She just died!! Now it won't start! Any ideas

[Super Exceeded]

Ok, driving stretch home last light and just at my street she died, I mean total electrical and engine shut down. Turned off the key, put her in park and then tried to turn her back on. All electrics came back, starter cranks over, but no engine start up. If I am correct (and I know almost nothing about engines) I would guess that the starter is not engauging the crank.. But even if this was true, it doesn't explain the total shut down to begin with.

Any Ideas, any body do house calls?

[lopar]

I am in Victoria, sorry no house call...... more details, forum may be able to help troubleshoot.

starter cranks over, but no engine start up. If I am correct (and I know almost nothing about engines) I would guess that the starter is not engauging the crank..

starter turning over(higher RPM whining sound) no engagement? possibly solenoid or electrical problem.
or engine turning over(lower RPM with engine being driven by starter without "starting")? fuel/computer/electrical/other

Chuck in as much detail as you can........

have a meter?

[Super Exceeded]

Ok
MOre specific.

When it died it litterally just died. As mentioned the electrical came back on when I recycled the key.

As for the sound, yes, The high spining sound, hence my guess at no engaugement. I only tried a few times to start her, just rolled down the hill to the house.

Not a lot of other details to be honest.

It died, everything came back but engine ignition.


I do have a meter as well.

[mararmeisto]

Check you battery connections and your starter motor connection: if either are loose you won't have enough amperage to turn over the engine. While in there checking the battery connections, check the fusible links (if battery connections are tight, but when wires are wiggled electrics cut out, then fusible links are shot). Given how much modification you've already done, I would suggest removing all the fusible links and putting in a small fuse panel instead.

If starting sequence is pierced with a loud whine, it could be the starter, starter gear, or flywheel, or your starter is not fully engaged on the flywheel (i.e. you need to tighten the bolts holding it on - if you didn't touch these, it's unlikely they backed off).

Considering your engine "died" while driving, the only electrics a diesel requires is the fuel pump/fuel injector (a gasoline engine needs electrics for the spark plugs, so it could be a two-possibility issue with them). Again, check your battery connections and the wiring to the fuel injector.

[thedjjack]

Check the battery connections X2.

If my cables are loose and I high beam I lose the everything, including the motor if it really bad. (need power to keep fuel from shutting off).

Yesterday, I finally got around to pulling the two batteries, cleaning all terminals, checking all connections, painting the battery tray, filling the cells, adding 150amp breaker for an inverter.

What a difference, van turns over faster, starts up.

I try to call you tomorrow.

Cheers

[lopar]

was running fine and died while running.......... starter/solenoid sound be fine (obviously started before no problem) any problems starting recently? (sluggish?)

Engine died + Not engaging now = lower power, bat or alt or wiring(98% ish)

....... so "should" be battery and/or alternator/regulator and/or loose/corroded wires/connections.

best to get the battery and alternator load checked + inspect all major wiring...... such as bat/starter, bat/alternator, bat/chassis, chassis/gnd, etc........ actually, considering your mod/stretch, grounds are a good chance of problem...... paint at grounding points, between panels etc. anything to hinder path from + / -.

good luck and let us know....... feed the forum!

[RichD]

What is the voltage of the combined batteries?

I assume when you say "died" you mean "stalled".

[jessef]

The L300 2.5 engine does not need electicity to run.

If you turn it over and let it idle.. then disconnect the battery, you can drive it until you turn it off.

There is no fuel pump. It's mechanically injected / injection pump pulls diesel and pushes to the injectors.

We need more information.

It just died. That could be lack of fuel (clogged injectors, inj pump, fuel filter, lines ...). Could be completely clogged air filter lack of air (unlikely). Hopefully not, but the timing belt could have skipped and thrown your timing out of whack.

These things will cause it to stall/stop while driving and then not be able to start it again.

If it was electrical, it would not cause your van to stall or stop while driving so you can rule electrical issues out for the 'it died while driving'.

The fact that after it died, you have all power back with the key on and you can turn it over points to either lack of fuel delivery or incorrect timing.

What is the mechanical history of your rig ... Timing belt, cooling system, injection pump/injectors ... ?

[Super Exceeded]

When I say she just died, I mean it stopped in the middle of the street. No Running engine, and no electrics. As mentioned, I recycled the key and power came back.

Air filter is less than a year old but will check fuel filter and power supply in the morrow.

[thedjjack]

You do need power or not need power (need to look at the wiring diagram to see which). it is an electrical problem.

To turn off a diesel you must stop fuel. On the delica it is done with power, mercedes vacuum, and others manually.

I know when my battery connections are loose my motor turns off with the high beams.

[RichD]

What is the mechanical history of your rig ...

The front half or the back half? lulz

[jessef]

I've driven my L300 from Kamloops to Hope with a completely dead battery - 0 voltage.

What I was getting at is the fact it died while driving. That is not likely an electrical issue but a fuel delivery or timing issue.

These engines are dead simple. They only need diesel and air to run. No electronics. If it dies while driving, 99% of the time, it's a fuel delivery problem.

When did you have the timing belt replaced, fuel filter replaced, injection pump/timing checked ?

Another thing that may separate your problem from the average Delica is all that electronic modifications you did under the dash.

If you tinkered around with the ignition wiring, then it's plausible that it is the reason why eveything shut down while driving including electrical.

[thedjjack]

Mine is all stock and turns off with electrical issue....Look I sounding like Green1!

[jessef]

That's because you have an electrical issue ! typical Delica's won't.

Green1 ? Who's that ?

[thedjjack]

Green1 tended to never be wrong and never backed off, until the day he quit the forum and deleted all his post.

I hope I do not have an electrical problem, I just booked Joshua Tree National Park for after Christmas....Road Trip!