diesel, sometimes, wont start (when cold)

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rfsimoes

Member
Posts
65
Location
S. Domingos de Rana, Lisbon,Portugal
Hi all,

My 1996 P38 diesel refused to start one of these days. It turns over fine and fast as always but no fire.
When I tried the next morning it fired right up!
A couple of days passed and again same problem.
I did a quick check and I have diesel pouring out of the filter port, power at the glow plugs and the stop solenoid.
I will try to crack open a high pressure diesel pipe the check for diesel coming out of the FIP.
If this is a out of sync Becm-ECU, how come did it come alive the first time without any recoding or diagnostic?!
I'm confused.
Can any one light up some ideas?

Thanks in advance.
 
When it does start is it lumpy if so check glow plugs could be worn check spill pipes littles rubber ones that go from injector to injector
 
In tank pump could be woking intermittently and on the verge of packing up.
Is there any bubbles in the clear plastic pipe if so could be the pump or the bleed off pipes
 
Most likely it's a couple of duff glow plugs if it starts well when hot. Otherwise check the ignition relay (I know it's a diesel) and look for signs and smells of burning in the fuse box.
 
When it starts, it starts very well. Not lumpy or smoke.
When it doesn't start, it just doesn't. I can be 5 seconds on the starter at a time, sometimes more, and it refuses to start.

The ignition relay powers what? ECU? I should check for power at ECU...
 
Won't be ecu if it had lost sync you would have to reset it!

Next time it won't start try three goes with the glow plugs if it fires up easyer there's your answer .
 
3 goes, 4 goes 5 goes. go go go.... and nothing. This morning it won't go.
I got no diesel at the exit of the FIP.
I could guess I have air getting in the system but from where? And even if I do. Why cant I purge it? I forced the tank fuel pump on at the relay, and it doesn't purge.
Maybe the stop solenoid is sticky?:frusty:
 
rfsimoes said:
3 goes, 4 goes 5 goes. go go go.... and nothing. This morning it won't go.
I got no diesel at the exit of the FIP.
I could guess I have air getting in the system but from where? And even if I do. Why cant I purge it? I forced the tank fuel pump on at the relay, and it doesn't purge.
Maybe the stop solenoid is sticky?:frusty:
Click to expand...
so what's happening before the stop Solinoid is fuel comming out of pipe leading to fip take it off and crank it

How full is your tank??
 
rfsimoes said:
3 goes, 4 goes 5 goes. go go go.... and nothing. This morning it won't go.
I got no diesel at the exit of the FIP.
I could guess I have air getting in the system but from where? And even if I do. Why cant I purge it? I forced the tank fuel pump on at the relay, and it doesn't purge.
Maybe the stop solenoid is sticky?:frusty:
Click to expand...
Drop the fuel filter, put a container under it and force the in tank pump, if you do not get a fair flow the pump is dead.
 
defender300td1 said:
so what's happening before the stop Solinoid is fuel comming out of pipe leading to fip take it off and crank it

How full is your tank??
Click to expand...

Reserve is not on. I have plenty fuel. But I pour in some more.
I did this test before. At the filter exit, I got plenty diesel pouring out.
If I undo the nut at FIP (diesel in), I got some small drops, put I think it's because I can't undo much of that nut.
 
Just a quick one don't understand why unscrew the filter all that mess when you can simply undo the banjo and pop it in to a container for testing less mess IMO
 
If your struggling with pipe on fip,Un clip filter pipe intake pop that into a jar for testing , might not be in the red but less than a 1/4 tank can play havock with a faulty in tank pump .
 
Last edited:
defender300td1 said:
If your struggling with pipe on fip,Un clip filter pipe intake pop that into a jar for testing , might not be in the red but less than a 1/4 tank can play havock with a faulty in tank pump .
Click to expand...

I did that before. That was one of the first tests. Unclipped the fuel pipe at the filter exit. Diesel pours out while fuel pump is on. I didn't measure but maybe 180ml! :)
I have another opinion about the stop solenoid being sticky. Lather I will try and BANG IT with a hammer :5bsmash: and maybe exchange it with another one that I have. :)

Yesterday I noticed that I have a non return valve installed. Why is this installed? I'm sure i've read about installing this before.
 
rfsimoes said:
I did that before. That was one of the first tests. Unclipped the fuel pipe at the filter exit. Diesel pours out while fuel pump is on. I didn't measure but maybe 180ml! :)
I have another opinion about the stop solenoid being sticky. Lather I will try and BANG IT with a hammer :5bsmash: and maybe exchange it with another one that I have. :)

Yesterday I noticed that I have a non return valve installed. Why is this installed? I'm sure i've read about installing this before.
Click to expand...

NRV is supposed to stop fuel draining back to tank which can't happen. Fuel going back down pipe is caused by air in pump or clear pipe being compressed when pump is running then expanding and pushing fuel back. Getting rid of the air is the cure.
 
rfsimoes said:
I think I will add a fuel pump to my list. Since they go bad, I will try to get ahead of that fault. But I just know something else will dammed me.
Should I buy original? can I buy aftermarket?
Click to expand...

OEM or it will end in tears. VDO minimum.
 
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