P38A Died and will not start

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Radar1946

Radar1946

Active Member
Posts
362
Location
Lichfield, Staffordshire
I started the engine, drove 500yards and the engine died. I tried to restart it, it turned over but would not start, if I kept it turning over for a few seconds it kicked out a load of light blue smoke. I said oh blow and phoned the AA. The man that came out tried to put it on his diagnostic machine but was unable to find P38. He tried BMW M5 and it found that so he run the fault code program. It came up with System Engine control 706/EDC 1.3.125 glow duration control error message. He had not got any idea on the P38. He said he thinks it could be the fuel pump, then gave up and called out a recovery truck. Any ideas ?
 
Don't think that code is relevant to it cutting out, thats possibly from the restart attempt or an old code. Do you have a clear pipe from filter to FIP and if so can you see bubbles in it?
These aren't particularly complicated to get running but correct diag would help a lot
 
Radar1946 said:
I started the engine, drove 500yards and the engine died. I tried to restart it, it turned over but would not start, if I kept it turning over for a few seconds it kicked out a load of light blue smoke. I said oh blow and phoned the AA. The man that came out tried to put it on his diagnostic machine but was unable to find P38. He tried BMW M5 and it found that so he run the fault code program. It came up with System Engine control 706/EDC 1.3.125 glow duration control error message. He had not got any idea on the P38. He said he thinks it could be the fuel pump, then gave up and called out a recovery truck. Any ideas ?
Click to expand...

Have you got hotstart fitted? What year is it? Later ones pumped while cranking I think so dropping the fuel filter and putting an ice-cream tub underneath should show if lift-pump is working. Failing that, bridge the pump relay.

I'd be tempted to check fuses and relays first. There's a big fuse inside the ECU box worth checking.
 
+1 check cut off solenoid. Inertia switch in kick panel if you’re feeling real lucky.
Hopefully you’ve not jumped a cog. It sounds different when you crank it over while starved of fuel.

Only way to be sure before diving in balls deep is a Nanocom 06 I’m afraid.
 
A proper fix might be...
swan-vestas.jpg

JK ;)
 
Yesterday I fitted a clear pipe to see if there was any air bubbles, fitted a new filter while I was at it. Fuel is coming into the filter and out the other side ( clear pipe ) the pipe fills completely, but when I turn it over it tries to start but
won't, at the same time it kicks out smoke and the clear pipe empties by about 4inches.
Back in 10minutes just gone to get some petrol and matches ( I could not get the diesel to light. ) :(
 
Radar1946 said:
Yesterday I fitted a clear pipe to see if there was any air bubbles, fitted a new filter while I was at it. Fuel is coming into the filter and out the other side ( clear pipe ) the pipe fills completely, but when I turn it over it tries to start but
won't, at the same time it kicks out smoke and the clear pipe empties by about 4inches.
Back in 10minutes just gone to get some petrol and matches ( I could not get the diesel to light. ) :(
Click to expand...

That clear pipe shouldn't empty. There should be so much fuel the excess goes round the leak off pipes and back to the tank.

When bridging the fuel (lift) pump relay you should get something like 125mL in 30 seconds. Details in Wammers' post in the Technical Section. If you've got less than that the lift pump is giving up or clogged with bacterial growth from veg-oil or similar. Or maybe bad earth somewhere.
 
As above could be fuel pump in tank. If you have to change it don't go for the cheap ones. Do your research on forum and get a proper pump
 
As suggested above. :D
Take the cap off the camshaft cover and see if the cam turns when you crank it?
Bridge the fuel pump relay and have someone listen near the filler neck with the cap off.
A wire from the battery live to the little solenoid on the fuel pump. Ignition off, listen carefully for a clicking when touching the solenoid on the top nut not the body!
Check the big plastic electronics plug above and rear of the fuel pump on the engine.
Check to see if there is fuel getting to an injector with its nut undone just one turn and be careful for spraying diesel. ;) then report back soldier! :)
 
Is there more than 1/4 tank of diesel ,less than that with a bad intank pump ,the main engine pump ,will pull air when running, through pipe work....Try some brake cleaner down its throat if it runs then its not the engine...;)
 
FIP can pull enough through on its own without lift pump in most cases if there are no blockages
its smoking so fuel is in there, but nothing being pulled through and not firing properly, starting to sound more ‘engine internal’ to me
Any lights on dash like mil lamp?
 
Checked all relays and fuses, all ok. Listened at fuel filler cap ( heard nothing ). Camshaft turns ok. When turning on the ignition the clear pipe fills in seconds. when I turn it over it tries to start but kicks unburnt diesel smoke out. Afterward when I look at the clear pipe half the fuel has gone. Its not leaking from the pipes or filter, so where is it going ( out of the exhaust ? ) if so why does the pipe not stay filled ? It still says on the fault codes that there is a fault on the glow plug duration, if I clear it it comes back on again the next time I check. It is a 2001
 
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