Lumpy starting

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helen&tony
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Lumpy starting

Post by helen&tony » Sun Jun 16, 2019 3:52 am

Hi
Starting has been progressively lumpy. Spins first, I stop , try again for a longer spin, and it starts, but lumpy for a second or two, then runs fine. I guess the usual glowplug issue, but is there another common diesel problem?....I seem to remember another common niggle, but can't remember what...LOL
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Helen
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by Ian » Sun Jun 16, 2019 8:13 am

Helen, here's some old info I found:

If you give the glow plugs the correct amount of time, and still have problems starting, it may be due to the condition of your battery, perhaps one of the cells has failed?

‘Turnip’ from Belper says: “we have had same type of problem, so we booked it into a highly recommended diesel specialist in Burton upon Trent. After the investigation, it was traced to a blown fuse link by the battery. Apparently all diesels have this as a type of safety mechanism. Once repaired it started first time, every time, without fail: it runs better, sounds better and doesn't smoke. The techie blokes were very impressed with the mechanism on the glow plugs. For those who don't know, they switch on and off until the engine is up to temperature. Hence a re-start after a poor start will work. Now it's been repaired, you can hear the relay on the plugs clicking in and out. I read somewhere this happens but assumed I was too deaf to hear it!

With the fault described above, the system uses compression to get the engine running rather than relying on the glow plugs for starting. So if you do have a suspect battery it will certainly put it to the test on cold mornings. We added a new battery and it improved but not as much as it did with the fuse link repaired!”

Other things you might want to check include terminals, connections, air filter clogged or dirty, a pre-heat system problem, a fast idle problem, low engine compression, air in the fuel system and pump timing.
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helen&tony
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by helen&tony » Sun Jun 16, 2019 9:20 am

Hi
Thanks, Ian...I'm halfway through changing the plugs, so I'llsee what the issue is...I found a spare set of new plugs!
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Helen
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by BongoBongo123 » Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:07 pm

Possibly fuel pump seals ?
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by helen&tony » Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:29 am

Hi
No...It was the plugs...strange, as the plugs failed almost instantly...only a slight warning a few days previously...I tried getting some long plugs with no success, so I had some new shorties hanging around, and I used the old 3-day camel trick...in this instance cutting the threaded top off the long plugs, and using the threaded connector off a set of spark plugs to join the cut piece to the top of the short plugs...voila....Does it hurt, I hear you ask?....no....only when you get your fingers caught in the thread!
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Helen
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by Bob » Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:55 am

Boom boom. :lol:

Seriously, well done Helen. 8)
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by mikeonb4c » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:01 pm

helen&tony wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:29 am Hi
No...It was the plugs...strange, as the plugs failed almost instantly...only a slight warning a few days previously...I tried getting some long plugs with no success, so I had some new shorties hanging around, and I used the old 3-day camel trick...in this instance cutting the threaded top off the long plugs, and using the threaded connector off a set of spark plugs to join the cut piece to the top of the short plugs...voila....Does it hurt, I hear you ask?....no....only when you get your fingers caught in the thread!
Cheers
Helen
You're a star Helen - you always were. I look forward to buying a signed limited edition of 'Helen and the Art of Bongo Maintenance.'

Boom boom, as Bob aka Ben said =D> :lol:
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by helen&tony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:28 am

Hi
Mike
That trick was one of Ady's, I think?...but it sure works....I'm ordering up a set of long ones as a spare set...but it's worth having a set of "adapters " made and handy if you're travelling...Incidentally, the plugs are used on a 2.0 litre Suzuki Grand Vitara '98-06, and a Vitara '94-98 if you get trouble finding them
Cheers
Helen
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by Northern Bongolow » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:01 pm

Nice one Helen, it does work and it lasts well as long as all the bits built are nice and tight.
Trouble nowadays is that spark plugs don't always come with the screw top cap.
The shorter plugs seem to last longer and are easier to get off the shelf, I found you could get long plugs but they were cheaper brand ones.
Plod on Helen.
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helen&tony
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Re: Lumpy starting

Post by helen&tony » Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:27 am

Hi Ady
There seemed to be a lack of the long ones in the UK, but a choice here....however , they sent the wrong ones....LOL
Turns out it wasn't the plugs...now looking at alternatives???
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
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