P38 Bad Starting!!!

Help! Just put a new battery on my P38 (Halford's one went after only 12 months) and you'd have to own a p38 to know what a difference that's made!!

Only problem is that the motor is really difficult to start. It cranks over for what seems like ages and then one, two three cylinders get going and finally away!

Am just about the renew the leak off pipes between the injectors - read somewhere here that it may be a cure. That's about the limit of my ability, but can anyone advise any other things that can check out myself before taking it to a garage? Would be really grateful if someone coud point me in the right direction. Cheers!!!

Hot cold or both?

If it's a hot and cold start problem check the in tank pump, if just a cold start problem go for the glow plugs.

Cheers, lads! It's hot and cold, although it doesn't crank so many times (before starting) if I just stop for a few minutes. Will check the 'in-tank' situation.

Soemone mentioned a 'non-return valve'. Any idea where I can get one?

Depends if is been getting worse over a long time,leak off pipes will show sighns,and stink o wet diesel,olso check glass pipe for air,and the filter might need changed. But when cold should start wi no fuss but they dont like supermarket fuel.

dubbleRR said:

they dont like supermarket fuel.

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Load of bollocks, mine runs fine on super market diesel, never use anything else

see if its better with over half a tank of juice, than under half a tank. That would point to the tank pump

Datatek said:

Load of bollocks, mine runs fine on super market diesel, never use anything else

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Ditto

But do you get the cheap east german ****e they sell to the supermarkets over here?

get better mpg if dont get feul from supermarkets (td5) old man said the same about his 300tdi noticed it more when towing on his as doing the full tank then working out mpg on wat was needed to fill again

owendown said:

Cheers, lads! It's hot and cold, although it doesn't crank so many times (before starting) if I just stop for a few minutes. Will check the 'in-tank' situation.

Soemone mentioned a 'non-return valve'. Any idea where I can get one?

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Waste of money that just masks a problem does not sort it.

wammers said:

Waste of money that just masks a problem does not sort it.

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I was going to ask someone on here same thing, about them, mine does same.. fine cold start after pre-heat, but when starting just after a run, then takes a little longer, i assumed / read was a common problem? getting used to mine though so not going to attempt to mod it

Not just me then,mine runs smoother pulls better when towing ,doint realy know mpg just feed it when its hungry but the dash goes fa 24 to 27 towing on the good stuff.

TAH said:

see if its better with over half a tank of juice, than under half a tank. That would point to the tank pump

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Thanks for the help - went to garage and put enough to take it over half a tank - problem totally cured!!!! Starts like a demon. I guess I know what to do next!

Great forum, if it hadn't been for you guys out there I'd have been absolutely stuffed by now. What is it about these P38s that makes us forgive all the b******s they put us through.

Cheers