Ongoing Starting Problem
Discussion
I don't think my cars ever been a great starter, normally takes a few seconds first go. But since last year it's been terrible in the Winter (and even the Autumn now). After it has been started once it will start straight away the rest of the day. I had to get it jump started twice last December. The MAF sensor has also been unplugged since last September after I went through a massive puddle in the rain, which caused it to conk out after a few days, so its been unplugged since then.
To avoid bad starts this winter I decided to get the glowplugs changed. Since I didn't have the time to get to the fourth one behind the pump, I took it to my ex xpart garage. They changed all four plugs and after I took it home I tried it and it was worse than ever, it took four attempts
to start it. I took it back to the garage and they had it for three days.
They said my battery (which is only a few years old) wasn't fully charged but even when they put a new battery on it didn't change anything. They tried testing the voltage on the glowplugs and they were fine, they had the T4 diagnosis on the car and said the only fault showing up was the MAF. They tried putting a new return pipe on I think and a few other things. I think they they couldn't get to the bottom of it but it sounded like it was being starved of diesel at times. It's now back to the beginning almost and replacing the glowplugs seemed pointless. It will start after maybe 5 seconds and be ok the rest of the day, although now when starting it almost sounds like its trying to fire and doesn't catch till its got to 5 seconds then does.
I don't know how much the cold has to do with it, its not even really cold yet and the other day it started straight away within a two seconds after sitting for a two days and then a day later it struggled to start again after nine hours. Any idea what this could be, it stumpt the guys at the
garage. Would the MAF be causing this after being unplugged for so long or what other possibilities are left? The garage suggested I take it to a diesel specialist.
Could it still be the battery if it doesn't sound like it's dying when it's trying to start? Best way I can describe it was last winter when it needed jump starting when I turned the key it sounded like it was getting slower and slower and I couldn't try it again as it was dead. But just this morning it wouldn't start and just kept turning over till I took the key out a second time and tried again. This time it didn't sound like it was dying it just wouldn't ignite and start.
Checked the earth points and they seem fine, looks like the garage did this also as the bolts had that copper stuff freshly put on them. So I don't think it's them. Just been on a twenty minute drive, wouldn't start first time. Then after driving twenty minutes I stopped for ten minutes and tried it again and it started on the key first time.
So is it the diesel not getting through first use after going cold because wouldn't a twenty minute drive not be enough to charge the battery up? I don't know.
To avoid bad starts this winter I decided to get the glowplugs changed. Since I didn't have the time to get to the fourth one behind the pump, I took it to my ex xpart garage. They changed all four plugs and after I took it home I tried it and it was worse than ever, it took four attempts
to start it. I took it back to the garage and they had it for three days.
They said my battery (which is only a few years old) wasn't fully charged but even when they put a new battery on it didn't change anything. They tried testing the voltage on the glowplugs and they were fine, they had the T4 diagnosis on the car and said the only fault showing up was the MAF. They tried putting a new return pipe on I think and a few other things. I think they they couldn't get to the bottom of it but it sounded like it was being starved of diesel at times. It's now back to the beginning almost and replacing the glowplugs seemed pointless. It will start after maybe 5 seconds and be ok the rest of the day, although now when starting it almost sounds like its trying to fire and doesn't catch till its got to 5 seconds then does.
I don't know how much the cold has to do with it, its not even really cold yet and the other day it started straight away within a two seconds after sitting for a two days and then a day later it struggled to start again after nine hours. Any idea what this could be, it stumpt the guys at the
garage. Would the MAF be causing this after being unplugged for so long or what other possibilities are left? The garage suggested I take it to a diesel specialist.
Could it still be the battery if it doesn't sound like it's dying when it's trying to start? Best way I can describe it was last winter when it needed jump starting when I turned the key it sounded like it was getting slower and slower and I couldn't try it again as it was dead. But just this morning it wouldn't start and just kept turning over till I took the key out a second time and tried again. This time it didn't sound like it was dying it just wouldn't ignite and start.
Checked the earth points and they seem fine, looks like the garage did this also as the bolts had that copper stuff freshly put on them. So I don't think it's them. Just been on a twenty minute drive, wouldn't start first time. Then after driving twenty minutes I stopped for ten minutes and tried it again and it started on the key first time.
So is it the diesel not getting through first use after going cold because wouldn't a twenty minute drive not be enough to charge the battery up? I don't know.
The symptoms don't point obviously to a battery problem and if it's cranking over briskly I would be looking elsewhere for the problem. The fact it starts after a delay might indicate that the fuel system is taking a while to prime after it has been left standing. No idea what effect the missing MAF sensor would have on starting a diesel but I can't help thinking if it isn't behaving right then getting all the sensors working properly should be your first step..
Fuel draining back to the tank?
Similar starting issue with my sprinter a while ago - 10 secs or more cranking in the morning then fine for the rest of the day.
Was the plastic valve in the return fuel line on top of the fuel filter. (Google Mercedes part number A6110780249 to see the little b"£$%^&)
Similar starting issue with my sprinter a while ago - 10 secs or more cranking in the morning then fine for the rest of the day.
Was the plastic valve in the return fuel line on top of the fuel filter. (Google Mercedes part number A6110780249 to see the little b"£$%^&)
paintman said:
Fuel draining back to the tank?
Similar starting issue with my sprinter a while ago - 10 secs or more cranking in the morning then fine for the rest of the day.
Was the plastic valve in the return fuel line on top of the fuel filter. (Google Mercedes part number A6110780249 to see the little b"£$%^&)
I'll have a look tomorrow.Similar starting issue with my sprinter a while ago - 10 secs or more cranking in the morning then fine for the rest of the day.
Was the plastic valve in the return fuel line on top of the fuel filter. (Google Mercedes part number A6110780249 to see the little b"£$%^&)
I'm based in the North East I'm going to take it to a Diesel Specialist. I've narrowed it down to either a mobile guy called the Diesel Doctor or a garage called Just Diesels. Don't suppose anyone's had any experience with either of them?
The battery died this morning with the cold which is ridiculous as it's not that cold yet and I had only been using the car two days before. So it's loosing it's charge even faster now.
If the battery isn't fully charged would that cause the engine to turn over for 7 seconds till it caught? This morning I could tell it was the battery because it sounded like it was dying straight away. For the past few weeks it didn't sound like it was dying just not catching, however if the battery wasn't fully charged would it still sound 'normal' but cause the car to crank over for several seconds?
If the battery isn't fully charged would that cause the engine to turn over for 7 seconds till it caught? This morning I could tell it was the battery because it sounded like it was dying straight away. For the past few weeks it didn't sound like it was dying just not catching, however if the battery wasn't fully charged would it still sound 'normal' but cause the car to crank over for several seconds?
What engine and car do you actually have?
MAF won't affect starting as its not used to start.
What does cause issues with starting is indeed the battery and the starter motor.
Whats the cranking speed on live data? Whats the battery voltage at during this?
Certain diesels may seem to have a good starter but when you scope them they are pulling excessive amps and cause hard starting.
MAF won't affect starting as its not used to start.
What does cause issues with starting is indeed the battery and the starter motor.
Whats the cranking speed on live data? Whats the battery voltage at during this?
Certain diesels may seem to have a good starter but when you scope them they are pulling excessive amps and cause hard starting.
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