Starting issues - 200tdi defender

[payydg]

Last couple of days the old girl has struggled starting. From cold, takes a good 10 seconds of cranking the starter and pumping the gas to get it going. Once going its fine and idles at normal speed, all pressures are fine. Once hot it will start no problem.

Thought it was the glow plugs but it's not that cold here and I thought the 200tdi didn't really need them? I measured the resistance across all of them and with the wires disconnected it measures as an open circuit (0.00) from the thread to earth (engine body) on all of them. Thought they were meant to have 1ohm of resistance but they can't all have failed?

Thought maybe its sucking air in somewhere and takes a few cranks to clear. Will check all pipes tomorrow.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[Marmaduke]

Air coming in? Also check and clean earths as they can be damp and not fantastic this time of year, not crucial in your case but also won't help

 

[Marmaduke]

Also shouldn't have to touch the accelerator until it's started

 

[payydg]

Also shouldn't have to touch the accelerator until it's started

How do you mean? I never normally have to it just that now it seems that its needed to get it into life.

What do you think of the glow plugs?

 

[Marmaduke]

My 300 hasn't had glowplugs connected since I fitted it a couple of years ago but it was rebuilt when I fitted it

 

[Disco1BFG]

How do you mean? I never normally have to it just that now it seems that its needed to get it into life.

I'd suggest that this is an indication of air getting in... and the large throttle opening being necessary to allow the FIP to purge it. Good way of testing the system is to take the fuel filter off - if its half full of diesel, then you have a leak, or a failed/failing lift pump.

 

[payydg]

I'd suggest that this is an indication of air getting in... and the large throttle opening being necessary to allow the FIP to purge it. Good way of testing the system is to take the fuel filter off - if its half full of diesel, then you have a leak, or a failed/failing lift pump.

Ta, will check this tomorrow.

 

[payydg]

Does anyone know if this resistance reading means the glow plugs are FUBAR'd?

 

[Marmaduke]

Not Disco ones but you should get the idea

 

[lynall]

Not Disco ones but you should get the idea

Interesting Ive always tested them across a battery.

 

[Marmaduke]

Interesting Ive always tested them across a battery.

I've never tested any cos I don't use them my 300tdi hasn't had them wired up since I fitted the engine a couple of years ago and always fires up almost straight away regardless of how cold it is

 

[jamesmartin]

Last couple of days the old girl has struggled starting. From cold, takes a good 10 seconds of cranking the starter and pumping the gas to get it going. Once going its fine and idles at normal speed, all pressures are fine. Once hot it will start no problem.

Thought it was the glow plugs but it's not that cold here and I thought the 200tdi didn't really need them? I measured the resistance across all of them and with the wires disconnected it measures as an open circuit (0.00) from the thread to earth (engine body) on all of them. Thought they were meant to have 1ohm of resistance but they can't all have failed?

Thought maybe its sucking air in somewhere and takes a few cranks to clear. Will check all pipes tomorrow.

Any ideas anyone?

lift pump or sucking in air a tdi in reasonable condition ie not worn out shouldnt need glow plugs unless exceptionally cold

 

[payydg]

lift pump or sucking in air a tdi in reasonable condition ie not worn out shouldnt need glow plugs unless exceptionally cold

Sounds like air from somewhere? Common culprit?

 

[jamesmartin]

very as is lift pump

 

[sp00k]

Also worth checking the diesel leakoff lines as they begin to let air in when they perish. I rarely use my glow plugs, which are controlled manually. When I have used them in very cold weather the difference they have made is that the engine will start instantly instead of turning over for about a second.

 

[payydg]

Also worth checking the diesel leakoff lines as they begin to let air in when they perish. I rarely use my glow plugs, which are controlled manually. When I have used them in very cold weather the difference they have made is that the engine will start instantly instead of turning over for about a second.

Will do. Thats clever. What made you set them up manually? Makes your battery last longer?

 

[sp00k]

LR's design, not mine.

Mines converted from an old style normally aspirated before relays were used for the glows.

When turning the ignition key past the on position, there is a halfway position before start. You can hold the key in this position againt a strong spring to turn on the glow plugs.