odd starting problem

janderson41 · Jun 19, 2013

300Tdi auto.
Got an odd starting problem. If disco sits for a few days sometimes will not start.
Sounds like flat battery. Battery is one year old, checked readings before starting and readings are good, checked again when running and battery and charging is good. Had battery and charging also checked by my local garage with their fancy check and printout machine and get good readings.
Have checked all earths, ( renewed 2 years ago) and have extra earth to engine.
Going square eyed reading all reports I could find on poor starting.
Once jumped ,get instant start, can stop engine after 30 seconds and car will start all day long after that. Very annoying, I think something may be draining battery but where do I start. Now going to start removing battery lead at night for a few days to see what happens.

Jim a
---------------------
1996 300Tdi auto(Jap reimport)

ratty · Jun 19, 2013

janderson41 said:
300Tdi auto.
Got an odd starting problem. If disco sits for a few days sometimes will not start.
Sounds like flat battery. Battery is one year old, checked readings before starting and readings are good, checked again when running and battery and charging is good. Had battery and charging also checked by my local garage with their fancy check and printout machine and get good readings.
Have checked all earths, ( renewed 2 years ago) and have extra earth to engine.
Going square eyed reading all reports I could find on poor starting.
Once jumped ,get instant start, can stop engine after 30 seconds and car will start all day long after that. Very annoying, I think something may be draining battery but where do I start. Now going to start removing battery lead at night for a few days to see what happens.

Jim a
---------------------
1996 300Tdi auto(Jap reimport)

could be your starter motor going tight or solenoid contacts buggered.

does it turn over slowly or just go clunk?

janderson41 · Jun 19, 2013

Turns slow and sometimes a tikka tikka tikka sound
Try and bear with me on description

Jim A

discool · Jun 19, 2013

Iffy battery if starting is ok when jumped.

Checked readings, what are they? check voltage, charging and under load and cell specific gravity.

Sheffield · Jun 20, 2013

I find our 300 auto can be a bit difficult to start if it has been standing. I think if the battery is a bit low the edc does not let the engine start even if the battery can turn it over. I have noticed that the check engine light does not go out when this happens.
The older 200 on the other hand will fire as long as the battery has enough power to turn the engine, even if only slowly.
Penalty of letting electronics get in on the job.

discool · Jun 20, 2013

There are 16 modules that makes up an EDC, its the ECM that has control of the EDC, so the ECM under start up conditions receives signals from the crank and water sensors and then the ECM controls the fuel quantity and injection timing, so it would appear that a problem with either sensor will give starting difficulties.

janderson41 · Jun 20, 2013

Discool,
with my small battery checker which uses lights as follows

Engine off Green 12v
Eng running Green 13v

alternator Green 13v

battery is a sealed varta 1 year old.
If I run the car every day it seems to keep the battery up enough to start ok. Still think there is a drain somewhere.
Go away next week to the Highlands and I will use the old method of Disconnecting the battery every night and use my solar panel charger to top up.
Then it goes into the local auto electrician to check out starter, solenoid etc.
Really annoying with all this hassle

thanks for the tips

Jim A
--------------------
1996 300tdi auto(jap reimport)

ratty · Jun 20, 2013

janderson41 said:
Turns slow and sometimes a tikka tikka tikka sound
Try and bear with me on description

Jim A

janderson41 said:
Discool,
with my small battery checker which uses lights as follows

Engine off Green 12v
Eng running Green 13v

alternator Green 13v

battery is a sealed varta 1 year old.
If I run the car every day it seems to keep the battery up enough to start ok. Still think there is a drain somewhere.
Go away next week to the Highlands and I will use the old method of Disconnecting the battery every night and use my solar panel charger to top up.
Then it goes into the local auto electrician to check out starter, solenoid etc.
Really annoying with all this hassle

thanks for the tips

Jim A
--------------------
1996 300tdi auto(jap reimport)

Sounds like a flat battery or starter motor gone tight. You're gonna need to get yourself a cheap multi meter and take some readings from the battery before you try and start it. As its cranking and also with it running.

another forum · Jun 20, 2013

janderson41 said:
Turns slow and sometimes a tikka tikka tikka sound
Try and bear with me on description

Jim A

im a plant fitter and this noise is what we call "doing a skippy" as in the kangaroo.....

odd starting problem

janderson41

Active Member

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

janderson41

Active Member

discool

Well-Known Member

Sheffield

Well-Known Member

discool

Well-Known Member

janderson41

Active Member

ratty

I'm not special I'm limited edition

another forum

Active Member

Similar threads