Request for Help: Stuck in Alberta

[freestyler]

So here's the current score.

I'm stuck here in Alberta and it's pretty damn cold. The L300 Delica refuses to start: had it boosted with CAA and still nothing would happen.

I don't have a block heater (1st and major issue) yet getting jumped by the tow truck should have done something. It was turning over pretty good but just could not catch. Now what I'm starting to suspect, is that the glo-pulgs/ecu has a major issue. Usually letting the plugs cycle would give the whole system enough to get going (it did last year) but at best I'm getting one session of 2 (two) seconds of glo-plug cycling. Reading the forum searches is telling me that two 10 sec cycles is pretty common for below -10'C... there's no way that is currently occurring with my Van. The glos are behaving as if it was +5'C out.

I'm looking for any ideas and/or band-aid solutions that will get me by for the next few days, or at least allow me to drive to a shop. As for the block heater, any leads on a part # or make and model? For an 93 L300.

Cheers

[White Mule]

Heat to oil pan the best you can SAFELY.

Ensure the tank is always topped up.

3 oz. of Cetane boost in the tank.

Cycle the glow plugs a few extra times.

Turn over after you hear the last "click".

Very very little on the throttle.

Do not use any of that "spray" stuff.

Be patient. Do not get frustrated.

Get back to Lotus Land and bask in the sun!

[Firesong]

If nothing else
Tow it to a garage and let it sit inside for an afternoon.
ie. tow it to superstore, underground shopping mall parking
and let it sit.
Then after it starts
Go Get A BlockHeater

[Pacific JDM Parts]

As already said you need to get the van inside to warm up as the battery is frozen and even jump starting it will not help.You either need to find a friend/neighbour with a garage or get the van towed to a Repair shop to put the van inside for a few hours to warm up and let the battery thaw out.After a few hours you can get the battery charged up and the van should be warm enough to start on its own.
DO NOT USE ANY STARTING FLUID!! Your engine will thank you!!
With reguards to the glow plugs if you are getting 2 clicks with about 2 seconds delay it is usually the E.C.U temp sensor that has failed.
Get the glow plug system checked out when you get back to the warmer weather!
Good luck and do not get stressed there are thousands all over the Prairies right now haveing the same issues!

[EnviroImports.com]

Hello, I spent 20 years in alberta fighting vehicles to start in the cold weather, Depending on the temp, and you DO have to take in wind chill , unless you are running synthetic oil or something very thin, your oil is like cold maple syrup right now and will bog down everything, -20 or colder and forget about it starting without a block heater or a heater placed under your oil pan for a couple hours, I REALLY hope you have quality coolant in your rad or you could also have other issues on top of the lack of starting. you have a very slim chance of getting it started without getting it towed to a garage, you need a safe space heater under your oil pan ONLY if you dont drip oil!!!! let it work for a couple hours, then cycle your glow plugs as many times as it will to get about 20 seconds of cycle out of it if your battery is a quality one, it should not be an issue, then try to start it, it will either start or it wont, if you find that your glow plug solinoid/s are burnt out and that is the cause, they are right under your drivers seat attached to the wall. a ford continuous duty solinoid will work also, and available at Any parts store. just take yours in and show it to the counter person , they will give you almost the identical looking part, it does the same job and is about $20 .
good luck and if you are going to be staying out there, you really do need a block heater.

[Spearo]

Put a battery blanket on it. Wait an hour then boost it.

[jessef]

Put a battery blanket on it. Wait an hour then boost it.

Don't try to jump it.

Take the advice of everyone who lives or has lived in those conditions with diesels.

Take it somewhere warm so the block and oil can get warm.

If you're not running 5w40 or 0w40, I'd recommend to get the old thick oil out and thin viscocity oil in. Synthetic is preferred.

If it won't start after warmed up then check your fuel lines, ip and filter.

[Spearo]

Put a battery blanket on it. Wait an hour then boost it.

Don't try to jump it.

Take the advice of everyone who lives or has lived in those conditions with diesels.

Take it somewhere warm so the block and oil can get warm.

If you're not running 5w40 or 0w40, I'd recommend to get the old thick oil out and thin viscocity oil in. Synthetic is preferred.

If it won't start after warmed up then check your fuel lines, ip and filter.

As someone who fits the above criteria, and assuming that the battery is warm, I still say boost it. Over the years here I've boosted tons of vehicles, diesels included, with no problems. Not everyone has the time or money to have their vehicle towed, stowed and warmed up for a day every time it hits -40, or -46C as it was here on Saturday. Actually -58 with windchill!
But I'm open to discussion.
Cheers and looking forward to the + temps supposedly coming this weekend,
Erik

[William]

What part of Alberta are you in right now ? If your close by me out here near Edmonton I can come and give you a hand. PM me if you want to speak about it. It's been a nightmare this past week with all the cold and nobody's vehicles starting....

[jessef]

Either which way, hope you get it running.

When I lived in Edmonton, our family diesel cruiser was horrible to turn over until we got it a block heater, battery blanket, oil pan heater and thinner oil.

Diesels are a rowdy bunch in the dead of winter

[Green1]

As someone who has been driving diesel for years in Alberta, I have to say BOOST IT.... let the batteries charge up for a bit, and make sure you have GOOD cables, then run the glow plugs a few times, then start cranking, and no matter what you do, do NOT let go of that key until it starts... even if it takes 3-5 full minutes, keep cranking until it is running. if you let off the key you will undo any progress you have made.

I have never yet had a vehicle that I couldn't get running in the cold with a boost, and trust me, my old delica certainly was not an easy starter, and I think my old benz got boosted more in the winter than it started by itself... but they ALWAYS got running.

Of course if you're in the Calgary area the other option is to wait until tomorrow... -7c! 0c by wednesday!

[freestyler]

Many thanks for offers of help and the all comments. I managed to get it going after heating it with 2 hot air heater (one pointed down at the block and one pointing up beside the oil pan towards the injectors). I covered it while trickle charging the batteries and a thin sheet to keep the air in. After about 2.5hrs, the charger has a 70amp boost and it fired put after 10 sec of cranking. Managed to drive it to pick up a block heater and took it to the shop to let it warm up overnight and install the heater. I have 5w40 synthetic (I'm sure a saving grace somehow)... Next change I'm thinking about going a step down again.

Overall Causalities?

- one day of getting drunk by the fire with the brothers playing video games
- left front low-beam died somehow (not fuses and I'm 95% sure it's the bulb) I'll be replacing that on Thursday when it's warmer.
- for some reason my "D" light (when in Drive) does not light up anymore when it is selected... Everything else is working
- a small sum in hydro cost for the hi-output heaters and the charging
- I'm assuming the worst for my wallet on the shop bill... (installing the block heater, checking the draw on my batteries and the glow plugs (Others?) due to the cycling issue in the first post) Could be any guess.. I've heard they are very good, but charge accordingly.

Phew... I'm sure there is more to come. I'm not out of the woods on this one. I'll update more when it gets interesting again.

Thanks a ton to all the D-crew members in the thread!
Special shout out to Butch at CVI and Noel at Enviroimports on the cold weather ideas via the phone.

Cheers,

[William]

Glad you got it going. And no Alberta is not always like this

[Erebus]

And no Alberta is not always like this

Ya, sometimes it's worse

[William]

And no Alberta is not always like this

Ya, sometimes it's worse

True but you guys up in Calgary get off easy compared to Edmonton here.