Diesel - won't start

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:40 pm

My Mk1 RD has decided that it doesn't want to run any more. Try to start it but there's not even a whiff of a potential start. If the fuel gauge is to be believed, there's plenty of fuel, but it would seem that none is making it to the engine. Ran fine last time I used it!

Fuel primer is firm but pumping doesn't result in any firing. Struggling to do too much to it due to a back injury but wondered if anyone had any thoughts that I haven't had yet.

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:45 pm

Ian,

if there is any air getting into the fuel system she wont start. Experienced this with Sophie. Initially she was running very rough and just got worse and worse. Then just gave up and although she turned over just would not go.
Suggest you bypass the fuel filter as suggested in earlier posts to prove it one way or another. Still reccon you have a buggered filter/primer.
Hope the back gets better bud, used to get a lot of this myself till i went self employed doing manual work, put on a lot of muscle and now not a problem but i know where you are coming from.

Andy

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:48 pm

Yeah, I had planned to bypass the fuel filter but can't actually do 'owt on the car. Bending over an engine is just not possible at the moment. Just thought I'd see if there was anything else I could have missed.

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:55 pm

As you have been driving her i feel its just a processs of elimination and i reccon the filter is the prime suspect. Could be wrong of course but its a simple fix if it is the case. Problem is finding the part.

Andy

Oilyspanner · Post by **Oilyspanner** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:03 pm

The diaphragms in the Rotodiesel filter bodies can fail and let air in, I sealed one up with silicone around the plunger, I used to replace the filter on that car at the top of a big hill and roll down in gear to prime it. the hardest one to locate was a split in the rubber fuel pipe down the back of the engine, where in Wales are you ?

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:06 pm

There has definitely been an air leak somewhere. I think this is why she's a little down on power. I tried looking down the back of the engine but it's hard to see anything down there (not helped by the fact that she's a travelling oil leak!).

I'm in mid-Wales, about 12 miles east of Aberystwyth.

Oilyspanner · Post by **Oilyspanner** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:44 pm

Shame I am not closer, I could have had a look.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:48 pm

Dollywobbler wrote: Fuel primer is firm but pumping doesn't result in any firing. Struggling to do too much to it due to a back injury but wondered if anyone had any thoughts that I haven't had yet.

Stop solenoid on the pump.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:36 pm

Funnily enough, I did activate the stop solenoid the other day by accident, in a 'what does this do? Oh, the engine's stopped' kind of a way. However, I have driven the car since. I did check it wasn't out of place but is there any other way to check it?

Oilyspanner · Post by **Oilyspanner** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:51 pm

A finger on to of the stop solenoid and get someone to turn the ignition on and off, you can hear and sort of feel the solenoid working, I once had a dirty contact inside the heater plug relay that gave the symptoms you describe, as could a couple of heater plugs down, not a difficult job on the old RD.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:56 pm

Dollywobbler wrote:Funnily enough, I did activate the stop solenoid the other day by accident, in a 'what does this do? Oh, the engine's stopped' kind of a way.

I think Ken means the electrical fuel shut off, not the manual engine stop.

I've known the plunger stick (often after a period of time standing), and also the electrical connection on the top to fail. I seem to remember some none standard wiring around that area, so especially worth checked 12V is present when it should be.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:51 pm

Solenoid sounds a distinct possibility. I can't see that an air leak would suddenly cause it to not run at all.

Where is the electrical thing?

The plug relay is at least clicking as it should. Not actually got a voltage check on the plugs yet.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:12 pm

Top of the pump, right hand end and just above the throttle cable bracket in this picture, under the rubber boot.

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:14 pm

an air leak can cause an airlock and stop it running.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:17 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:Top of the pump, right hand end and just above the throttle cable bracket in this picture, under the rubber boot.

Ah, that's what that is! Cheers Mat. Back seems much better this evening than it was first thing (I could barely walk!) so hopefully tomorrow or Tuesday will see me in fit shape to investigate.

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Diesel - won't start

Diesel - won't start

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