Starting issues - (have searched forum)

[Magicgrotto]

Hi @Gazbo Trying to ascertain were the AIR is getting in to the system !!

 

[Fingle]

No, thats just the lift pump, the Injection Pump is belt driven, but in some 300tdi's
there are slight control differences in the Injection Pumps.
But just try what I said, you've nothing to lose.

Its all getting above my pay grade now How can i identify the type?

 

[Magicgrotto]

Manuel OR Auto ??

 

[Gazbo]

Hi @Gazbo Trying to ascertain were the AIR is getting in to the system !!

Read my post #34, this is what I found with my old Disco, and I have spoken with others who have had the same problem, fixed it same way.

 

[Gazbo]

Its all getting above my pay grade now How can i identify the type?

Doesn't matter about that, even if you cannot fill it with fuel, park it overnight with the rear end of the vehicle as high up as you can get it.
The test, it's all about making the level of the fuel tank above the Injection Pump.
If this aids the starting after standing the vehicle overnight or for extended periods you will need to get a new throttle shaft seal fitted by someone.

 

[Magicgrotto]

I have read your post #34 ! But it duz not ex plane why the filter is not FULL !

 

[Fingle]

Doesn't matter about that, even if you cannot fill it with fuel, park it overnight with the rear end of the vehicle as high up as you can get it.
The test, it's all about making the level of the fuel tank above the Injection Pump.
If this aids the starting after standing the vehicle overnight or for extended periods you will need to get a new throttle shaft seal fitted by someone.

Il try tonight and report back

 

[Fingle]

Manuel OR Auto ??

Auto Jap Import

 

[Gazbo]

Il try tonight and report back

Good chap, easy to try, nothing to lose.

 

[chris-the-gerbil]

Just drained the filter and about 30ml of fuel came out the bottom. Havent the tools to take it off

Grab with hands and twist!

 

[Discodevon]

Before you spend to much money do a compression test... Not trying to scare you but worth doing

 

[Fingle]

Before you spend to much money do a compression test... Not trying to scare you but worth doing

Surely poor compression would have further reaching day to day running issues

 

[Gazbo]

I have read your post #34 ! But it duz not ex plane why the filter is not FULL !

Absolutely nothing to do with the problem, imho, (and experience), once it starts it goes ok, and buttons straight off for every start after that until it's left standing for a long time, that means it has sufficient fuel in the filter.

 

[disco me]

Hi

A very fed up 300tdi owner.
Been having recurring starting issues for about a month. Symptom = turns over for ever and if im lucky eventually starts with an enormous plume of white smoke, if im unlucky the battery just drains.

Tried new glow plugs, new fuel pump, and a non return valve on the fuel line, its a bit better, but nowhere near how it should be starting.
So I come to you cap in hand, begging for other options to explore rather than reaching for the sledgehammer

i'm pretty sure the white smoke will be un-burned fuel, does this clear once started and warmed up? though another cause is a stuck EGR, injectors may be leaking air past, or could be general compression issue,
my first call would be injector test followed by compression

 

[Fingle]

i'm pretty sure the white smoke will be un-burned fuel, does this clear once started and warmed up? though another cause is a stuck EGR, injectors may be leaking air past, or could be general compression issue,
my first call would be injector test followed by compression

Yes clears for the rest of the day

 

[disco me]

first guess is EGR, look at blocking it, then look at injector seals
also may be worth removing top hoze from intercooler incase one is collapsing restricting air flow, = not enough air to burn fuel and smoke

 

[Simon098]

Changed the fuel filter recently? You may think its tight enough, but sometimes they're not. Could also be breaking down.

Also cracking the injector union and checking for fuel is a good thing to do too

 

[DaisyDriver]

A really unscientific way to implicate air in the fuel is to park the car facing downhill (the steeper the better). If starting is less difficult then it suggests that the air bubbles have tracked back to the tank instead of draining the cylinder head. Another clue is a lot of wheezing noises from the fuel pump before spinning the engine. There is either a worn seal in the fuel lines and air is being sucked in by a Venturi effect as the fuel whizzes past or the injector seals are leaking; as the cylinder rises on the compression stroke it lifts the injector and forces air into the fuel lines. It is fairly common on the TD5 engine; I appreciate you have a 300 tdi but it may be worth a look.

 

[Fingle]

I thought I should add, that over the summer, I think the starter motor seized (has happened before when towing the carvavn on a hot day). At the time I tried jump starting etc to no avail then i remembered an olf Golf years back that had the same issue, (Brushes stuck in solenoid) Gave it a clunk with a hammer and hey presto.
Now is getting colder, its taking too long to crank over, and just sounds a bit pathetic. Could the starter be part of the problem or is it red herring ?

 

[Fingle]

A really unscientific way to implicate air in the fuel is to park the car facing downhill (the steeper the better). If starting is less difficult then it suggests that the air bubbles have tracked back to the tank instead of draining the cylinder head. Another clue is a lot of wheezing noises from the fuel pump before spinning the engine. There is either a worn seal in the fuel lines and air is being sucked in by a Venturi effect as the fuel whizzes past or the injector seals are leaking; as the cylinder rises on the compression stroke it lifts the injector and forces air into the fuel lines. It is fairly common on the TD5 engine; I appreciate you have a 300 tdi but it may be worth a look.

Didnt make any difference, although it may not have been steep enough