Anyone know much about old plod along diesels, that don't like to start?

deaf cat

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Hi All,

Hope you may be able to give me some pointers?:lease:

I've got a 1.8 (non turbo) plod along N reg Escort. The thing is, it starts fine in the morning, it starts fine at the end of the day to come home. But if I'm picking bits and bobs up etc, in a shop / job for say 5 mins to 3 hours the poor old thing has a bit of trouble, or rather just refuses to start.:mad:

I found a solution a while ago by pumping the fuel thing under the bonnet, starts of soft and as you pump it gets hard, then the good old motor would start easily.:smashin:

I heard that on this age of car the fuel pump thing often 'let by' so put a new one on. Fine for a week! Then off we go again bonnet up and pump this little fuel thing each time I want to go anywhere – (good security wise, I suppose) but bit of a pain after a while.

Now it is still refusing to start even after six or seven goes of starting and pumping. However some days it is fine!! I don't understand.:confused:

The other day same thing, but tried pumping and starting say 5-7 times each time I stopped for a short while thinking oh dear :suicide: time for Breakdown Rescue…..
The last stop off of the day, I pumped the fuel thing before I went in the shop and Yep when I came out the thing started first time…..??:rotfl: :confused:

Please help if you have any pointers and to what may be next on the list to check.

Thanks in advance!!!!!
 
Change the glow plugs and stop flooding the engine lolol

Pop down to your local motorists store or halfords and buy some new glow plugs. Also try disconnecting the battery , clean up the terminals and flick over them with a bit of sandpaper , smudge some copper grease on there and connect back up!

Worth a go and wont cost much to do :smashin:

Jon
 
Could be a problem with the fuel filter: they're designed to catch water in the fuel. It should be serviced routinely anyway, so there's no harm in trying it!

I think the pump thingy is the unit used to prime the fuel system should you run out of fuel?
 
Cheers Jon, I changed the glow plugs approx 4 months ago to hopefully sort the cold starting problem, which it did. Even after the 6-7 goes to warm start the engine, still turns over the same speed, and so I guess.... the battery is ok. I do two long runs a week so it should charge up ok....hopefully.

Thanks Rhoamish, fuel filter worth a go, can't say I remember seeing a filter so I'll have to look a little deeper into the jungle of plastic bits, hoses and wires etc.
Yes, the primer pump thing is for using if you run out of fuel.

Cheers!

Do you reccon there could be a hole in the fuel system somewhere letting in air? - (and also letting out fuel...)?
 
deaf cat said:
Do you reccon there could be a hole in the fuel system somewhere letting in air? - (and also letting out fuel...)?

I did wonder about that, but I think water in the fuel would have the same effect. There should definitely be a fuel filter in the system!
 
Off to me car spares shop over the weekend and get a nice Haynes Manual to see where this elusive filter is.

More than likely looking right at me!

Cheers :smashin:
 
You'll have a preheat box or glow plug relay.... if this goes down it can cause starting problems.
 
Cheers Layne, It starts fine when its cold, when its been used it has trouble starting....do reccon the relay thingy could cause this too..?
Oh and its intermittent....
 
deaf cat said:
Cheers Layne, It starts fine when its cold, when its been used it has trouble starting....do reccon the relay thingy could cause this too..?
Oh and its intermittent....

I have seen cars that have similar probs to yours and once we changed the Glow Plug Relay it's stopped.... but i'm not saying it's definately this that's the problem.

The only thing i will say is that pumping the fuel wouldn't make a difference if it is a problem with the GPR.

You say it won't start after it's been run.... the thing is diesel engines work on compression and use this to heat the air (only) so as the fuel's sprayed in (at the top of the stroke) it gives a controlled burn... so if your engine turns over, it should still start eventually!!

The 2 other things that can kill a diesel are air or water in the fuel.
 
Cheers layne, So if the fuel primer is soft and spongy, which it is after I switch off, I pump it so it is hard and this more often than not....helps it start...do you think the relay thing is still worth changing?

I've checked the filter and its all clean no water no dirt, and the seals are in good condition and nice and flexable so assembled again carefully. So I think the primer and filter should be ok...

The fuel cap does make a sucking sound when I remove it after a run, however even after filling with fuel, it still needs priming and turning over a good few times before it starts......other times its fine..:confused:

Any more suggestions:lease:

Or just start form the tank and slowly replace each bit of pipe and what ever else is in the fuel run.....:rolleyes:
 
Does it run ok usually... i.e smooth (for a diesel)?

There is a possability it could be a problem with your injector pump (worst case) or the fuel pipe that runs to it.

Is the air filter old?
 
It runs lovely once it decides to go:smashin:

Oooo That fuel pump thing looks expensive and rather complicated :rolleyes: hope its not that!

Acually had the air filter out today, looked a bit grubby, bashed it about a bit to get the crud off, so will be replacing that soon.
 
deaf cat said:
I found a solution a while ago by pumping the fuel thing under the bonnet, starts of soft and as you pump it gets hard, then the good old motor would start easily.:smashin
Would probably make my old motor start too...............:devil:
 
Oi Oi :devil:


Well I think it has been a week now and since I reassembled the primer and the filter, touch wood all been fine!!

Fingers Crossed a!

I've printed all of this out just incase I have to look else where in the future.

Cheers Again!!!
 

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