P38 2.5 DSE starting problem

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steve's P38 RR

steve's P38 RR

Active Member
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716
Location
Suffolk
Hi i've got a 2.5 DSE P38 which i've had a few months now, I've done the hot start fix to it and it started lovely every time but every now and then it's taking ages to start it normally happens in the morning or after work so when the engine is cold, when it does start i have to keep my foot flat to the floor and it doesn't run on all 6 straight away and smokes abit but clears and run's fine after 20 to 30 secs, I keep thinking the fuel is draining back to the tank but i may be way off, I wouldn't think it is glow plugs cause i can go for 4 or 5 days sometimes and it starts fine,

I would be very gratefull if any body has had this prob and knows the fix for it or has any idea what it could be.

thanks steve.
 
Check the leak off pipes, they are little pipes which run from one injector to the next, they crack/split and let air in, this is a major cause of poor starting.

Replace those with either the ones cut to the proper length which you can buy from LR or just get some fuel hose from Halfrauds or somewhere, cut to length and replace, dead easy job and will probably fix your problem.

If you dont know when the glow plugs were last replaced then I would replace them as well, they are also a good cause for poor starting and prolonged cranking times.

I have had the hot start problem on my P38 and doing the above cured it so I am not totally convinced all poor hot starts are needing that fix that is available. Whats worse is that if you have bought the cheapo version of the kit your engine is running as though it is cold ALL the time which is bad. I would personally remove the kit, do the leak off pipes, do the glow plugs and see how you go then.

-Wills :)
 
Steve,
Couple of things for you:
1. Do you have the same problem from a warm/hot start - if no read on..
2. Does you problem vanish after filling up your tank with fuel - if yes, carry on..
3. Does the problem return after you've used 1/2 a tank or more....???

If you've got this far then you may find the fuel is draining back into the tank from the filter. This happened on mine.
I spoke to my more than helpful local independant and they suggested a 'one way valve' from filter to block. It cost me a straight fiver (£5.00).
We removed the existing clear fuel piping from the filter forward.
Renewed it with some heavy duty diesel fuel pipe with the valve inserted in between, secured with 4 jubilee clips and I've never had a problem since. Starts first time, every time and never misses a beat - cold, warm, hot, full tank, half full or quarter tank...
This maybe a solution to your problems. It worked for me but yours maybe something else.
If your struggling to start it when it's warm/hot, it probably is something else.
Good luck.......
Jamie
 
If it was draining back you should see air bubbles in the clear tube right?

So there are 2 hot starts out there? i have only seen one on ebay (is this the good one or the bad one?)
 
Dopey said:
If it was draining back you should see air bubbles in the clear tube right?

So there are 2 hot starts out there? i have only seen one on ebay (is this the good one or the bad one?)
Click to expand...

I dont know which one you are referring to, post a link, but there was one on eBay a while ago a guy was selling that basically just tricked the computer into thinking the engine was cold the ENTIRE time meaning it was also fuelled as if the car was cold the entire time it was running - not good!

To be honest the more I read his problem and what he said here...

when it does start i have to keep my foot flat to the floor and it doesn't run on all 6 straight away and smokes abit but clears and run's fine after 20 to 30 secs
Click to expand...

...the more I think glow plugs - this was the EXACT same thing I had when mine finally gave up the ghost and trying to get it to start on a cold winter morning, cranking continually for a good 30 secs until it started to cough and splutter into life, foot flat to the floor, lots of smoke and eventually it starts and runs and then was fine all day.

-Wills :)
 
hello,
@wills: could you tell, which diameter the leak off pipes have.
I would like to get them before removing and looking into.
many thanks, korkut
 
Thanks everyone think i've got some jobs to do in the week, I'll do the leak off pipes and the glow plugs first, the old owner did say it had some glow plugs but i can't remember when for all i know he mite of ment in the last year or two,

The link to the hot start kit above is the kit i've fitted to mine and i believe it is timed so the ecu doesn't think he engines cold all the time just for a min when starting,

James2.5dse

I'll have to pay more attention to when it does it but its normally when its been sat over nite or all day at work This is whyi was thinking the diesel could be draining back cause its not a hot start prob or a cold start prob cause oits done it after the cars bee sat in the sun all day, as for how much fuel it has in it, prob normally less than half or quarter, I don't spend £107 to fill her up very often or i'll cry..... lol

Can you tell me what the one way valve is that you've fitted and where you got it from in case i need to go down the route.

cheers everyone.
 
Unfortunately I don't know the diameter needed. I just bought the pipes from LR, they weren't that much at all, from memory the diameter wasn't that large. I will see what I can see tomorrow during lunch.

-Wills :)
 
This is all good stuff to know.
i have just bought a P38 2.5 DSE.

Its fine when its cold but a bi*** when its warm or hot.

I will try the pipes first see if that works.
Has anyone used the Hot Start Fix ?
Does it work?
Is it worth getting?
 
jeff_blade said:
This is all good stuff to know.
i have just bought a P38 2.5 DSE.

Its fine when its cold but a bi*** when its warm or hot.

I will try the pipes first see if that works.
Has anyone used the Hot Start Fix ?
Does it work?
Is it worth getting?
Click to expand...
yes, i got it larst week,dead easy to fit and it has made a world of diference. starts ferst time every time.
 
Hi again i know is been a long while since i first posted this problem but since then i've had all sorts of problems, I have done my glow plugs and leak off pipes at last as the glow plugs got that bad over the winter that one day it failed to start all together, I have also check my in tank pump and that is also priming when the ignition is turned on.

I changed them one night in freezing temps and it started on the buttom even tho the batt was low from cranking it that morning. the next morning it also started well but the one after that it wasn't so good again,

It intermittently fires with in a sec or 2 of turning the key after the glow plug light has gone out but stops as quick and then has to be cranked for 20 - 30 sec or more before it even tries to fire up and then it still needs some throttle to get it running, other times it will start fine.

Someone on page 1 talks about putting in a one way valve between the filter and the pump, but when working on it i noticed something in the fuel line just before the filter is this a one way valve????

cheers steve.
 
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