Calling All Farmers! Stdt Wont Start Please Help.

[adrian_gti 0]

Hi guys and gals. I have a problem with the STDT. It was fine the night before but when i tried starting it yesterday it just turnsover and wont start. The glow plug light goes out as normal and I can see diesel in the fuel filter so I'm stumped. I've also checked the fuses and they are all ok. Anyone have any ideas on what else I can check?

Cheers,

Adrian.

Edited May 31, 2006 by adrian_gti

[sorr 0]

Check to see if the glow plugs are actually working. Just because the light goes out does not mean they have 'glowed' sucessfully.

 

Whip them out apply current from the battery, using jump leads NOT thin cable, and see if they glow.

Edited May 31, 2006 by sorr

[Anthony 1,003]

Assuming its cranking over with no attempt to catch...

 

Check the glow plug relay is working correctly - you should have 12v at the glowplugs when the preheat light is on, and the relay should make an audiable click sound.

 

If that's OK, then check you're getting diesel to the injectors - loosen (but do not remove) one of the high pressure lines and crank the engine. You should get diesel coming through.

 

You can always tow start the car with non-working glow plugs, but you'll really struggle to start it from cold just cranking on the starter.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

If it is cranking over with no attempt to catch then its either lost all compression (spins over easily) or there is no fuel imo.

 

Even without any glow plugs working it should catch eventually after a serious amount of cranking but it'll smoke like hell for a while until it clears.

 

Stop solenoid on the fuel pump could have died. I've had one go before but it stuck open for me & the engine wouldn't stop.

 

Graham.

[Anthony 1,003]

With a faulty glow plug relay the engine is pretty much unstartable and makes no attempt to fire even with extended periods of cranking - my old mans 405 diesel had a couple of relays fail and this is what happened each time (eventually started it by tow-starting)

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

My 306 DTurbo developed a problem and it turned out to be glow plugs, even though I'd replaced them all. Seems one (that was a different make) was managing to kill the lot. One new glow plug and all was right as rain.

 

Glow plugs are always the first port of call on a non-starting Diesel from my experience.

 

Rob

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

Id be gopng with stop solenoid, hold your ear to it while someone turns the key on, you should hear it click open. Or if you got a deep 27mm socket whip it out, remove the spring and plunger then put it back in and try again. Note if it starts this way you need to press the stop lever on the pump to turn engine off.

[adrian_gti 0]

thanks for the replies guys. I've tried cranking it over loads and loads but it starts to flatten the battery. Where is the stop solenoid so i can check it as I cant hear any clicks. Will also check the glow plugs.. do glow plugs just die like this? I always though they deteroarated (spelling) rather than instantly die... but hey... that why I'm hear asking the questions

 

Cheers,

Adrian.

[mbayley77 0]

My 306 derv wouldnt start. Turns out 3 glow plugs had gone! Fitted new ones and perfect starting pug derv again.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

With a faulty glow plug relay the engine is pretty much unstartable and makes no attempt to fire even with extended periods of cranking - my old mans 405 diesel had a couple of relays fail and this is what happened each time (eventually started it by tow-starting)

My first diesel (Novavan) had serious valve clearance issues. It used to take ages to start & smoked almost constantly because they weren't sealing but it used to start eventually. Then I crashed it.

Where is the stop solenoid so i can check it as I cant hear any clicks.

Stop solenoid is on the end of the pump (opposite end to cambelt) & has a single ring terminal wire fitted to it.

 

Does the car have an immobiliser?

 

Test the glow plugs by touching the end of each one with a jump lead direct from the battery, if it sparks they are usually OK.

 

Graham.