Poor engine start

Hi all,

Have got a 1984 Land Rover 90 2.5 Turbo diesel. Am currently restoring it back to road operation. I am stuck on the starting; it takes many many cracks to start.

When does the heater plugs come on; when the key is at first position or engine cranking - have checked the supply and it shows no current at first key position.

Was thinking of adding a defender heater plug relay that activates the heater for a set period before cranking - is this appropriate?

Thanks!!!

on the 2.5 19j engine the glow plugs come on between position 2 (ignition lights) and 3 (cranking) on the ignition key and you hold them on manually for around 10 secs or so then crank without touchin the throttle pedal, if it still aint great to start whip out your glow plugs and check em using a battery and a set of jump leads

Mine takes at least 40 seconds on the glow plugs before it will start nicely. Can't be arsed to try and find the fault now. Probably too small a battery.

Thanks for your help.

Will check when I get home. Have just pulled out the wiring diagram and see the heater plugs are straight off the ignition barrel.

Cannot find the general heater plug symbol on the dash, only have a petrol choke symbol free; which does not light up. Should I have a heater plug symbol on the dash?

Any other checks I should do to improve starting?

Thanks again guys!!!

stokiemike said:

Cannot find the general heater plug symbol on the dash, only have a petrol choke symbol free; which does not light up. Should I have a heater plug symbol on the dash?

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yes, but it doesnt look much like a plug at all - just get a voltmeter across your plugs in the engine bay and hold the key at the spring loaded position which is after the dash is live but before the starter turns - if you get volts there then you can worry about the dash indication

Thanks guys,

Will check this leter. Strange how I have no heater plug symbol on dash. Maybe a replacement light unit.

Thanks guys for your help. All is ok with the electrical system. I did not realise, to activate the heater plugs, I must hold the key before the cranking position.

Thanks for all your help!!

and most important, make sure you don't touch the throttle before the engine has fired else you'll reset the cold start mechanism and it won't work!

Glow plugs - i found on the TD that 20 seconds on, 20 seconds off, then 20 seconds on then it would start pretty much fine. (if the battery hadn't run down by then!)

ps it's not a "heater plug" symbol, the land rover designers were on strike that day so they just use the "choke" symbol!

odenne said:

and most important, make sure you don't touch the throttle before the engine has fired else you'll reset the cold start mechanism and it won't work!

Glow plugs - i found on the TD that 20 seconds on, 20 seconds off, then 20 seconds on then it would start pretty much fine. (if the battery hadn't run down by then!)

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Just as well you dont got one of those anymore eh OD

landy10 said:

Just as well you dont got one of those anymore eh OD

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Oh, did i mention ever that i changed it The new one starts without any pre heating, without even a complete turn of the engine, tis like magic i tells ya!!

Yeah magic is what it is! Its soooooo good after a 19j

Hopefully fit mine in the next couple of weeks

Excellent, lerrus know how you get on!Piccies...