300 tdi poor starting uh!!!

[paul vp uk]

she is 180.000 miles .
300 tdi disco. 600 miles week driving. (mpg still good 30.)
she tuns over too much before starting.
I have changed the heat plugs. changed fuel filter . the lift pump is only 30000 miles old.
battery seems fine.. Apart from compression what else could be wrong.
Ps she runs superb once sarted.
I do have to top her up with water .( two pints a week but am unable to find a exterior leak.
any ideas ./
How do i check the timeing on the heat plugs Please ?????
cheers Paul vp Leominster

[BrianH]

You can test your glow plugs quite easily - just take them out and strap them across a 12V battery. Be careful not to short out though or you'll give yourself quite a fright!!! If the glow plugs are working they should glow a cherry red after a couple of seconds.
You say that you want to check the timing of the glow plugs? By this I assume you mean that you want to check how long they stay on for after the ignition is turned on. Simply connect a multimeter across one of the glow plugs (they're all connected together anyway), turn the ignition on and time how long they stay at +12V for.

You seem to have checked most of the starting issues I can think of. You could have a compression problem which would cause starting problems, but then I'd expect you to be seeing more obvious symptoms such as blue smoke.

Maybe you've got some form of air leak in the fuel system which is impeding the fuel getting to the lift pump at startup?

Brian

[floyd fan]

Maybe you've got some form of air leak in the fuel system which is impeding the fuel getting to the lift pump at startup?

This may be the problem, I've seen this before. Somewhere by your fuel tank there is a thing that looks a bit like a filter, I think it may be some sort of sump for catching water. Anyway the top is prone to corrosion and lets air into the system, if its taking about 10 seconds to start then I would give this a good looking at.

[TEMPL4R]

As FF says, you have a Sedimenter near the fuel tank. These get missed on most services, so take it off,( there is a bolt down the middle, on the top), and clean it out and check the top and the sealing rings for cracks. (as FF says)

Chris

[Disco69]

I would be more concerned about the coolant leak - have you had a good look round the cooling system for evidence of leakage?
Check that the filler cap is holding pressure and also look at the front of the cylinder head for leakage around the thermostat housing - the heat of the engine will evaporate any leaked coolant quite quickly.
Also check the carpet is dry under the middle of the dashboard - it could be the heater leaking coolant into the car!

If you can't find the source of the coolant leak externally then the chances are it will be leaking internally, ie. head gasket blown.

On the fuel side of things, you could also check for any signs of fuel leakage anywhere on the fuel pipes. If fuel can get out then air can get in and allow the fuel to run back to the tank.
I had some trouble with my injector 'leak off' pipes at a similar mileage, couldn't get them to seal properly.

[charliedenny]

RE: the leak check the P gasket behind the water pump

[paul vp uk]

thanks guy's
will have a look in the morning. AH Sat.!!!!!
Never though of the run back pipes and the fuel filter under the back.
will let you no
thanks once again.
Paul vp here and there.

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Hi Paul.
Have you still getting the leak from the fuel pump? If fuel is coming out air may also be getting in as the others said.
See ya Rob

[paul vp uk]

Hi rob
no had the throtle needle bush replaced by desiel tech hereford.
now it doesn't leak.
Everthing else does though including my bank account.
Bloody landrovers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paul vp uk]

ps did 180 miles to beach yesterday
(I know I should have looked for the leak)
At 75 mph most of way and hey prestow no loss of coolant
NOW how does that figure
I am baffled.
NOT THAT, THAT ISN'T EASY HE HE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paul vp uk]

well now we are talking.
last night switched off the engine and the dash lights went out but
Hey presto!!!
engine still running.
Whats that all about
It didn't rev like a blown turbo . (just ticked over nicely)
I stalled her and she seems fine now.
Any ideas.
or is this somehow linked to the poor starting.
Help please !!!!!!!

[charliedenny]

check the fuel cut off solanoid on the injection pump sounds like your problem

[paul vp uk]

UPDATE>
seems fine now .

do I understand NO !!!
they do say the 200/300 tdi engines were made with the military inmind!
I must say even when things aren't running 100% she still goes great and
gives me still 30 mpg.

What a piece of engineering YE HA I do love my Landrover.

[Snagger]

A Tdi should start pretty well without heater plugs functioning. I suspect that you have a fuel leak that allows the injection pump to drain when standing, requiring re-priming every time. It could be an inward air leak to the fuel system, so a lack of fuel drips doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist.

Start by replacing the washers on the injector leak-off pipe and tightening the leak-off pipe, injector and filter unions.