1991 Peugeot 309 diesel won't start

[BillyMarson]

I have a diesel 309 (1.9 non-turbo)
The head gasket gave up so my father and I replaced it, solving the overheating issues I was having.
After about 7 months, it was struggling to start, firing on only 3 cylinders before picking up the 4th, one day the worst happened and it wouldn't start at all, dad reckons a full rebuild is required, I'm hoping he's being dramatic, it turns over but never fires.
Maybe I should go the cheap route and try the demon easy start before spending too much on it, but to be honest I really love that car and it would be a shame to get rid of it if I can fix it myself.
If anyone can help with this issue or my other one with the Ka. it would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Bill

[finlo]

Glowplugs?

[S0 What]

First thing i do on a diesel with starting issues is test the feed to the GPs, then test the GP resistance, then i change the fuel filter and test for air in the system by using a see through pipe in the feed TO the fuel pump, probably the last test i do is a compression test.

[SebringMan]

If it sounds like it has compression when turning over I reckon you are in with a chance. I'd possibly be tempted to take the cambelt cover off if you don't know when it has last had a cambelt changed (around every 4 years rings a bell).

If it were me I'd:

-Check the cambelt. If it's snapped due to an unknown history skip the rest!
-Check to see the Glow Plugs are warming up. If not all of them are, check the connections, swap some GWs around and replace if necessary.
-Despite the GW light going out give the car a couple more seconds before you fire it up. I recall reading somewhere that the light can go out prematurely, due to a faulty relay etc. It made a nice difference on my 306 1.9DT waiting a short while for the light to go and then fire it up a few seconds after the light had extinguished itself.
-Put some Easy Start in after the above ; I'm not really a fan of the stuff! If it fires up or tries you know it is a fuelling issue. In that case I'd say it's one of the following:
-A damaged/warped fuel casing letting in air ; this will make the cars a pig to start but they will eventually run fine
-Blocked fuel filter ; unlikely but it can happen.
-A faulty one way valve in the priming bulb/Grenade. Pumping this and feeling it go hard with the engine starting better as a result will rule that out. However, it could also be misdiagnosed as the fuel filter casing as above. However, the casing will tend to leak as a result.

Edited by SebringMan on Wednesday 15th February 00:23

[Stickyfinger]

Join and ask

www.frenchcarforum.co.uk

[Old Merc]

Those old Pug XU diesels are bulletproof,the best engine Peugeot ever made,the only thing that prevents them from starting is duff glow plugs.
Put a meter on one,switch the ignition on to make sure the timer relay is working,then fit four new ones.
That`s the only job my 22 year old XU has had,180K on the clock and it starts on the button and has never let me down.
Sometimes,very rarely,they can drag air in via a worn fuel filter bleed pump.

[mattyc69]

100% glow plugs, multimeter on the feed wire check you have 12volts pull one and test it across a battery. Give them a soak with some plus gas 24hrs before going for the removal.