Millabit
01-06-2006, 10:54 AM
Hi all,
I'm new to this and completely desperate, so any advice is appreciated. The problem has existed ever since I got the car 8 months ago, but has gotten progressively worse. The car starts without any problems, but immediately dies again. Initially, this would happen once or twice a week (I use the car daily), and it would then start without problems on the second try. Giving it a little throttle upon starting would help. This didnt' seem to be a major problem so I never bothered dealing with it (silly me).
The problem got progressively worse, to where it was taking 8-9 or more attempts to start in the morning. The problem appears to be temperature related, as it is generally easier to get the engine running in the afternoon when it's warmer (I live in Southern Spain). However, the problem has occurred even with a hot engine, after driving for half an hour or more.
We have changed the glow plugs and the temperature sensor on the cooling system. The indicator light for the glow plugs only comes on for a split second when I turn the ignition, so we thought this might be the problem. Disconnecting the temperature sensor leaves the indicator light on for longer, which is why we thought the sensor might be broken. But no luck. Diesel filter has also been changed in the last 6 weeks.
Yesterday morning I couldn't get it running at all, even after 30 or more attempts. My partner now thought that air might be trapped in the fuel system, and loosened a bolt on the right side of the engine component that sits to the right of the fuel filter south of the injectors (sorry, don't know the name, but it's a flattish part, about the size of my hand, witha top that lifts off. Couldn't get the screws holding the top down loose though). With the side bolt (valve?) loosened, I turned the engine over, thus bleeding air from the system, and it stayed running! So bleeding the air solved the problem, or so we thought - I was going to have the hoses checked over by a mechanic. But this morning loosening the bolt/valve didn't work either, and I still haven't been able to get it running. Same problem: engine starts no problem but immediately dies. NOthing works, not giving it throttle or bleeding the fuel system for air. My partner had a look in the fuel filter, and says he thinks no fuel is getting pumped through. If it's not air, could the system be clogged? Could the fuel pump be broken?
Perhaps related to this: sometimes upon shifting up in gear, the engine seems to hesitate a little before it starts accelerating again. And on two occasions, accelerating with a warm engine, the engine has sort of sputtered. No smoke or anything, the car just seems to give a little shake, then it behaves normally.
Sorry about the novel, just trying to describe the problem as accurately as possible. Any advice would be appreciated. If I can get the car running this afternoon I am taking it to my mechanic, but I would appreciate a third party opinion.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Camilla
I'm new to this and completely desperate, so any advice is appreciated. The problem has existed ever since I got the car 8 months ago, but has gotten progressively worse. The car starts without any problems, but immediately dies again. Initially, this would happen once or twice a week (I use the car daily), and it would then start without problems on the second try. Giving it a little throttle upon starting would help. This didnt' seem to be a major problem so I never bothered dealing with it (silly me).
The problem got progressively worse, to where it was taking 8-9 or more attempts to start in the morning. The problem appears to be temperature related, as it is generally easier to get the engine running in the afternoon when it's warmer (I live in Southern Spain). However, the problem has occurred even with a hot engine, after driving for half an hour or more.
We have changed the glow plugs and the temperature sensor on the cooling system. The indicator light for the glow plugs only comes on for a split second when I turn the ignition, so we thought this might be the problem. Disconnecting the temperature sensor leaves the indicator light on for longer, which is why we thought the sensor might be broken. But no luck. Diesel filter has also been changed in the last 6 weeks.
Yesterday morning I couldn't get it running at all, even after 30 or more attempts. My partner now thought that air might be trapped in the fuel system, and loosened a bolt on the right side of the engine component that sits to the right of the fuel filter south of the injectors (sorry, don't know the name, but it's a flattish part, about the size of my hand, witha top that lifts off. Couldn't get the screws holding the top down loose though). With the side bolt (valve?) loosened, I turned the engine over, thus bleeding air from the system, and it stayed running! So bleeding the air solved the problem, or so we thought - I was going to have the hoses checked over by a mechanic. But this morning loosening the bolt/valve didn't work either, and I still haven't been able to get it running. Same problem: engine starts no problem but immediately dies. NOthing works, not giving it throttle or bleeding the fuel system for air. My partner had a look in the fuel filter, and says he thinks no fuel is getting pumped through. If it's not air, could the system be clogged? Could the fuel pump be broken?
Perhaps related to this: sometimes upon shifting up in gear, the engine seems to hesitate a little before it starts accelerating again. And on two occasions, accelerating with a warm engine, the engine has sort of sputtered. No smoke or anything, the car just seems to give a little shake, then it behaves normally.
Sorry about the novel, just trying to describe the problem as accurately as possible. Any advice would be appreciated. If I can get the car running this afternoon I am taking it to my mechanic, but I would appreciate a third party opinion.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Camilla