Coldish Start / Glow Plugs

[JdMcGrady]

Back in August I was in Calgary on my way back to Victoria and my van started having problems starting at -1. Its Delica L300 (post 1993) and has Self Regulating Glow Plug System. I tested the voltage going to the glow plugs and everything seemed to be working correctly, so I put new plugs in and it started on the first crank after :) all was well..... Now back in Victoria its only -5 out and I'm having the same problem.

Now I'm thinking it might be the temp sensor but am not sure. What are the thoughts of putting in a manual control system for the glow plugs for the cold days?

Any help would be great.
John

[marsgal42]

There is a problem. Fix it. Minus 5 is nothing.

Gumdrop started without comment at -4 the other day. My current starting record is -12 on a couple of trips to the Cariboo, which took some persistence, but she still made it.

...laura

[Firesong]

-18 Is my coldest I have attempted.
That was before I redid my batteries too.
Fired up after 2 seconds of cranking.
It wasn't happy.

Today, -29 Celcius with the block heater
it fired up and was ready to roll out as if it were
+28 outside. Quite amazing.

FS

[JdMcGrady]

Here's the finding from my trouble shooting yesterday:

- Voltage at glow plugs is 11V and seems like the its cycling as it should be.
- Battary voltage is 12V (hasn't been changed since I bougth the van)

I tried bypassing the control circuit and starting with plugs connected to battery and still doesn't want to turn over.
Could this mean the battery doesn't have enough amps? (Going to get it tested) or the plugs are shot (which is doubtful as I bought them new in August)

Any thoughts?

[marsgal42]

You've never said what the actual starting problem was. Is it:

Doesn't crank at all?
Cranks slowly?
Cranks at normal speed but doesn't fire?
Cranks and fires intermittently but won't start?
Starts then immediately stalls?

If you're not using correct cold-weather starting procedures, please do so.

...laura

[jessef]

Have you had an electrician/auto look at it ? relays, wiring, etc... ?

[JdMcGrady]

Here's whats happening when I try to start the engine from cold.

It cranks at normal speed but doesn't fire, then after a few tries it starts to fire intermittently but won't start, then will fire up with a good amount of white smoke. Once the engine is warm its starts without any problems.

As for using correct cold-weather starting procedures, all I'm doing is letting the glow plugs warm up and then trying to start.

[konadog]

"A few tries" sounds like you're cranking a bit, stopping and then cranking again. Cold weather procedure is to cycle the glow plugs a couple of times and then start turning the motor over and not stopping until it's either fired up or the battery is flat... When you stop cranking the temperature in the cylinders drops and takes you back to square one, but with diminished battery power.
Still, it does sound like the plugs aren't working properly. Maybe there's an electrical issue that fried them? Bus bar maybe? Good luck.

[jessef]

Sounds like injection pump seal may be culprit.