P38 won't start

Help needed in dartford kent. Just got a p38 dse was starting with no problems started this morning then 2 hours later just spins over. Had low remote battery warning twice it's parked on my steep drive way with 1/8 tank of diesel in need help unsure what to check or do. Any local help out there? Or just any ideas?

Thanks

Sorry if on here already

Less than a 1/4 tank and starting issues could be the In Tank Lift Pump....Check for fuel flow at the fuel filter .... remove fuel pipe to filter, bridge fuel pump relay for exactly 10 seconds and you should get 180ml out of it!

Knackered Glow Plugs - the M51 needs working glows on at least 3 consecutively firing cylinders to start properly...any less and you will struggle.

Low Battery voltage causing a reduced cranking speed....

Then there is the old favourite of loss of sync...rare on a Diesel, but still happens. Is you MIL/CEL lamp on or off during the bulb check?? Depending on year this can indicate loss of sync.

Crank Position Sensor issues etc....

First check fuel flow, then voltage at glow plugs and battery charge...

Thanks

The low battery was about the remote could that do anything?

It can cause issues....the fob contains a chip that the car reads to ensure it is the correct key before starting....but I believe it is passive and doesn't require a power supply, it gets excited by the collar on the ignition barrel...but I could be wrong on that.

Is there any message on the message centre about LOCKOUT or ENGINE DISABLED or anything like that??

No error messages on dash

Just looked at fuel fitter can can see any diesel in the pipe I know it's clear but can't see any. If I take off the pipe fearing the filter should diesel pump out when cranked?

Thanks for you help so far

Yep....best option is to remove the pipe feeding the filter and bridge the relay and measure the fuel delivery.

The reason you would need to bridge the relay is in some circumstances the ECU may stop the fuel pump...to eliminate this and to check operation of fuel pump, it is best to bridge the relay to run the pump to prove it is working efficiently!

last night my car ran out of petrol outside my house , went got gallon petrol still wouldn't start so this morning so my daughter came round with her car to give me a jump start ,still wouldn't have it so went got another gallon put it in connected jump leads and fired up straight away . so moral of story methinks it needs plenty in to operate lift pump !!!!! all good now so topped up with lpg as well , its a 4.6 v8 vogue thor engine by the way ..cheers mozz

Unless I can't help it (no stations) I never let the fuel tank on any car drop below 1/4 full.

Having trouble getting fuel pipe off filter. So thought I'd try a bit more diesel in tank just for peace of mind. Walked to tesco garage and guess what a petrol garage don't sell fuel cans lol sell bloody bread and milk but no fuel cans lol. Day couldn't get much worse lol

Thanks for all the help so far

Steed said:

Having trouble getting fuel pipe off filter. So thought I'd try a bit more diesel in tank just for peace of mind. Walked to tesco garage and guess what a petrol garage don't sell fuel cans lol sell bloody bread and milk but no fuel cans lol. Day couldn't get much worse lol

Thanks for all the help so far

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Put more diesel as a first step, then follow Saint V8's advice.

I tried more diesel no luck. I have a guy coming this morning to plug in his computer thingy he tells me it should say the faulty. Worth a try at £20

Have you had any fuel leaks?
My thinking is maybe a leak has let air into the system and due to steep drive and low fuel level the lift pump cant get it up! (so to speek)
I had a thread on that around a 6 months ago were my no4 injector had a leak that let air in then the lift pump failed causeing no starty

Steed said:

I tried more diesel no luck. I have a guy coming this morning to plug in his computer thingy he tells me it should say the faulty. Worth a try at £20

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A fault code reader will show nothing if it's the lift pump and/or low fuel level. did you do the fuel flow check suggested by SV8?
If the pump is fecked it will not go with less than a quarter tank of fuel and will be worse if parked on a slope.

Is it facing uphill or down?
Once air has got in no amount of fuel will help if the lift pump aint working

Down hill about 30 deg's
I'm going to try and get it off my drive this morning the road out side is fairly flat

How do you get the pipe off the filter I've push down the metal clip but still won't come off?

Steed said:

How do you get the pipe off the filter I've push down the metal clip but still won't come off?

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Don't try, they will break, either undo the filter or the union on the injection pump.

+1 there a very tight fit and brake easy and although ive not had to buy one im betting there not cheep

Will try again shortly stopped rain now lol

Hi undone filter ton of diesel came flooding out this normal? What contact on the relay should I give 12v supply was a little unsure any at the risk of sounding dumb should I hear the lift pump kick in?