Bugger to start......

moorlander said:

hi folks tried various things, fuel filter, checked everywhere for fuel leaks, had a piece of paper underneath to check for fuel leakage, nothing. the head was reskimmed 3 years ago and obviously i put on a new gasket. Always starts on the third tun of the key, provided i give it plenty of crank, then when she does start she is slow and lumpy until i blip the throttle a couple of times and then she's sweet. if it was a petrol its as if shes screaming out for a bit of choke.
the only other thing to add is shes breathing quite heavily though the oil filler cap.
any further pearls before this swine would be gratefully received!

Click to expand...

Fuel pump? Noisy?

Low compression makes it hard to start if it is breathing heavy that would be my guess , possibly blown head gasket or worn bores.

do you have compression test figures?

you will not find a leak on the low pressure side of the fuel supply- unless you pressurise it.

Is it well insured for fire.

Bobsticle said:

Is it well insured for fire.

Click to expand...

Just arranging that now.......

The really odd thing is, she starts, runs for a few seconds, and then cuts out. So the plugs are ok, or she wouldn't start at all. This then points to a fuel problem. In fact, on Saturday, while looking it over, I did eventually find a very slight leak on the fuel return to the injector pump, nipped it up, happy days. Today put on a fresh battery. Turned it over. SAME PROBLEM....., START,STUTTER STUTTER, SPLUTTER STOP.....Aaggh.

I got her going, and ran her for just a few seconds, so I knew there would be fuel present. Left it for about 30 minutes, ie not sufficient time for a fuel leak to drag fuel away. Tried again........same problem.

I did take it into a diesel specialist, a few weeks ago, and they just advanced the timing, which didn't cure it.

Either logic, or my knowledge is failing me, maybe both!

Any ideas would be gratefully received

There's a running thread now that might help 'td5 needing multiple purges after new fuel filter/housing' bearing lots of similarities to your problem and mine perhaps.