faulty. The reason the hot start was fitted in the first place could be simply a faulty ECU temp sensor. If the car starts better with a full tank than it does on a low tank it is almost certainly a problem with the lift pump which could be related to the glow lamp malfunction. The pump is active with glow plugs. Or you have leaking spill pipes or both.

Thanks for that. Makes a bit more sense now.

mine was an utter swine to start, when fitting the new plugs i discovered 2 of the spill pipes were damaged.

Repaired mine and starts instantly now.