Bad starter P38

1997 2.5DT, new glowplugs, always used to start straight
away from cold, now i have to crank it over a few times
before it fires up. Any common thing to look at?

Really annoying.

Thanks
Alan

--
VFR800 ABS for Fun, Range Rover for Comfort.
BOTAFOT #148

Alan Crowder wrote:
> 1997 2.5DT, new glowplugs, always used to start straight
> away from cold, now i have to crank it over a few times
> before it fires up. Any common thing to look at?

Voltage actually getting to the glow plugs, are the correct glow plugs
fitted, air leaks in the fuel system, a lack of compression.... as a few
starting points.


--
EMB

"EMB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Alan Crowder wrote:
>> 1997 2.5DT, new glowplugs, always used to start straight
>> away from cold, now i have to crank it over a few times
>> before it fires up. Any common thing to look at?
>
> Voltage actually getting to the glow plugs, are the correct glow plugs
> fitted, air leaks in the fuel system, a lack of compression.... as a few
> starting points.

I have checkked the glowplugs are getting voltage but putting my
test lamp on them and every one lights it up, they are genuine
LR glowplugs.

How does one check compression on a diesel?
And for that matter an air leak in the fuel system?

Its driving me nuts.

Thanks
Alan
--
VFR800 ABS for Fun, Range Rover for Comfort.
BOTAFOT #148

....and Alan Crowder spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> How does one check compression on a diesel?

You'll have to buy or borrow a special diesel compression tester. The
petrol ones don't read high enough.
--
Rich
==============================

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary
and those who don't.

Alan Crowder wrote:
> "EMB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Alan Crowder wrote:
>>
>>>1997 2.5DT, new glowplugs, always used to start straight
>>>away from cold, now i have to crank it over a few times
>>>before it fires up. Any common thing to look at?
>>
>>Voltage actually getting to the glow plugs, are the correct glow plugs
>>fitted, air leaks in the fuel system, a lack of compression.... as a few
>>starting points.
>
>
> I have checkked the glowplugs are getting voltage but putting my
> test lamp on them and every one lights it up, they are genuine
> LR glowplugs.

Might be worth checking what voltage is actually getting to the plugs,
and how that compares to the voltage rating that should be marked on them.

>
> How does one check compression on a diesel?

Glow plugs out, diesel compression tester into the glow plug hole,
proceed as for a petrol, remembering to remove the stop solenoid wire
from the injector pump first otherwise they have a very nasty habit of
firing with the tester connected which tends to bugger the tester.

> And for that matter an air leak in the fuel system?

That's a tad more difficult. i have a short length of clear tubing i
connec tbetween the fuel filter and the injector pump - any sign of
bubbles there and you have a problem between that and the tank.

If the leak is in the injector pump itself it's much harder to pick -
you can try cracking the injectors and cranking the engine, then
retightening the injectors. If it then fires straight up it's a sign of
there possibly being an air leak in the pump.
>
> Its driving me nuts.

It's a Landrover - so driving you nuts is in it's job description ;-)

--
EMB

EMB wrote:
> Alan Crowder wrote:
> >>
> >>>1997 2.5DT, new glowplugs, always used to start straight
> >>>away from cold, now i have to crank it over a few times
> >>>before it fires up. Any common thing to look at?

It must be something in the air ...... My 1999 2.5DT started playing up
2 days ago, immmediately after a long drive (giving it quite a bit of
welly, 270 miles to Newcastle up the A1). I bought it a month ago
(private deal) and it's been absolutely fine. Always started first
time.

15 mins after that 270 mile, non-stop journey, I went to start it up
again and it wouldn't. I cranked it for 20-30 seconds (in 5 sec.
bursts) and it spluttered. Another go and it spluttered again. Third
go and it sprang into life. It then drove fine - no hestitation or
stalling. It was less reluctant to start the next time, but still
hesitant. I drove back down home (270 miles again), later the same day
and it performed fine.

Leaving it for 12 hours, immediately after that journey, it was an
absolute pig to start and took 2-3 mins of turning over - but it still
drove fine. It was left overnight all last night ........ and it
started right on the button this morning! No hestitation, no problems.
Wierd, or what?

Having had time to look at the engine for the first time this morning,
I notice a diesel leak (looks recent but not ongoing) to the offside
side of the engine, midway along its length and midway down, but there
are a number of fuel lines and the fuel pump (?) in that area. (Sorry,
I'm not too well-versed in engine mechanics)

Intemittent fault? Or (fingers crossed) is it some form of pressure
release valve that blew off in my high-speed chase up the motorway and
didn't reseat but now has? It seems that air's been getting into the
fuel feed and / or the fuel's been draining back to the tank but this
is now turning into an intermittent problem - the worst kind, IME. As
I say, it started first-time this morning

Anyone else had the problem?

- Tom
SW Essex.