300tdi long crank time before starting

Despite trying a new set of glow plugs, the Defender is getting hard to start.
Twenty seconds of cranking is not unusual, followed by the usual puff of black smoke.
Once started performance is normal.
Any ideas, chaps?
Cheers, Jim.

Could be loads of things from valve clearances, timing, poor compression ..
However, if performance is good once running it's likely air ingress causing fuel to run back.
To prove it, bleed the fuel system right up to the injectors (ign on, to open the stop solenoid) before a cold start then try it.
It should start without glows but better with them. Are they actually working though?

have a look at the braided pipe on the top of the engine going into the injectors. this was the problem with mine. replaced them all with new and it fired up first time.
there was air getting in as the pipes where corroded.

Its almost certainly air getting in somewhere - and, IME, the leak off / spill pipes suggestion is a good one - I replaced mine with silicon off the bay after one let go, and made a mess.

Worth putting a clear section of pipe in the feed to the IP, so that you can see any air in the system too

Good luck!

Spill pipes look OK but new ones on order regardless.
Thanks for the advice.
Jim.

Disco1BFG said:

Its almost certainly air getting in somewhere - and, IME, the leak off / spill pipes suggestion is a good one - I replaced mine with silicon off the bay after one let go, and made a mess.

Worth putting a clear section of pipe in the feed to the IP, so that you can see any air in the system too

Good luck!

Click to expand...

+1 on all of the above,also may be worth changing fuel filter if you have not done it in a while.

I also found a crack in the spill to IP pipe and replaced that too.... there's a piccie on here some where, but I'll put it here in a few mins.... Think those hard plastic pipes reach end of life unpredictably....

blimey that took some finding!! but here you go...



cable ties have held the silicon on for over 12 months - no probs yet!!

tottot said:

+1 on all of the above,also may be worth changing fuel filter if you have not done it in a while.

Click to expand...

Done last year, but due soon.
Also noticed vague surging when idling and hot, worse when tank level drops.
Modern electronic diesels don't like warm fuel, but one of these old girls should be ok, surely?
Airleaks do seem the thing.

IME, the Bosch VE pumps are highly tolerant of entrained air, up to a point - once you reach that point its like a cliff edge.

It sure sounds like you have a major air leak, and you are pretty close to the edge !!

That silicon I used comes in all sorts of colours too - though SWMBO was less than impressed that they don't do pink - her D1 spills are ready for the bin

Thanks for the advice.
Turned out to be a crusty tank unit with a cracked plastic pipe.
Now starts easily with a happy puff of black smoke like a proper car should.
Jim.

Disco1BFG said:

I also found a crack in the spill to IP pipe and replaced that too.... there's a piccie on here some where, but I'll put it here in a few mins.... Think those hard plastic pipes reach end of life unpredictably....

blimey that took some finding!! but here you go...

View attachment 102190

cable ties have held the silicon on for over 12 months - no probs yet!!

Click to expand...

Nice to see a proper cushioned P clip being used on your blue pipework What are the bits attached to the air con pump mounting points (circled in blue)

Kwakerman said:

Nice to see a proper cushioned P clip being used on your blue pipework What are the bits attached to the air con pump mounting points (circled in blue)

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Thanks - there's a lot of fuel in the spills, and I want it to stay there !!

Ah! there's always one !!!

Those are the remnants of the EDC wiring, just tied up out of the way - If I was doing that again, I would have brought them out of the main loom and hidden them better -as it is, they are just scrap copper being taking for a ride all the time ( the bag and such are just to keep water out of the bit of the loom which is till in use - oil pressure sender and fuel solenoid )

Disco1BFG said:

That silicon I used comes in all sorts of colours too - though SWMBO was less than impressed that they don't do pink - her D1 spills are ready for the bin

Click to expand...

In a correction to a previous announcement..... SWMBO has found the pipe in pink on fleabay

Cable ties........
Do the job proporley get some P clips before your chasing the next fault

HECKFLOSSE said:

Despite trying a new set of glow plugs, the Defender is getting hard to start.
Twenty seconds of cranking is not unusual, followed by the usual puff of black smoke.
Once started performance is normal.
Any ideas, chaps?
Cheers, Jim.

Click to expand...

I will second, or third, or forth, leak off pipes.

I jumped in the 90 one day a couple of years ago and she did exactly that, 15-20 second crank on a nice warm day. Didn't do it again that day. Next morning same again, not just a one off now, as soon as the engine caught I went to the motor factors (lucky I had free time) bought a pack of pipe for £2 - changed them all on the street outside his shop - fixed.

pete1987RRC said:

Cable ties........
Do the job proporley get some P clips before your chasing the next fault

Click to expand...

Who ? Me !??! I did - see the piccie...