engine taking longer to fire

[lightningad]

I have noticed lately that the engine on my Surf is taking longer to fire. Yesterday I nearly flooded the engine/ drained the battery before i got ignition.

As this is my first diesel, I'm unsure what to check for, and how to cure this....any suggestions?

and on a related note, I got to thinking how on earth do you jump start a diesel automatic if you do flood the engine or drain the battery?

[Darren]

I allways give the glow plugs atleast 5 seconds which helps it start easier (ie turn the key till all the dash lights come on then wait 5-10 secs before starting. As far as I know theres no way to push start an Auto so the answer is jump leads but it will need to be off something with quite a big battery as they take quite a lot of juice to start.
Darren

[lightningad]

yeah - i always leave it until at least after the ABS has armed itself (you can hear the pump prime itself) - maybe i need to give it even longer.

Always have been surprised at how quickly the glowplug light goes out.

[TonyN]

First up check your glow plugs are getting power, check the glow fuse then see if its getting 12V to the bus bar on the engine. Then you'll have to undo the glow plugs and test them individually.

Toyota don't recomment removing them as the ceramic cracks easily, you can test them with a multimeter in-situ, its should be 0.65 ohms (cold). but if it exceeds 1 ohm replace according to the book.

Or sometimes a badly blocked fuel/air filter will do the same thing.

[TonyN]

Always have been surprised at how quickly the glowplug light goes out.

The light is more of an test light, the power stays on for up to 5 secs depending on coolant temp.

typically, its 4 secs at 0 deg, to 1 sec at 60 deg.

[lightningad]

First up check your glow plugs are getting power, check the glow fuse then see if its getting 12V to the bus bar on the engine. Then you'll have to undo the glow plugs and test them individually.

Or sometimes a badly blocked fuel/air filter will do the same thing.

thanks Tony....err....what's a bus bar on the engine? and how do i test a glow plug?

I have new filters on order so they will be replaced in a day or two anyway.

adam

[lightningad]

The light is more of an test light, the power stays on for up to 5 secs depending on coolant temp.

typically, its 4 secs at 0 deg, to 1 sec at 60 deg.

well right through winter, mine never stayed on for any longer than it does now - its usually about a second regardless of how hot or cold things are.

[Gizmo]

thanks Tony....err....what's a bus bar on the engine? and how do i test a glow plug?

I have new filters on order so they will be replaced in a day or two anyway.

adam

The bus-bar is the connecting bar between the glow-plugs. Diagrams taken from the 1KZT Engine Repair Manual

[da SLUG man]

jump start is the same as any car!


connect jump leads to appropriate teminals (hint +=+ -=-)
leave a few minutes to charge... then try starting.


make sure you turn off "donor" car before disconnecting


.... to bump start, you've got no chance... nor push start! (unless you bolt torque converter on backwards)

[Newboy]

I thought I read it in one of those weekly collection manual thingy in a folder 20+ years about it's possible to push start an auto provided you can get enough speed..... is it true or not?

[Frogsurf]

~Yeah, I heard the same, guy with a 50's Chevy told me you need to get it up to about 30-40 mph though... then what? put into 'D' and make sure ign is on I suppose.

[marky]

thanks Tony....err....what's a bus bar on the engine? and how do i test a glow plug?

I have new filters on order so they will be replaced in a day or two anyway.

adam

Adam STEVO can test the GLOWPLUGS for you. Be quick as he goes away soon. (Holiday's)

[lightningad]

i am hoping i might have found the reason for the poor starting - the battery fluid level was only half full on all the cells. Its probably not been carrying enough charge to fire and turnover - so now it s all topped up i'll see if thats it sorted.

thanks for the help guys

[mickey]

i am hoping i might have found the reason for the poor starting - the battery fluid level was only half full on all the cells. Its probably not been carrying enough charge to fire and turnover - so now it s all topped up i'll see if thats it sorted.

thanks for the help guys

ahhh, wish i'd seen this thread earlier..it would have been my one oppertunity for forum glory, assuming it is the battery of course..because..excactly the same thing happened to mine.eventually she wouldn't start at all, and i had to suffer the indignity of having the aa out..arrgg, the humiliation, i'm going red thinking about it..he then proceeded to test everything, said all was well, but i was losing compression..uhhhh..two sleepless nights later, several replies to my plea were pointing at battery trouble..had a look, and sure enought, a dry cell..topped it up, and bingo..been starting on the first turn ever since...for what its worth, my glowplug light is of the "blink and you'll miss it" variety also..i always listen for the underbonnet click before turning it over, as recommended by many of the guys here.