Cold Start Problem

[TRD-1]

Hi all,

I recently brought a 2.4 TD surf with a few issues, one of the problems Im gonna need help with is cold start, before I brought the car I was told that the manual choke is missing, mine is a JDM 1993 Automatic. Ive now realised that the diesel pump has been changed, and im presuming they have put on a later model one which didn't have manual choke, this creates a big issue in the mornings!

It takes me almost over a minute to start it up, and thats with cranking it up around 15seconds a time as I don't want to damage the starter!

Any help on how I can improve cold starts would be much appreciated, as its getting quite annoying especially when my dad drives it as i keep getting ear ache!!......

[T1z3R]

i take it the engines turns fine and at normal speed? its just not firing up?
try priming the the fuel system next time your going to start it from cold.

[stormforce]

what year etc is your truck.I take it the way you are talking is that its the early 2.4 with the mechanical fuel pump and its been swapped for a later 2.4 pump which is the electonic pump and this won't work without the ecu and all the wiring for it either.Let us know the truck details and then we can help a bit more with the problem

[guysturg1]

didn't realise they fitted a manual choke! thought they came on petrols only, i'd check the glow plugs are working ok before you do anything else

[TRD-1]

Yes its turning over fine and sounds ok, but the firing is very slow, how do I primie the fuel system?

My truck is a 1993 Surf Japanese Import and its the SSR-X model. If I look below the steering there I can see a hole which is part of the dash and I believe that is where the choke was.

Regarding the diesel pump if its not possible to get it to work without a ecu etc then Im not sure what would be causing it to be so slow to start in the mornings. The actualy turning of the enigne is very fast as both batteries have been replaced so its on the firing side that there is a issue. However once its started then it fires up on the key everytime.

[Albannach]

That's just a hole in the dash, there was never a choke on your truck.

As has been said, check the glow plugs work.

[stormforce]

Right so you will have a ecu.Theres a few of us with a similar problem and from what one guy has said the glowplugs were the problem.Get a new set from www.roughtrax4x4.com and then it should improve things.
Also check the fuse in the main box under the bonnet as that could well of blown preventing the pulgs from working

[TRD-1]

Thanks guys,

I do really appreciate the advice, I will on saturday change the glow plugs and see if that makes a difference.

Just out of curiosity are the glow plugs easy to change?

[stormforce]

Just make sure you note what order you take the buzz bar etc off or you'll end up blowing the 80amp fuse if its put back wrong.
Take it steady un-doing the glowplugs and don't force them or they can snap

[T1z3R]

you prime it from the fuel filter under the bonnet at the passenger side bolted to the bulkhead. theres a plunger on top which will show pressure after a few pumps.

itll cost nothing to try this out.

[Diezel Weazel]

Just make sure you note what order you take the buzz bar etc off or you'll end up blowing the 80amp fuse if its put back wrong.
Take it steady un-doing the glowplugs and don't force them or they can snap

It may help to start it up n let it idle 10-15 minutes or so till it's warm anyhow n this should help) before trying to remove the Glowplugs !!
Good Luck

There's always a Payback .. Co ya don't know where n ya never know when !!

[stormforce]

good idea that Jess as my truck wouldn't start at all this morning and drained the batteries.I got the glowplugs but just need to fit them.I had to use the celica to jump start the surf

[Diezel Weazel]

good idea that Jess as my truck wouldn't start at all this morning and drained the batteries.I got the glowplugs but just need to fit them.I had to use the celica to jump start the surf

There's always a Payback .. Cos ya don't know where n ya never know when !!

[TRD-1]

Hi guys!

This morning I primed the fuel filter with about 10 or more pumps and now the car won't start at all, do I have to just leave it to settle now before it hopefully will fire up?

Also where are the glow plugs and how are they replaced?

[stormforce]

the glow plugs run along with the injectors and have a metal rod connecting each one and a wire bolted to it also.Take the meatal rod off and then undo each injector carefully incase they snap.You will probably find the truck will start if you jump start it as mine did.I did mine on Thursday and it took about half hour to do and now the truck starts better than ever