Odd Starting Problem.

[kennyrodg]

Hey folks.
I've just had the Fuel pump re-sealed,new cam belt and water pump done on the truck (2.4)Two weeks ago in fact. I've had the car for about 5 years or so and it's always been on the button, even after it was stood for 6 months.
I came to start it this morning, the engine was cranking fine but it didn't fire at all but there was plenty of smoke coming from the exhaust. I tried it again tonight and still the same. I pumped up the pressure on the filter a few times and still it refused to fire. In desperation I gave it a whiff of easy start and she fired, ran a bit lumpy for 30 seconds or so then she was fine. I switched the motor off and gave her a few minutes then tried again and she fired up perfect.
Any thoughts guys ????

[kennyrodg]

Same thing again this mornin' folks. It's cranking fine but just not even trying to fire.
Any ideas folks ??

[TonyN]

Is this ever since getting the work done?

You need to open an injector pipe and see if its getting diesel to the injectors.

Maybe glow plugs, but they will start in the end normally even with none working.

Check for loose/split fuel pipes, try the primer pump before you start, if its not hard you may have a fuel leak somewhere

[kennyrodg]

Thanks for the reply Tony.
Yeah, it's since the work was done. I've had the truck back for a couple of weeks at most. It's been fine until 2 days ago.
I've pumped up the pressure with the pump above the filter but it won't fire like that. After a minutes cranking on the starter it'll take 4 or 5 pumps on the primer to go solid again.It makes plenty of smoke whilst it's cranking so I think it's getting fuel, at least the smoke coming out the exhaust smells very "diesely" at least. It'll fire on easy start then it's fine. It just won't start after it's been left for a few hours.
Whadya reckon ??

[Sancho]

Did they put a new tensioner and whatnot on with the cambelt? Just thinking it could have jumped a tooth? Wouldn't explain why it runs fine after a bit though....

I don't suppose you've taken it back to the garage?

[kennyrodg]

I doubt its the belt bud. I've just given it a whiff of easy start and it cracked up straight away.
It's a cold start issue somewhere. I've just spent the morning checking for leaks etc and found none.
I've tried testing the plugs but i'm not sure where to put the volt meter, Ive tried the red lead on the top of the plug, black to the block and got no voltage. Red lead to the top of the plug and black to battery earth terminal and It goes from 10v to zero in approx 3 seconds. The engine is warm now btw.
I'm so pi**ed about this. I've gone from zero issues in the last 5 years to a total nightmare and a £700 repair bill in two weeks.
I'm totally at a loss as to what to do next.

EDIT,
Plugs were replaced last year and it's done very little mileage since

Another edit.
I just re tested the plugs with the volt meter.
They seem to work fine.10v for a few seconds then down to 7v.

[Justbrad]

It's a bit of a pain in the bum but take the plugs out and check and see if they glow when you put a battery to them, using a meter only tells you if power is getting to them.

It really does seem like a glow plug issue.

Good luck

[dieselboy]

I thought easy start was bad for diesel engines? I remember some time ago my old diesel smelt a spray of carb cleaner, which caused it to pre ignite.

[wishbone]

Connect a jump lead from the block to the battery earth and see if it starts ok - you're block isn't earthed if you get no reading from the voltmeter. If it works fit a new earth strap to the block.

[legendgamesmaster]

Its USUALLY an easy problem that is just hard to find...

Mates Hilux did this, turned out to be a mix of 3 things:

Old Glow Plugs - replaced.
Fuel Filter clogged - Replaced
Started better after this, but still not 100%

Replaced battery and voila instant start every time. Seems he was just not getting the 'ooooomph' needed to start.

Remember folks, diesel plus energy = bang. If your battery isnt turning the engine at a fast enough rate, you will never get the beast to fire up, as there wont be enough energy being put into the cylinders. I guess easy start ignites at a lower energy level.... and once running, there is enough energy to keep it going (thats why diesels don't have sparks - roughly speaking)

So check BOTH batteries if you have the duel setup. If one is fragged it'll drag the other one down.

Oh, yes... Check connections too, as they may have forgotten to tighten up one set of contacts (Ive had that happen, but I was the twit who forgot) which will result in the same effect - not enough juice to the starter, and the turnover is too slow to provide the energy needed in compression to ignite the fuel.

[kennyrodg]

Hey all.
Apologies for not updating this one all.
It's a complete mystery but I managed to fix it....I'm not quite sure though what it was that I did.
I checked the obvious things like the fuses and listened for the realay and all seemed good. Next up- I didn't seem to be getting voltage to the plugs at first so I checked the connection to the bus bar,that seemed OK but I couldn't get the connector block of to check it/clean it. I also took the fuse out for the immobiliser and popped it back in again.
After some head scrathing and getting nowhere I tried it on the key again and It fired straight away I even got the glow light on the dash which has never worked since I got the truck.
It's been fine since but if it goes again I still won't know for sure how to fix it !!
Thanks for all the suggestions folks.
Pete.