Head gasket went, now Disco won't start.

Hi,

As I mentioned in a previous thread, the head gasket recently blew on my 300tdi.

When it blew, I guess coolant got into the electrics somewhere as the stop solenoid on the fuel pump shut and cut-out the engine.

I am fairly competent with a spanner, so I replaced the head gasket myself, and checked the head straight.

Now the engine is all back together it still won't start.

The glow plugs and stop solenoid aren't operating. I have run a 12v feed to the stop solenoid and can hear it operate when I do so.

The battery is charged and the engine turns over as it should, but just doesn't fire. I have bled and primed the fuel system and there is fuel at the injector unions. I have tried easy-start in attempt to get it to fire but to no avail.

I am new to land rovers and have run out of ideas. Please help

Might be a dodgy fuel stop solenoid........ if your car is a manual: remove the solenoid from the injection pump and remove the plunger from the solenoid - replace the stop solenoid and start the engine - stall to stop

If your car is an auto - i would suggest changing the stop solenoid for a new one...

I take it that you did the valve clearances when you replaced the head.......

id check the valve clearances,i fell into that trap after a rebuild and sh*t a brick when it didnt start

As above check the vavle clearances

I didn't think to check the valve clearances. I was careful not to disturb anything so thought I'd get away with it.

I'll check/adjust 'em and let you know how I get on.

Thank you for taking the time to help.

If it overheated badly when the head gasket went, maybe it melted a wire somewhere and caused a short? Just seems strange that you've got no power to your stop solenoid or glow plugs. When you ran a wire from the battery to the solanoid you say you heard it click, but did you try to start it with the wire connected?

I have tried to start it with the wire connected to the stop solenoid, but with no joy. Melted wires was one of my thoughts but there doesn't seem to be any, so I assume something got wet and knackered a relay or something somewhere.

Just re read your first post and you say there is fuel at the injectors. Wouldn't that rule out a problem with the solenoid, anyway?

howdid you check the head for straightness / warping, and did you get it pressure tested for cracking?
if theres diesel to the injectors, is there any sign of fumes from the exhaust during cranking?
did you torque the head according to rave manual?

are you sure its all timed up correctly?

as above valve clearances critical, no compression no go, the fact you even used easy start may imply theres a compression prob as even without deisel it should of spluttered a bit of life if you span it over while sparying the start fluid.

Again as already mentioned if the valve timing has been screwed then it aint gonna go.

Still not sure why head blowing is going to screw the heaters or fuel solenoid, could be bad coincidence of a second fault, easy to by pass for quick check.

Check for trapped wire at rear of head !!
Check live feed at relay !!!

DiscoDarby said:

I didn't think to check the valve clearances. I was careful not to disturb anything so thought I'd get away with it.

Click to expand...

But you changed the HG? Without disturbing anything?

Thank you to everyone who offered advice. Valve clearances checked and adjusted and....

It's Aliiiiiiive!!!!

Running nice and smooth, exhaust a bit blue/white to start with but soon cleared once up to temperature.

Only problem now is engine seems to be overheating. Air lock in cooling system?

DiscoDarby said:

Only problem now is engine seems to be overheating. Air lock in cooling system?

Click to expand...

Maybe the problem that caused the head gasket to fail is still there?