Diesel crank no start

[Marko4558]

Hi folks,

Any suggestions here for a crank no start?

I’ve recently had the fuel pump off to change core plugs and since I refitted it, I can’t get the thing to start. Engine timing marks all fine, no idea about the fuel pump timing but I presume that it would still run just badly until
Properly timed with a gauge?

Glow plugs seem
To be fine resistance all measuring normal, power to them when the relay kicks in and not when it goes out.

I’ve done everything I can think to prime the pump manually with a syringe and I’ve got flow through it when cranking.

When I crank I’m
Getting fuel to the injectors so if I’ve got fuel, glow plugs and it worked perfectly before I presume compression is fine, I just can’t understand what I’m doing wrong.

Have I missed anything glaringly obvious? Anyone else had similar issues?

[g8dhe]

Have you searched for "diesel timing marks" it seems there maybe more than one this seems to be a good suggestion https://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/vie ... 71#p714671

[gilly99]

The diesel pumps / injectors self-bleed, at least that's the case on my '99 model, but I've found you really do have to intermittently crank it for a good 5 minutes after any fuel filter / fuel pump breakdown. Also maybe try removing the fuel filler cap, and letting a fuel pipe weep a little on the injector housing?? I'd also suggest checking the fuel filter electrical connector is undamaged and well installed.

[Marko4558]

Thanks guys I’ll let
You know if I have any joy

[Marko4558]

I just found a tiny split in the return hose that runs behind the intake manifold! It was hidden under the spring clip sucking in air ! Fingers crossed that’s my issue

[Marko4558]

Well
That was disappointing. Fixed the air leak, got really good fuel pressure but still no start. Very frustrating

[gilly99]

You really do have to crank it over for quite some time for it to bleed; last time I changed the filter it caught straight away, then died and took loads of cranking to bleed properly and catch again. It's a real simple system, but the ECU has all sorts of sensor inputs to ruin your day. If it refuses to start or even try, my bet is you have disturbed an electrical connector somewhere. You could maybe try disconnecting battery(s), press brake pedal to clear and re-connect. Just a thought, It's quite cold at the moment, have you tried helping it along with some old-fashioned 'easy start' spray??

[Marko4558]

Will try all that, definitely worth a shot

[Marko4558]

So i did all of that, also cleaned out the contacts on all the electrical plugs I could access. With a squirt of brake cleaner in the inlet it burst into life and settled down after a few terrifying seconds of running like a bag of spanners! Thanks for all your help. I’m sure I’ll need more at some point

[gilly99]

Oh well done, nice one!!,.... yes, the bag of spanners is normal for about ~5 secs and can be a bit alarming!!

[Marko4558]

Right update after spending the afternoon out there in the rain and wind. So I’ve got it running which is a start, but runs bad and continually puts out white smoke and rattles worryingly when revved. tried to do the fuel pump timing today and I can’t seem to get it anywhere near 1mm deflection. Tried it about 5 times and I can’t advance the pump far enough to get it within the parameters.

I’m thinking now is the main timing out and would that affect it in this way?(although I don’t think it is) think it’s worth taking the cambelt off, realigning it all and starting again? Doing my head in now!!

[Doone]

If you haven't had the cambelt off, then best guess is pump timing, especially as you can't get it quite right.
Maybe remove the pump and check the woodruff key hasn't dropped?
When fitting the pump, the key can get knocked out and fall into the sump. Might not be this, just guessing.

[Marko4558]

I’ll give it a go tomorrow, I really hope it hasn’t fallen out

[Marko4558]

So….i found my issue and it was the woodruff key so the pump was mildly out of place and turning the pump because the nut was holding it tightly and fooling me into thinking it was ok. It was just a bit mangled rather than dropped in the sump but it certainly explains why I couldn’t time
It up. We live and learn! Hopefully can get hold of a replacement one thanks for your help as usual guys.