no cold start without block heater

reginasadie · Post by **reginasadie** » Sun Feb 02, 2020 3:17 pm

Howdy, I bought my first Delica a few months ago and I am very much still a beginner, so I require assistance. My van has a block heater that I keep plugged into my house via extension cord when the temperature is under freezing, and although it hasn't been very cold here in Vancouver for a couple of weeks, I have been plugging it in for a at least a few hours before I drive it anywhere.
There have been a few times in the last couple of months when I could not have it plugged in before starting it and it wouldn't start. These were times when it was colder than 0 and the van was parked for more than 6 hours. It would try to start, and after revving the engine would create a lot of white smoke and still not start. The van starts fine when it is relatively warm and I would assume from looking at other threads that it is a problem with the glow plugs but I just got them replaced in December.
I am hoping to drive my van to go skiing and winter camping but currently can't take it anywhere cold that doesn't have a power outlet near by. Please help!

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:46 pm

I think you need glow plugs. Get some from rising sun, japanoid... they aren’t cheap but will probably fix your problem. How long does it take from the first click to the second click when starting your van?

north54 · Post by **north54** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:17 pm

Batteries good? I just replaced my 8 year old ones a few days ago and it starts significantly faster around 0 degrees. If your batteries are good it won't hurt to clean up the battery terminals as well. Lots of corrosion develops in our wet weather. Good luck.

Ralph in Winnipeg · Post by **Ralph in Winnipeg** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:50 pm

A diesel should still start at -5C without glow plugs, not happily though

. Certainly check that the glow plugs work and the battery is strong but I'd suspect the injectors are somewhat clogged. Run some injector cleaner through the system, you should notice a difference. If not, try removing the fuel filter (maybe install a new one if you haven't already) drain and fill with injector cleaner. Start it, run a while, turn off, wait then restart. Google hot soak for more precise instructions.

Ralph in Winnipeg

Ralph in Winnipeg · Post by **Ralph in Winnipeg** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:51 pm

A diesel should still start at -5C without glow plugs, not happily though

. Certainly check that the glow plugs work and the battery is strong but I'd suspect the injectors are somewhat clogged. Run some injector cleaner through the system, you should notice a difference. If not, try removing the fuel filter (maybe install a new one if you haven't already) drain and fill with injector cleaner. Start it, run a while, turn off, wait then restart. Google hot soak for more precise instructions.

Ralph in Winnipeg

reginasadie · Post by **reginasadie** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:14 pm

My glow plugs are only 2 months old, do they really have to be replaced already? The battery is new in the last year as well...

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:12 am

Check the time between the 2 clicks when you start the van. If you don’t get a second click then this will be your problem. I live in Vancouver and can help you if you need. I’ve owned my van 13 years and have always done my own maintenance.

reginasadie · Post by **reginasadie** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 3:32 pm

helibrian wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:12 am Check the time between the 2 clicks when you start the van. If you don’t get a second click then this will be your problem. I live in Vancouver and can help you if you need. I’ve owned my van 13 years and have always done my own maintenance.

What exactly do you mean by clicks? And if this is the problem, what IS the problem with that? Is it better to have a longer or shorter time between clicks? Clearly, I am clueless, so thanks so much for your help.

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:17 pm

When you turn the key you should hear a click sound behind you. Before you crank it over there should be another click sound 5 seconds later. The second click signals the glow plugs are hot and the engine is ready to start. There should be some YouTube videos of someone starting a l300 that they’re selling for an example.

weelsey · Post by **weelsey** » Wed Mar 04, 2020 11:17 am

reginasadie wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2020 3:17 pm can't take it anywhere cold that doesn't have a power outlet near by.

I feel your pain.

Ralph in Winnipeg wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:51 pm A diesel should still start at -5C without glow plugs

I have to challenge you on this RiW. Not all are equal. let alone in great condition. I'll mention that these engines generally are not equipped with cold start timing advance mechanisms and therefore rely on the glow plugs considerably. I've been modifying my injection pumps to include advance.

reginasadie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:14 pm My glow plugs are only 2 months old

Since these gals rely on the glow plugs so much, It's important to know how to be certain they are working. look for teltale signs like voltage drop after the click in the form of a dimmed dome lite. Put in a manual control switch so that if the timer fail you can still run them (this can be done with just a jumper wire in a pinch).

reginasadie wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2020 3:17 pm It would try to start,

If it's firing when cold but won't run on (expect the smoke), stop it, let the GP run again maybe even twice, then start again. Repeat. IF that works it's probably not air intrusion into the fuel lines. Also, hold the accelerator down a considerable way while staring. This can have the effect of advancing timing a hair.

The glowplugs are supposed to run after starting but at a lower voltage to keep them from burning up. That's why there's two solenoids. the controller rig drops the voltage with use of resistor.

So what I did was install a two position momentary on switch that allows me to manually run the glow-plugs in either function. Start and afterglow. up is full glow. down is drop voltage grow.
I've managed to not burn the plugs out starting in the cold using a few methods. Don't leave them on too long at first. Then after the first go, give them a three second break in between bursts of equal length.