Sometimes starts, sometimes doesn't - Glow Plug light

Hi guys,

Thought i'd cured my starting problems here; http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/urgent-fuel-relay-td5-284283.html. The bunch of cables with injector wires in had melted. I stripped back, individually taped them and put them out of way of engine block.

However, last few days i've had a 70/30 success rate in starting. Sometimes the key goes in and no glow plug light. I try and nothing, turns over only. I wait a bit, put keys in and out, after a few times the glow plug light comes back and away I go.

Just now, with some important people in the car going to survey a job, glow plug lights wouldn't come back for 5 minutes. Even when they did, no start. I checked melted cables are still ok, they are. I bashed fuel pump, cleaned plug, still nothing. Seat off, fuel pump relay out, cleaned and put back in. Started ok this time...

But, i'm worried that could just have been coincidence.

Any idea?

Cheers

huffhuff said:

Hi guys,

Thought i'd cured my starting problems here; http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/urgent-fuel-relay-td5-284283.html. The bunch of cables with injector wires in had melted. I stripped back, individually taped them and put them out of way of engine block.

However, last few days i've had a 70/30 success rate in starting. Sometimes the key goes in and no glow plug light. I try and nothing, turns over only. I wait a bit, put keys in and out, after a few times the glow plug light comes back and away I go.

Just now, with some important people in the car going to survey a job, glow plug lights wouldn't come back for 5 minutes. Even when they did, no start. I checked melted cables are still ok, they are. I bashed fuel pump, cleaned plug, still nothing. Seat off, fuel pump relay out, cleaned and put back in. Started ok this time...

But, i'm worried that could just have been coincidence.

Any idea?

Cheers

Click to expand...

There's a couple of things to check. First off have you tried hitting disarm on the alarm fob. Sometimes the receiver ring doesn't read the microchip in the fob.

Although it doesn't sound like its the cause, just give the fly lead on the starter motor a quick wiggle.

While you're in the engine bay check the multiplug is on and the wires are ok to the inertia switch on the bulkhead.

You're obviously aware of the fuel pump relay under the seat but one of the relays behind the panel in the front of the gearstick can often become loose too. Off the top of my head I think it's the one closest to you that does the ignition.

ratty said:

There's a couple of things to check. First off have you tried hitting disarm on the alarm fob. Sometimes the receiver ring doesn't read the microchip in the fob.

Although it doesn't sound like its the cause, just give the fly lead on the starter motor a quick wiggle.

While you're in the engine bay check the multiplug is on and the wires are ok to the inertia switch on the bulkhead.

You're obviously aware of the fuel pump relay under the seat but one of the relays behind the panel in the front of the gearstick can often become loose too. Off the top of my head I think it's the one closest to you that does the ignition.

Click to expand...

Although I have a 10AS unit in the car, I think it's disabled as I have no alarm fob or means of enabling/disabling.

I gave the starter motor a tap and wiggled the wires earlier, no good.

I'll check the inertia switch next time although I have looked at that before and it seemed ok.

When I was having the problem before, I tended to wiggle, push and tap everything I could think of. This included the relays on the bulkhead in front of gearstick. It used to work, but which bit exactly cured it I don't know. A case of do everything at once because you're in a rush and cross your fingers. Great to get going, not great as a process of elimination.

This afternoon when it was playing up, I didn't touch that area and it eventually started,. But, I will look again.

Cheers

Checked all of the above. Been ok for over a week and then today, boom, was sat there fiddling for 15/20 minutes before she started.

Maybe I'll replace fuel pump, is that likely to cause this? Shall I change glow plugs too?!?

Just an update as I'm close to torching the the bloody thing.

I've replaced both relays under my bum plus the relay on the front panel. I've traced all cables back and no obvious signs or wear or chaffing (other than the above thread) I've re-crimped, cleaned and copper greased the starter motor fly lead (solenoid repair kit on order). I checked inertia switch, all ok. There's no oil in the loom. I've run a new earth direct from battery to ECU. New fuel filter.

What else could I try?!? I'm loathed to spend money on a fuel pump if that's not likely to fix the issue. I guess it's one of those things. I'd just like to be quite certain before the outlay (like everyone no doubt).

Symptoms again;

More often than not now, the engine turns over but doesn't quite catch. It's almost as if the immobiliser is enabled and sounds as like there's no fuel getting to the engine. Sometimes the glowplug light is on, sometimes not. I bash tap and wiggle everything I can get to and it normally starts. But it's not consistant and could just be coincidence as sometimes it kicks in when I've not touched anything.

Thanks in advance...