Problems starting p38 diesel

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
I wouldn't do anything until you've tested the pump. I' also bite tarphenry's offer of a Nanocom reading.

I'd advise against doing the botch on the pump. Drop the tank, it really doesn't take long. Also, if you have the newer car with the double-exhausts you may be shocked at the state of the brake lines behind the tank.
 
I prefer the word bodge meaning Forrest professional with a trade doing the best he can with his available tools amd time, we had bodgers up untill 1960 ish doing 144 furniture legs a day around High Whycombe in their hovels (my workshop) then enter Mr electric lathe ((
Botch as you say means just not doing a very good job
 
Oh dear. Right. Fuel pump changed. Pipe unions on top of pump corroded. So new lines fitted with new unions and tank replaced. Started first time no problems. Left it over night and guess what. Didn't start until 11th or 12th attempt. This is trial and error to the extreme. What do do now? Fuel regulator out? Seal behind high pressure pump replace? Really running out of options. Could it be fuel line blockage ( but then it would struggle all the time ). HELP
 
Up date on the starting problem. Good mate of mine at crook brothers land rover military vehicles is convinced it's the glow plugs. I got thrown last week from the good old RAC chaps who said that one or two of the glow plugs where deficient but not enough to stop it starting. They thought it was air getting in. That's why I went down that route. It seems that the starting up system and sequence of events involved requires tip top glow plug action. It starts fine after it's been running a while but struggles when it's cold. So glow plugs it is.
 
blackburnbertie said:
Up date on the starting problem. Good mate of mine at crook brothers land rover military vehicles is convinced it's the glow plugs. I got thrown last week from the good old RAC chaps who said that one or two of the glow plugs where deficient but not enough to stop it starting. They thought it was air getting in. That's why I went down that route. It seems that the starting up system and sequence of events involved requires tip top glow plug action. It starts fine after it's been running a while but struggles when it's cold. So glow plugs it is.
Click to expand...

On this engine you need good plugs on at least three consecutively firing cylinders to get anything like a start. Two plugs duff in the wrong cylinders will cause big problems in winter.
 
Evening, look at the story weeks ago,,,,,fit good glow plugs like Beru or original etc
I would go through the list again and just make sure its non of that listed
There is huge knowledge here on this forum
Take the plugs out, clean and feed them 12vDC, make sure they glow hot fairly quick like 7 secs not 25
If they dont leave them in your workshop to remind its often basic things and buy decent
I had a cricket ball sized stone do £1400 of combine damage due to not cleaning out stone trap...idiot
 
Glow plugs. F*****g glow plugs. After all that it was the f*****g glow plugs. Whoever changed them the last time didn't do the hard to get at ones and so left them. Never mind, got a new fuel pump and lines over the tank. Cheers folks.
 
Bix said:
And in the UK that car would've probably just got written off.
Click to expand...
Quite possibly, that guys relatively simple repair negated stripping the whole rear quarter off, thus leaving the integrity of factory welds/fancy dip primer/sealant completely intact. He has my vote. He has a host of even more elaborate crash repairs, he even paints them.
He goes by the the name of ArhturTussick.>>>>https://www.youtube.com/user/tussik01, just need to buy a dozer jig and a spotter then I'll be golden. Ebay damaged repairable's here I come!!
 
Last edited:
we live and learn mate! Always suspect the consumables first then the hardware...at least now you know the symptoms you can at least use the experience again and for somebody else, then you gain a victory and this will be errr a damn good lesson learnt the hard way..as we all do in our lives.
 
Dont worry I did the same on my p38 as in fitted all new plugs but rubbish
Many time and money...........back to Mr Glow plug and...........it starts
Same on combines, if you fit cheap crap parts they do what the purchase price says...........nothing
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
P38A Is this the head gasket?
Replies
12
Views
710
Grrrrrr
Grrrrrr
L
Sport Glow plug light
Replies
6
Views
414
lj5000
L
deangermouse
HDC fault
Replies
2
Views
723
deangermouse
deangermouse
Louis2.5DSE
P38A P38 DSE fires but won't start
2 3
Replies
58
Views
3K
BDC
B
jimmacD
Back to the P38 house of pain!
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
Grrrrrr
Grrrrrr
Back
Top