Starting

[Bobtail]

My 300tdi Disco would not start this morning after doing a night shift  :doh: :doh:

The heater plug light was coming on and going off (i heated them three times)

but it would not start

Question is how do i test that the glow plugs are working?

Anybody had this problem as well and how can it be fixed

cheers

Jim

[lurch_917]

had this problem years ago on my frontera the thing is it only takes one glow plug to fail  and you get problems now if youve got air con i would change the one behind the pump as that one people dont allways do as you have to lift the pump off when mine went i just changed the lot easier than trying to find the week link

[ChrisW70]

check you've got 12 volts at each one (might have to turn ignition off and on to get to all of them - they do stay on for a couple of minutes after the light has gone out)
as long as you have voltage at them take one out and connect it (pair of jump leads is useful for this, it's normal neg is thro the engine block) and see if it gets hot (it'll burn your fingers so be careful), repeat with the remaining ones.

Had starting issues last year on mine, once it finally fired it was a lumpy tickover until it warmed up a bit, new set of glowplugs off the bay cured it.

[les baty]

hi all, why do some 300tdi engines need glow plugs and some dont??????? mine are not wired up and it starts ok, even in the cold it only takes a couple of turns and  its running although it does turn over very slow when its icey but still starts..............(sorry for hijacking the thread)

[landroverkeith]

Mine had that problem too jim i changed the glow plugs and it made a wonderful differance i had to faff about with stupid acon pump to change the lot though  :roll: landrover ey

[eugene]

check you've got 12 volts at each one (might have to turn ignition off and on to get to all of them - they do stay on for a couple of minutes after the light has gone out)
as long as you have voltage at them take one out and connect it (pair of jump leads is useful for this, it's normal neg is thro the engine block) and see if it gets hot (it'll burn your fingers so be careful), repeat with the remaining ones.

Had starting issues last year on mine, once it finally fired it was a lumpy tickover until it warmed up a bit, new set of glowplugs off the bay cured it.

thanks chris saves me posting as you answered my question as thats what mines doing
cheers eugene

[Bobtail]

Bought a set today (glow plugs )

Will get my girlfriend to drop me off at work tomorrow and get them changed

Fingers crossed it will fix it [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o<

[Range Rover Blues]

If that doesn't fix it then check ytou are getting fuel to the injectors(crack an injector line loose and look for spill).

[Bobtail]

If that doesn't fix it then check ytou are getting fuel to the injectors(crack an injector line loose and look for spill).

Replaced the glow plugs

The ones i took out were almost new

Turns out it was the glow plug relay/timer  :roll: :roll:

all ok now  :dance: :dance:

[mattyme]

the glow plug realy is in the engine bay and open to all the elements. and as we all probably know... relays dont like water too much!! lol

ive wrapped mine in a condom.... not the right job for the tool so to speak, but, it works a treat!!

[Bobtail]

$£^%$&^%*&^(%£%$^&(*&   thing  :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh:

Well been on nights again last night and guess what would not start again this morning GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Even tried towing it and would not go

Its got new battery and glow plugs

so any suggestions please

cheers

Jim

[Disco-andy]

Sounds like the earth strap, try earthing the engin to the battery with a jump lead and see if that helps.  Iv delt with a few 300 tdi discos that have need new earth straps. It's just below the starter on the n/s chassis end is normaly the problem.

[Range Rover Blues]

If I understand correctly it starts fine unless it's been outside work all night, so is it especially cold there or anything?

I assume that it spins fine but doesn't fire

Is the fuel shut off relay sticking?

The glow plugs should heat up to red hot, at which point they draw far less current IIRC, something to check.

[Disco-andy]

again i would think,  surely the glow plugs would be weak if it had a bad earth? adding to bad everything elce.

although if its not starting when being tow started, then i would think less glow plugs/starter and look at fuel and air.

[Range Rover Blues]

No glow plugs, no bump start, but I agree it could well be something else.  Perhaps the faulty glow plug relay was incidental :-k

[Bobtail]

ARRRRRRRRRRR again  :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh:

Right i am at home this time

there is power to the glow plugs stop solenoid and the battery is brand new

it turns over very well  but will not start

but give it a few hours when it warms up slightly and it will start first turn of the key

Its doing my head in and i am going to need it for work in the morning 5am

HELP please

[trecfive]

Have you checked the stop solenoid? or change it. Are the internals of the solenoid loose?Because it only seems to not start in the very cold days I'm thinking outside the box here(moisture freezing in the internals of the solenoid stopping it running) If you have changed it maybe internal shorting,Next time it don't start,crack open an injector pipe and see if it spits out diesel as RRB above suggested.

[Range Rover Blues]

What about water in the fuel filter?

[mark-d]

what fuel you using? are you using either bio or veg?

[Yoshi]

I know of someone who has had "frozen diesel" could this be the problem??

[Bobtail]

  Right then it looks like the problem is the female terminal that goes onto the stop solenoid

Yesterday morning it would not start again  so i took off the terminal and fitted one straight to the battery

Hey presto fired straight into life removed fro batt and it stopped put original from wiring loom back on and its started   :dance: :dance:

so this morning would not go again so this time i just fiddled with terminal is sparked as it made the circuit and turned key it fired into life  :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

so all that seems to be the problem is the female terminal fitted to wiring loom needs to be crimped together a little so it make better contact with the solenoid

will do that tomorrow so  [-o< that will sort it

sometimes the littlest of things can cause so much trouble

thanks for all the replies and help

thats what this site is all about helping others

so cheers again

Jim

[Range Rover Blues]

Fingers crossed that's done it then :)  and you've foundsomething else that needed fixing along the way ;)

[john656]

Ive knocked that wire off when changing my oil filter because it was loose. Go figure that one after you've just done it :roll:. I did notice that the imob light was staying on static on the dash when the wire was off. My mum had the car before me and had problems starting it and looking at what the other mechanics have done would back this up with the loose terminal.
 
Something for you guys in the future maybe.

ATB

John