1 week old 90Delica - not starting - help!

[alec]

Hi there,
I've only owned my Delica for 1 week and it would not start on Monday morning.
Japanoid, whom I purchase it from, is helping me with towing costs from Squamish to have it looked at.

I though I would also ask here for any help - and to let you know what they find out.

I tried jump starting the battery with BCAA's help, thinking it was the battery.
I tried putting more fuel in (to raise the level to almost 1/2full), thinking it might be some water in the tank.
The engine is trying to turn over (not the starter) and all lights go on no problem (not the alternator).
I am stumped! Most likely something is a bit loose - and will not be a major fix.

Any thoughts?

Alec

[marsgal42]

Is it firing at all? Does it have compression?

These are very simple diesel engines. If they have fuel and compression they will run. If it won't start it's because it has no fuel. My first suspect would be the shutoff solenoid. Then the rest of the fuel system.

...laura

[wookie]

If one of your fuel lines is loose it will allow air in to the fuel system. First try pumping the primer and see if any fuel leaks out of any loose fittings. Then try bleeding the the system. This is done by loosening the bleeder a few turns (10mm wrench on fuel filter housing), put rags around the bolt to catch fuel, and pump the primer pump (atop the filter). Pump until no bubbles come out. Tighten screw and crank with throttle depressed.
I had to do this 10km from Brooks, alberta in -30. Lame.

[Golf Cart]

I'm leaning towards Solenoid, or power to it. Not sure about Delica's but my Jetta had a 50 amp fusable link. ( cost me a grand to figure it out after I suspected IP was hooped) Run a test light from the wire that plugs to the solenoid to make sure it has power.
How was it running prior to shutting it down ? I don't think timing would be an issue if you didnt have any problems driving it - then again , I could be wrong. Always check the cheap stuff first.

Good luck

[alec]

thanks for the responses.
i'll let you know what comes of it.

alec

[impalator]

I've had some starting challenges with mine...

Since the ECU (the thing that makes the glowplugs go when starting cold) was bust, my glowplugs had burned out. The engine would turn over, there was power on everything... but no start....

Since you claim that the engine turns over (therefore its not the starter) it could be the glowplugs that aren't glowing.

And in Squamish (just like anywhere in Canada) around this time of year you would definitively need the glowplugs to be glowing to get the van started....

Anyway.... good luck,

Chris

[FalcoColumbarius]

Just a thought: Being a diesel (23:1 compression) engine and not a gasoline (8or10:1 compression) engine, the battery(ies) will require more amperage. The batteries that came with the Miss Lil' Bitchi were from Japan and were quite old. They had the voltage but not the amperage. If I ran the stereo, say for half an hour with the engine off, they could not start the engine. I would check the amperage of the battery(ies).

Falco.

[alec]

thanks all!

it was indeed the battery and a small fuse connected to it that burnt out.

japanoid was great in replacing the battery for free - and paying for half of the towing charges down to new west from squamish.

alec