P38 diesel starting problems - not the usual though

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jgreenwell

Member
Posts
96
Location
Durham
Hi all, I have been experiencing an intermittent starting problem with my '98 P38 diesel for a short while now.

Put the key in the ignition; turn on, all usual lights on dash on, hevac displays up, lights in the gear selector on to illuminate selection etc. Go to the crank position however and 8/10 times she turns over and fires up no probs.

Sometimes though, nothing happens, either in the P or N position. You can hear the ventilation fans go off; lights dim on the selector, but no cranking. It’s just like you are trying to start it in gear and it won’t let you.

After a few attempts of going back and forth with the selector, giving it a bit of a wiggle etc she will fire up. I don’t know if the selector has anything to do with it or not, and it just so happens that the wiggle and the starting are coincidental.

It hasn’t let me down completely yet, but I don’t want to leave it to chance.

Anyone got any ideas, simple fixes or experienced the problem before?

Kind regards
Jonathan
 
Dodgy solonoid on starter?
Get a brave mate to "tap" the starter motor with the gentle end of a hammer while you turn the key to the start position next time it wont crank.
If it starts straight away then swap the starter for one that works.

Carl
 
Forgot to mention, the starter has been replaced with a new recon one a couple of months ago. There is no click or anything from the starter motor when the problem occurs.

Cheers for reading
 
Check the connections to the starter, and the earth connections from battery to chassis and chassis to motor. Is the battery in good condition as a low battery ofen gives weird problems.
 
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