1996 diesel will not start, intermittent fault

[tas]

Hello

This is my first posting to any forum anywhere, and I am not a big online user, so please excuse any poor etiquette.

I have had my van for five years. It is a Stimson Outback bought from the converter in Portsmouth. It has always started at the first turn of the key, under all conditions. Once started, it still runs as normal and returns about 28mpg.

My local garage, where it is serviced annually has managed to get it started each time by squirting some sort of fuel aerosol into the air intake - though I was not present to see this.

They think it is some sort of fuel airlock but could not find any fault. They have tested the pressure in the fuel line and replaced the fuel filter. I have been able to start it once by waiting and trying again later. They also did this once.

There appear to be no other symptoms. There appears to be no problem when the engine is warm.

Help urgently required, Tim in Leicester, (6886)

[rita]

Di your garage test the glow/heater plugs and or a compression test.

[wonkanoby]

sounds like glowplugs to me

[Poohbear]

Usual things to look at first are glow plugs, glow plug relay, cold start solenoids but you'll need to give us a bit more info on whether it smokes on start-up, what colour the smoke is etc.

[tas]

Hello again

Many thanks to all.

I will let you know the outcome as and when

Tim in Leicester

[Bob]

Hi Tim, welcome aboard.

[dreamwarrioruk]

have you taken the fuel cap off, there is a breather hole that if blocked will cause a vacuum, result no fuel will get through. the sprat will work as its a direct feed.
Re read you original post, this may not be an answer but worth a try, it does sound like a glowplug issue if doing it from cold.

[Simon Jones]

Could it also be the the fuel cut off valve on the injector pump? One way to check is to loosen one injector pipe and turn the engine over on the starter (being careful not to spray diesel everywhere). Normally they fail in the open position so the engine won't switch off, but it's possible it could be sticking closed.