HELP! Possible starter problems new owner

[CCDR]

Hi,
We just recently bought a 96 Delica turbo superexceed star wagon it's an import I'm assuming because the drivers seat is on the right hand side. Anyways when we went to start it this morning and thought the battery had died because it wouldn't start but even after trying to jump it. It still won't start, the battery seems to be working fine because all the lights come on but it's not turning over it just clicks twice and then nothing when you turn the key. Any ideas or tips? Thank you.

[Firesong]

Take the connections off the battery , clean and reinstall tight. Then check the connections at the starter if that doesn't solve your problem. Easy first step.

[TardisDeli]

As firesong says. half of electrical problems are loose or dirty battery connector.

Put it in neutral (not park, not in gear), with parking brake fully on. Press the brake pedal and hold it all the way down. Now try to start.

IF your headlights stay on brightly for several minutes while parked, without the engine running, then battery probably OK. You can find a nice old guy down the street with a battery load tester (or pay any little mechanic shop) to see if battery is holding a load (aka a charge) properly. A dying battery can kill an alternator and vice versa. Dont' buy a fancy expensive battery, stick to a good lead acid battery, much cheaper in the long run.

Often if you leave a small overhead light on overnight, that will drain your battery load to below 11.5 and the battery loses its mind. IF you have really depleted the battery, it might not want to take a jump start.

Jump starting is best left to experts, if you reverse the jumper cables a battery will fry (either yours or the jumpers), so get someone to show you and write yourself a step by step. I heard one guy tell how his ignition key welded into the keyhole when the cables got reversed. A car is unlikely to be able to jump your diesel delica, you need a diesel pickup with a big battery, or another diesel delica to jump you.

There is one other thingy that stops a delica diesel starting. Near above the battery hang some wires. They have plastic connectors, which get old and brittle and just die of tiredness. The 2 which affect you: first a single wire going into a single plastic square-ish connector about 1 cm wide. The other is your "Fusible Link" which has 4 thicker wires, each a diffferent colour, going in and then out of a plastic connector approx 3 or 4 cm wide. If any of these 2 pieces look toasty or blistered or cracked, that might be it. A decent mechanic can replace burnt wire with EXACT:Y THE SAME GUAGE wire with a replacement connector of any appropriate type.

When looking for a mechanic, always go to someone at least 50 years old, or who has some old 1960s or 1970s cars in their yard, as you must find a mechanic who knows how to troubleshoot NON COMPUTERISED vans. This engine was used on the old Dodge 50 pickup trucks, so nothing mysterious to a good mechanic.

If you are on the island, you are lucky, a favourite expert mechanic of deli-folk is Glen who owns Coombs Country autos, just south east of Coombs goats.

Let us know what you find out.

Cheers Christine