Working on my Delica

[cloudchaser]

Bought my first Delica L300 Exceed, 2.5 diesel 4WD Automatic in December. The seller admitted to starting problems and suggested a block heater. I am familiar with diesels (have a 1993 VW Passat diesel and two Kubota diesel tractors), so the task of getting it starting didn’t seem too daunting. During the process of reading this forum and the UK Delica forum I learned much. Part of the remedy was to replace the timing belts and properly time both the valves and the injection pump (valves were one notch ahead and injection pump one notch late). Getting the parts took some scouting, but Gilbert Parts Depot in Enderby was most helpful, getting the belts ( cam and balance shaft), as well as the fuel and oil filters.
Adjusting the alternator belt seemed impossible until I welded a nut onto the other end of the adjusting bolt so I could turn it with a long extension on my socket wrench over the top of the timing belt cover.
I am presently changing all the fluids and hope to be on the road in another week.
Temperatures are hovering near 0 here, the Delica starts with a couple of tries using the relay system, so no block heater had been installed, That will come before next winter.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Cloudchaser ~ Welcome to Delica Canada

I look forward to reading more about your endeavours in Enderby. Does your Starwagon have the Winter package? You can tell this by an orange Japanese sticker in the rear windscreen, should it still be there ~ ultimately by how many batteries you have. I have a "Chamonix" series Starwagon, which has the Winter package. Although I live in the Lower Mainland, where we experience brutal Winters that nearly get to zero degrees, I have taken my wagon out Winter camping where it's been -15, -25 and she has started quite easily. Of course this is on the short term and we know what the cold can do to batteries. I get my batteries from a place in Burnaby called Edmonds Batteries whom I find both inexpensive and of good quality, as well as a comparable warranty programme (eight years, first three 100%; last five are prorated). They are set up in parallel and at 750 amperes each giving me 1,500 CCA @ 12 volts. Having said all that, I suppose a block heater is a good idea, all the same.

Will you be making any modifications? Would love to read about your ideas and any pictures you care to post.

Cheers!
Falco.

[cloudchaser]

Thanks for your interest.
Sorry, I forgot to say my Delica is a 1991, L300. It doesn't have a winter package. I think it has the original Japan settings for the glowplugs - have to listen to the relay click on and off to know what's happening, and the time between the clicks is about 5 seconds. My Kubota tractor needs 20 seconds to start in the cold. Can the relay be reset to colder climate? I don't remember anything about that, but could have missed it while reading the forums.
I'm not a great modifier, but do plan on a bigger diameter exhaust - the muffler looks ready to be replaced, so now seems a good time.

[FalcoColumbarius]

You know? I'm not sure if the ECU can be set to a different timing, quite frankly I don't think the question has even been raised. Typically in the Miss Lil' Bitchi (my wagon) with the 6.3V Super Glows, which is what should be in yours as well, three seconds; in colder climates maybe four seconds. That's a good question. I always thought that the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) was wired to react to a specific resistance from the glow plugs and the longer it took to reach that resistance depended on the amps being delivered, i.e.; a dying battery would take longer to warm the plugs.

I purchased a second hand two and a half inch stainless steel exhaust pipe, I was in the right place at the right time as it came off another Starwagon. It does cool the engine a little bit, it looks tres cool and sounds beautiful, as well. Glad I did it. There are shops that will custom build you one, I believe the going price is an the ball park of $800.00, really I'm not sure.

Beautiful Starwagon you have

Cheers,
Falco.