dse not starting - no glow plug light or power to fuel pump

hi
first time poster here
to skip the background to my problem, jump down to *************

my 1998 dse has recently been conking out quite a bit . i first suspected a clogged fuel pump as the problem first arose right after id let the fuel level go down very low. i then dropped the tank and took out the pump to clean and test it . when 12v was applied directly to it it ran fine so i cleaned and reassembled everything and it started first time so i thought everything was sorted. 2 days later, it died again in the driveway (luckily).no fuel was coming out of the fuel filter inletpipe but the glow plug light was working and it would splutter when diesel was funneled into the fuel inlet pipe.
i took out the in tank fuel pump again and found that it would run intermittently if you gave it a tap so the problem was obviously a dodgy fuel pump.
with the fuel tank on the ground and the pump sitting loosely inside it, i got the car started. it ran fine for a few minutes then started idling very roughly for a couple of seconds before cutting out.
i dissected the fuel pump and found that one of the motors carbon brushes was completely gone. i had a set from a mini-drill that could be made fit so i put them in and the pump was back running perfectly. the next day, i connected it again loosely to the tank but when i went to try starting , i seem to be getting some new problems.


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glow plug light not lighting
injector light stays on even when cranking (i dont remember if this is normal)
fuel pump relay not being energised


when i bypass the relay the fuel pump works fine but the engine makes no attempt to fire.
ive inspected the glow plug timer and visually, it looks ok but im not sure how i can check it further.
ive looked at the inertia fuel cut off switch just in case and its fine.
ive looked in rave but it is not very helpful.
i wonder when it cut out the last time it ran as described above , did some major fault code trigger in the ecu which is causing these issues. if so can these be reset without testbook.
anybody got any ideas?.

no takers?

Sounds like a Becm resynch is required.

On your question about the fault code, yes test book or faultmate will read and reset the code but it takes an awful lot to have the engine not start due to logged faults (I can't think of any fault that will prevent starting, most things will worst case just default to limp home mode which will allow it to start).

if the crank sensor stop working correctly its gives the same symptons, cuts fuel and glow plugs. worth getting the multi meter out for the time it takes to check.

For the crank sensor to affect starting the No.4 injector must be dead too. The ECU goes to the No.4 for revs first and if this is wrong/missing it defaults to the crank sensor for rev info. So for it not to fire both must be gone. Can happen though.

But if the sender pump relay is not going live then it sounds like immobiliser/becm sync issue.

Hi,

I had same sort of problem....it was a BECM/ECu Sync Fault.

Where abouts are u? I now have a re-sync tool.

James I have a similar problem, my 2.5 P38 had been standing for about two weeks and when I went to start it it was completely flat nothing at all. So I put it on charge for 24 hours and now when I go to start it the engine turns over well but no heater plug light comes on and it won't start. It flashes up and beeps that it has an ABS fault but I am thinking BECM/ECu Sync Fault.
Any thoughts?
I see I can buy a "Blackbox Solutions" gadget for about £100+ would this be worth a try?
Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi I have had a similar no fuel problem i.e. all lights on turns over but no fuel. Took me a while but I think I have traced it to a bad connection on the ECU relay in the fuse box.
As soon as a wriggled it about the fuel started flowing.
I cleaned the connections which gave a repair and it performed faultlessly in the snow over xmas. It wouldn't start agin the other night and a quick wriggle of the relay sorted it outbut I have now fitted a new fuse box and relays.
Might be worth checking this.
Good Luck

Hi all again. I bought the Blackbox Solutions re-sync tool for my P38 Diesel but no luck it flashes one red which their info says "EMS did not respond to wakeup"!
Any ideas would be gratefully recieved?

try the ignition, i had same thing

Hi James can you explain a little more please?

sounds like it may be out of sync

Hi Fanatic, yes I have bought the re sync tool from Blackbox Solutions but it just flashes once which means "EMS did not respond to wakeup" any thoughts on what I could try please?

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/no-glow-plug-reading-no-tank-fuel-pump-power-52629.html we have had it before-worth looking at
There have been communication issues with diagnostic socket-before panicing it is worth a check as these do need cleaning if corroded

(obviously with battery disconnected to stop it shorting) brass brush and electrical cleaner


Start with the simple things and if they don't work-hopefully irishrover or one of the others will suggest more.

with the variety of people here-not much is unfixable

After removing the diesel pump you will need to crack open the inlets above the injectors.

This will let the air out which would stop the engine firing up.

cliffman said:

Hi Fanatic, yes I have bought the re sync tool from Blackbox Solutions but it just flashes once which means "EMS did not respond to wakeup" any thoughts on what I could try please?

Click to expand...

Did yu have the ignition on, coz i had that prob - user error .

Thanks for all your suggestions, in the end I disconnected the battery then re connected it then did the code unlock with the door lock, nothing, so I did it again but this time I reset all windows and sun roof and hey presto we have a fully working P38. Thanks guys, could have been very expensive!!!

I now have a Blackbox Solutions "Sync-Mate" and would be quite happy to rent it out for a small fee plus deposite if anyone needs one to try!

[email protected]
01872571905