ppholdings

New Member
Hi All, not new here used to have a P38 but could not find my old log in details. Anyway I am back again with an L322 I have had for around a year. No issues with it whatsover until 2 weeks ago when I had a new windscreen install by national provider. Total disaster but thats another story.

Ok my problem.

Car has good battery, almost new. It cranks fine but wont start. I have noticed maybe the last month that it was slightly slower to start than normal when cold but other than that fine. No dash warnings nothing. Last Wednesday it would not start. AA came out and diagnosed High Pressure Fuel pump and EGR. EGR doesnt concern me it always comes up. There is pressure on the low side both pumps are good and working perfectly (tested and tested again plus secondary pump is quite new). Anyway I get towed back to Birmingham from London to my fathers garage as AA man could not help.Back a

Back at the garage we connect various code readers from local mechanics and no faults show. AA had cleared the HP fault and it hasnt returned. So next we check all connections and double check fuel pressure on the low pressure side and all good. We replace fuel filter anyway as needed doing and clean all electrical connections including to the common rail fuel pressure sensor. Unfortunately I did not try and start it after messing with the rail sensor. We subsequently sprayed carb cleaner in the inlet and it fired instantly. No this is where we get lost in this. It started way to quick, almost instantly and ran fine for 5 days just running around local although still slower to start than normal it did actual start ok.

Drove it back to London where I live and no issues, even seemed a little sharper, more responsive. I go back to the car next morning and nothing. Turns overs and wont start, Tried a squirt or carb cleaner (dont have easy start) and nothing just cranks and doesnt fire. This is odd. I have ordered easystart and will report back ASAP but I do not think its going to start. By the way my intention driving back to London was to see if it was injector leak off. Started fine being left over night in Bham so I thought leave it a few days in London and if it doesnt start then I am closer to knowing if injectors or not. Obvious FAIL as they car now wont start. I could be this but not convinced as wont fire at all.

Things That Happened That Could of Caused This (But I doubt it)

I ran it low on fuel before this issue due to lazyiness (25 miles on range twice).
Windscreen company reported a random black wire unconnected in passenger pillar (where air bag is). They said all air bag connections were connected so I discounted this but have not checked myself.
On the plug on the Common Rail Fuel Pressure Sensor the Green/ Brown wire is slightly damaged. Its not broken but its been twisted and I can see copper strand.

Things We have Checked

Tank pump is running.
Secondary Pump is running.
Fuel filter replaced and all connections checked.
No obvious issues with HP pump.

Things We Have Not Checked

Injector leak off test/ HP rail pressure since AA
Not changed any sensors yet.

Random Possibilities?

Ignition key or switch, its strange that it started so easily. We genuinely think it started because it was going to and not because of carb cleaner helping it along.

The HP fuel pump is unlikely as it ran fine for a number of days plus drove from Bham to London.
Could the vehicle be immobilised? Surely it would not crank if it is?

The damaged wire on the rail sensor probably doesnt help but I cant see how this could be the culprit but I am off to maplin to buy some wire and good connectors and I will repair and lengthen the cable. I also got a cheap tuning gizmo of ebay with spare connectors in case I damage a plug but again dont think this will make any difference.

So right now they car is effectively fubar sitting kerbside in North London. Battery is starting to drain from various attempts at getting this going. Last resort I call the AA out and get towed back but still need to fix this problem once its in the garage. Lots of non specialist mechanics looked at it and no clue.There is an RR place not far in Bham but I its getting it there.

Does anyone have diagnostics around the Angel area? I will happily pay you!!

Does anyone have any ideas?? There are lots of threads and I have read them all now but not many post back with the answer once fixed. If I fix this I promise I will update the thread!!

Thanks in advance and apologies for the long thread but wanted to add as much as possible.
 
Low fuel pressure will stop injectors from firing,my guess would be on the injectors leaking back too much fuel,try wd40 it's not as violent as easy start,this helps the engine spin up a bit faster,and overcomes the low fuel pressure,I've encountered these problems before,might be just 1 injector or more ,once running do a leak of test
 
Low fuel pressure will stop injectors from firing,my guess would be on the injectors leaking back too much fuel,try wd40 it's not as violent as easy start,this helps the engine spin up a bit faster,and overcomes the low fuel pressure,I've encountered these problems before,might be just 1 injector or more ,once running do a leak of test

Thanks Dove, tried WD40 and it still wont start just turns over. I dont get it. Is there something that could stop it firing but still turnover? Electrical maybe as it should start on WD40.
 
Easystart is the quickest way to feck your engine, I would repair that wire for starters, could be earthing out.
I know easystart isnt great but running out of options. You have to understand the vehicle is in a very central location on a busy road so even towing away is a big problem.
Wired fixed so its not that, but cheers for taking time to reply. Will heed warning.
 
I know easystart isnt great but running out of options. You have to understand the vehicle is in a very central location on a busy road so even towing away is a big problem.
Wired fixed so its not that, but cheers for taking time to reply. Will heed warning.
use easy start with a engine that has glow plugs.......... expect to replace glow plugs as they will be ruined.
 
Get a good code reader plugged onto it and watch live data as its cranking,check the fuel pressure ,rpm signal etc can't remember what the fuel pressure should be on cranking ,but would expect at least 150-200 bar
 
Get a good code reader plugged onto it and watch live data as its cranking,check the fuel pressure ,rpm signal etc can't remember what the fuel pressure should be on cranking ,but would expect at least 150-200 bar
Ok basically everything is ok on the code readers we have tried (all sorts). The HP fuel pump and insufficient rail pressure faults shown on the AA code reader have not come back. Low pressure side is good, HP side is zero. Its a shame that the AA scrubbed code but anyway to late now.
 
Stroke of luck. I was at the vehicle and an AA van happened to pull up and ask if I needed help (I had not called them). A few minutes of faffing later and he got the car started and I manage to get it back to the garage. No issues driving back at all but I took it steady for obvious reasons.

The annoying thing is now its back it starts first time!

Anyway we begged a Delphi test kit from a local garage and test the injectors. Dove was correct, as you can see from the photo below one injector is leaking back a lot.
l322-leakoff.jpg


Again very lucky, its easy to get to and came out quite easily. Replacement coming today so fingers crossed it will be fixed today! Will report back if it is.

Thanks again Dove.
 

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