P38a Fuel problem

Greetings all, I have a 96 p38 diesel and and what I think is a fuel problem. I have read all the fuel problem posts and found them very helpful but think my problem is a wee bit different. Here goes!

Engine cranks but refuses to fireup. We have checked intank pump and even installed a second pump in front of the fuel filter to be sure. There is power going to the stop solenoid. Yesterday a man in the garage connected up power to the fuel injection pump (throught the 5 or 7 pin socket) and she fired up straight away although he could not rev the engine. But when we try to start on her own power - nothing. We have checked fuse 39 and using are well charged battery.

From reading the excellent posts here, I suspect some kind of immobiliser problem but have reset alarm many times to try and clear this.

Is it possible that the immobiliser is half on but still it still allows you to crank the engine....or is it somehow cutting power to the FIP? Seems to be low power going to the FIP.

Any help really really appreciated here.

righty, take the battery earth lead off for a few seconds, and then put it back on, syc the key with the door(lock or unlock with key then lock or unlock with button within 30 seconds) check to see if you need to enter eka code and do if needed, check the car is in neutral or park and you have the corresponding light, then try to start it, i forgot to put mine in park or neutral the other day and spent 30 mins checking fuses!!!!!

Sounds to me like the BECM and Engine ECU are looking at different codes - this can happen if something confuses the imobiliser - like flat battery, dodgy door lock connection, spureous radio codes being picked up by the RF receiver etc...
The Cure, contact your local independant he will plug in the test book read the codes and correct the problem in less than 5 minutes

Thanks for the prompt response folks. I have tries the eka thing a few times and still no luck in knocking off the immobiliser - if in fact that is the problem.

Thanks for the other suggestion re getting an independant to re sync becm and ecu. I live in the west of Ireland so not to easy to find someone with the right software. Does anyone know if it is only testbook that will sort out problem or is there an alternative?

Many thanks again for response - Alan

on the petrol there are a couple of connectors on the top of the engine that have to be on or the engine cranks but will not fire, they are just infront of the plenum, maybe the deisel has some kind of device similar and the connection is corroded???

the only other bit i can think of is the neutral/park issue, if the car thinks the car is in drive it will not allow the engine to start for obvious reasons.

I have a friend who had the same problem with a DSE. It turned out to be the high pressure diesel pump. Unfortunately it is rather expensive and time consuming to replace, but after he changed it, the car works perfect. It is also easier to start.

try fuse 24 (i think it was)that blew on mine cutting power to the engine ecu but if you have got a copy of rave check the outputs for the pump i wouldnt condemn the pump just yet if you have had it running by putting power to the stop switch,if you had the plug disconnected or the engine ecu had lost power the accelerator wouldnt work anyway

thanks Ian, pump is working fine so will double check if there is power going to the ECU...

How do you know your in-tank pump is working fine?