2003 3.0d crancking over but not starting

[treeman]

UPDATE.......

About 5 degrees c here today....

Local mechanic offered to spray a little Easy Start into the intake while I cranked engine. Engine started ok. Turned it off straight away, cranked it over again and wouldn't start. Sprayed another minimal amount of Easy start in and engine started ok. This time I drove it and let it warm up properly before turning off. Engine started straight away on it's own, and started ok again after 20 minutes cooling down, and again after an hour. Also after 2 hours it started, and even 5 hours later it started, although each time needing more cranks to get going.

My basic thoughts are as engine was warm enough it didn't need the glow plugs to start. I will check tomorrow morning but guessing it won't start as almost freezing here over night.

Any thoughts or conclusions from today's tests?

(as an aside I don't like using Easy start and 2 squirts is maximum and I plan not to use it any more.)

My plan is to replace glow plugs once I can get that damn intake manifold off - got it 99% off but can't release the metal clamp intake at the front!

[PsYcHe]

I'd definitely start with the glow plugs... Make sure they're getting power to them first as it could be a problem elsewhere down the line.

[treeman]

Got intake manifold off - checked resistance of each glow plug and all show resistance so i'm lead to believe that means they are good.
Put ignition key in position 2 and checked voltage between plug caps and plug tips and get about 2.5v on all of them - bit strange as I thought I'd get 12v at least to heat glow plugs.

Any ideas what might be wrong or what to check next?

[X5diesel2001]

Hello there,
You might have to check/replace ur camshaft and crankshaft sensor...

[Bargain Bucket]

It's not the glow plugs. At 5 oC it should easily start without them. And you don't need to get the manifold off to test them either.

You appear to have a fuel priming issue. It will only run for a few seconds on a squirt of EasyStart. The fact that it keeps running means that the fuel system is doing it's job ONCE the engine is running. When you switch on the ignition, do you hear a fuel pump running at the rear of the car for up to a minute and do you hear fuel splashing in the tank?

[Mafian]

I'm with Bargain Bucket. I have had a faulty glow plug regulator and haven't yet got around to changing it (due to location etc) yet never had a problem starting it on 0 to -3 degree mornings without the glow plugs. It always started within 1 second and whilst sounds a little grumbly at first it is idling like normal within 5-10 seconds. Definitely a fuel based problem.

[Bargain Bucket]

I have to apologise to treeman. You do have to remove the inlet manifold to get to the glow plugs. I don't know what I was thinking of when I said you don't. It all came back to me as I was replacing the radiator on mine last week.

[omodos]

treeman did you get this sorted?

[treeman]

Originally Posted by omodos

treeman did you get this sorted?

Yes - mechanic tried a fuel injector from a Ford Transit van and car started and ran so he bought a reconditioned fuel injector and problem solved..

[omodos]

Ok fella I have been battling with this issue for 2 years now, this year I noticed a difference, am running the same bosch battery but have noticed , that the more I have driven the car the better the start is the next morning, or if i have charged it over the weekend with the ctek it starts better....seems the short trips of under 10miles a day coupled with the frequent stops start the engine in between this 10mile trips is sapping the battery....whether or not this is coupled with the issue you had is another story...again I turn key to the on position it and it has a couple of times after say 10seconds not started, trun key back to 0 and then back to start and it starts....this is what is further confusing