Not starting

[Rattlenbang]

In my experience an entire switch rarely goes but one of the contacts might. It would be very strange if more than one contact burned out. It only takes a moment to check for power at the glow plug bus and fuel shutoff. If no power there, then work your way back. If nothing there it sounds more like no 12V getting to the switch, which is also easy to check for. Simple to take off the cover to the steering column and check voltage right at the switch.

[Firesong]

He said that the fan, lights etc turn on when he turns the key in the first post. That's why suggesting it's the full turn / starter engage position.

[Rattlenbang]

Yes, but he also said when he manually kicked in the starter it wouldn't start (I'm assuming he did everything else right like glow plugs), which suggests power isn't getting elsewhere where it's needed.

[Big-Bird]

How much do you trust the wife? Have her sit the vehicle in neutral with the park brake on.

Have her turn the key to ignition position as if she was gonna start it.
At the same time you get under and jog the starter with a screwdriver. If it starts and stays running you have isolated the problem between the starter and the ignition switch.

[WhoGotTheFunk]

Hi there, This is delicawannabe2's brother. I've been doing some trouble shooting with him over the phone and this is what we've found so far.

1. He can jump the starter solenoid and the van turns over. It will not start even when the ignition switch is in the start position (key turned as if you are starting the vehicle).

2. From what I gather he has tested the starter and two glow plug relays correctly. They pass

3. I walked him through testing the ignition switch using this http://s74.photobucket.com/user/bruceho ... M.jpg.html wiring diagram. and it seems to be working fine except he only gets 10.75V on the other side of the switch. He does here the starter relay clicking though when the key is in the start position.

4. If he turns the key to the start position and hits the starter solenoid with a hammer nothing happens.

5. His van is a Manual transmission so there is no neutral safety switch. I'm not 100% but there is no clutch switch either.

I'm not sure where to go from here. Could it be his Glow Plug Control Unit? I don't know the ins and outs of this, if it stops the vehicle from cranking. Or what about his coolant temp sensor. If that fails could that create a no crank/start situation? Everything does seem to point to the ignition switch but he says he's getting power to the starter relay. At the moment I'm try to get him to by pass the ignition switch. Not sure what else to do.

Thanks guys

[Firesong]

The glow plug system doesn't stop the starter /cranking.

[Firesong]

Maybe a little ether? ;)

[WhoGotTheFunk]

The glow plug system doesn't stop the starter /cranking.

Well that's good to hear. I wasn't sure about that. Well he hasn't been able to jump the ignition switch yet. Kinda think that's the problem. It is weird though that there was no precursor to this happening. It just all of a sudden wouldn't crank.

[Big-Bird]

The ignition system schematic for the L300 appears simple in the PDF file for Engine Electrical...look at pg 39.
http://www.delica.ca/forum/l-300-electr ... -7333.html

The UK sites had info about a fusable link at the battery (or near the battery) that can burn out due to a short somewhere. Sorry but the info on specifics is not clear.

So the batteries are good.
All things inside work when the key is on.....do they cut out when the key is bumped to ignition?
The starter works when its jumped across the solenoid terminals. And even with the key in Ignition position it won't stay running.

Here's the fuel system info. Pg 99 is the fuel shut off solenoid.
http://www.delica.ca/forum/l-300-fuel-d ... -7339.html

And according to the book for the manual transmission there is a clutch pedal position switch. It only has 2 contacts...could be a suspect. It's located at the pedal pivot point and might be obscured by the bracket its attached to.

[delicawannabe2]

Thanks Rattlenbang and Big-Bird, I'll check the fuel shut off solenoid. I took a quick look for a switch on the clutch pedal a few days ago and didn't see anything but I'll have a closer look. What would the clutch pedal switch do as I was always able to start the van without the the clutch depressed, unlike my Honda civic?

[Firesong]

What's funny was my 1989/1990 started regardless of clutch position. Loved reaching in and starting it. Might be the older ones didn't have the switch?

[Big-Bird]

This link might prove useful. It's a series of scanned images for the 4D56(L300) and 4M40(L400) electrical schematics. Lots of pages but it appeared to be complete. Look at page 14 of the scanned sheets.


http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44406

BB

[WhoGotTheFunk]

Thanks for all the help guys we'll keep posting as info becomes available. Haven't spoken with my brother yet today. I kind of don't think it would be the fuel cut-off solenoid. Wouldn't it at least turn over if there wasn't 12V at that solenoid?

[yojimbo]

It would turn over yes. It does sound like its got no fuel though.

[delicawannabe2]

I went back to the fusible links, originally I did just a visible check. Stupid. I have 12 volts to the locks and lights but I don't voltage to the defrost or the ignition. Pretty embarrassed right now.