cold start

Flounder · Post by **Flounder** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 8:14 am

Hi everyone, my brother Phil suggested I post on here with an issue i'm having with my l300 delica. So where to start. First, things done. New injectors and glow plugs. Injectors and fuel filter bled several times. Glow plugs in and good voltage plus after glow working properly. So issue i'm having is on cold start. when she is warm or has been plugged in purrs like a kitten. On cold start fires up perfectly with glow plugs and after about a minute develops a stutter and dies. re-fire it and runs rough until warm. Bro thinks it may be a sensor??? Any input would be great.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 1:27 pm

After a minute of running the engine should be warm enough on its own to keep going even if the glow plugs decide to turn off. You could test it by starting the engine, waiting until it starts to stutter, and then putting a jumper lead from battery + to the glow plug rail- that'll manually turn your glow plugs on again. Don't leave them on for more than 10 seconds, since you're running them at full 12V, just long enough to confirm that the engine runs better.

I think it sounds more like the dreaded air leak- try tightening all the hose clamps and injector lines.

PHIL · Post by **PHIL** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:35 pm

Growlerbearnz wrote:After a minute of running the engine should be warm enough on its own to keep going even if the glow plugs decide to turn off. You could test it by starting the engine, waiting until it starts to stutter, and then putting a jumper lead from battery + to the glow plug rail- that'll manually turn your glow plugs on again. Don't leave them on for more than 10 seconds, since you're running them at full 12V, just long enough to confirm that the engine runs better.

I think it sounds more like the dreaded air leak- try tightening all the hose clamps and injector lines.

We spent some time on Friday with the FSM and the voltmeter and are pretty convinced that the super quick glow and after glow (love these names - they should really have that on a sticker down the side) are functioning as they should.

It reminded me of the pump seals on the 4M40 except that you don't have to crank and crank to restart - it will stay going at the 30 second mark with some throttle input, it just starts to smoke and stutter. Will die if you don't feed it, but will stall if you don't.

Bled the injectors pretty thoroughly when we installed them. Bled the FF too. You think air could be getting in somewhere else? Wonder if we could eliminate this possibility by doing a cold bleed via the fuel filter plunger before a cold morning start? That would get any accumulated air out in theory, eliminating an air leak as a possibility if it still stutters after 30 seconds?

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:17 pm

Try checking the ends of the fuel hoses going into the filter, and from the filter to the injection pump. If you can see splits or cracks then pop them off, cut them shorter until the cracks have gone, and reinstall. It's fairly common for the rubber to perish and split which lets air in. I'm thinking that when it's cold the rubber would be harder and more likely to leak? It's a quick fix anyway, if thats the problem.

PHIL · Post by **PHIL** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:24 am

I'll make sure we check that. Thanks Growler! I've had plenty of pajeros over the last 20 some years but this is my first deli experience (vicariously through my brother, above LOL). Had several 4d56s and 4m40s too, but the deli experience is definitely a little different.

We'll update with our progress...

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Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 1:55 pm

The other thing might be fuel gelling (you're using winter diesel, right?) or water in the fuel freezing.

You've probably drained the water trap on the fuel filter, but try draining a bit of diesel out of each tank using the drain bungs. Catch it in a glass jar and look for water. If there's water in the diesel it can freeze into a slush which temporarily clogs the filter.

I'm guessing you changed your fuel filter when you installed the new injectors.

Flounder · Post by **Flounder** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:14 pm

thanks for the input, going to do the lines as I do see some splitting.

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:11 pm

It could be your head gasket leaking coolant into your cylinder after shut down. I think this is happening to mine. Can you hear your expansion tank gurgling after you shut your car off? Is there a bit off white smoke when you start your van?

Flounder · Post by **Flounder** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 7:52 pm

nope no such noises. Also the head is brand new. Only greyish smoke.