Another starting problem to add to the list

2.5 DSE auto 1996

Right, I am having serious problems with my car starting.

What I have changed/ done to it s far:
1. Changed the in tank pump
2. Changed the leak off pipes between injectors, pipe from injector to pump, and pipe to manifold
3. Fitted a hot start kit
4. Fitted new glow plugs (and fitted new inlet manifold gaskets at the same time as had to remove manifold to do plugs)

Symptoms:

From cold start first time in the morning, i have to crank over at least twice for at least 5-8 seconds each time. I allow the glow plug light and injector light to go out both times, glow plug light only stays on for about 7 seconds.

When starting from cold like this it seems like its only firing on a few cylinders shaking the car, sounds very rough, runs badly for the first second or 2 then the rest of the cylinders kick in. (it has only started doing this since I changed the glow plugs, Im thinking I over tightened 2 of them and they might not be working, but not sure)

From hot I have to crank it over and over to get it to start. But it doesnt misfire when it does finally start, it just starts on all cylinders.

I have fitted a hot start kit but it doesnt seem to work or do anything, the glow plug light does not come on when it is hot, should it? I guess if the light doesnt come on the glow plug isnt activated.

Bear in mind though that when running it runs absolutely spot on, no misfiring, loads of power, runs perfect no matter if its hot or cold.

Any ideas?
Many thanks

Right, car has been stood for 2 1/2 hours now since last used, so should have been cold, did a quick test, turned the key to 2nd position to alloy the glow plug light to come on and go out, I did this 5 times before trying to turn the engine over and start it, the car started first thing no problems. I will test it tomorrow morning as it will be properly cold.

But does this suggest the glow plugs, or glow plug relay?

Obviously they arent being left on enough to heat up fully, or are just not heating up properly in the time allowed.

Cheers

If giving it 5 heat cycles did the trick, I would concur with you and suspect glow plugs or circuit

Right so I came to it this morning, its absolutely freezing. Trying heat cycle 5 times again and it did not work, seems like once again it is only trying to start on a few cylinders, which happens every morning first start, but it wont start at all, has flattened my battery.

I will have to now get the trusty old discovery to jump me off and which means cranking over and over until it starts roughly.

I checked the clear fuel pipe before starting, there was an air bubble about 1mm wide. Surely this would have been expelled on the first few cranks.

How do I test the glow plugs with multimeter, is it positive to the top of the glow plug, and neg to neg on the battery, or can it just be grounded on the chassis whilst turning the key to 2nd position. Also what voltage should they read?

Many thanks

sounds very similar to what i have just been through with mine.
did the glow plugs and spill pipes , still the same .
noticed air in clear pipe , replaced washer on banjo bolt and bingo .
no problems since .

fucmeitsandy said:

sounds very similar to what i have just been through with mine.
did the glow plugs and spill pipes , still the same .
noticed air in clear pipe , replaced washer on banjo bolt and bingo .
no problems since .

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Haha, the things we go through to keep our lovely range rovers plugging on.

Well I will have a go at changing that, hopefully the old girl will be back to full health, Otherwise I will have to admit failure and take it to local landy specialist :doh:

Thanks for the advice, will give it a go.

Sounds like your drawing in air to me had the same problems earlier this week due to a dodgy leak off pipe :doh:

Yeah its definately drawing air from somewhere, massive air bubble in the fuel pipe. I have put new leak off pipes on, but will go back to my old ones and see if its any different.

Once the air problem is gone, I can continue onto figuring out why the glow plugs are not heating.

Don't forget the pipework on top of the tank. This is one of the times when going in through a hole in the floor rather than dropping the tank might turn out to be a real bonus.

what side of the loop in that clear pipe are the bubbles mostly ?
fip side or diesel filter side , mine was mostly fip side and turned out to be that banjo bolt letting air in

also read some people put a non return valve in fuel line . seems to wok for some

fucmeitsandy said:

also read some people put a non return valve in fuel line . seems to wok for some

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How do you go about doing that?
Also does it affect fuel consumption at all?

Many thanks

shouldnt affect it at all just stoped the fuel going back down the pipe to the tank

Hi guys, cheers for the advice.

Well had a day free today so went out and spend £60 on some OEM glow plugs (down from £120). BINGO!! All starting problems totally cured.

so after all this messing about it was only my crappy glow plugs from ebay, stopped starting properly as soon as I fitted them, but what should I have expected for £20 from ebay, Im a right plonker. :doh:

Moral of the story, DONT BUY CHEAP ****E FROM EBAY!!!

Rangie.lad said:

Hi guys, cheers for the advice.

Well had a day free today so went out and spend £60 on some OEM glow plugs (down from £120). BINGO!! All starting problems totally cured.

so after all this messing about it was only my crappy glow plugs from ebay, stopped starting properly as soon as I fitted them, but what should I have expected for £20 from ebay, Im a right plonker. :doh:

Moral of the story, DONT BUY CHEAP ****E FROM EBAY!!!

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There are loads of threads warning about cheap glowplugs. Pleased to hear you have fixed it.

hi did you test the new glow plug before you fix in the cylinder ,,, sometime the new glow plug are also faulty

cheongthong said:

hi did you test the new glow plug before you fix in the cylinder ,,, sometime the new glow plug are also faulty

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Only cheapo Chinese ones