1991 L300 ran flawlessly till today - Won't Start

[Kooster]

Hi all, I am a newble to the Delica family. I bought one in a leap of faith cause I saw how well they were holding their value for a 20 year old unit. I am so absolute impressed till today. I am mechanically inclined but am somewhat lost so far in Delicas. I have owned mine for just a month. So here is my situation:

Normally, I turn the key and get a click right away and they a few seconds later I get a second click and then actually starting cranking the engine till she starts. She normally runs beautifully. Today their first click happens and no second click and no cranking. Any suggestions for a checklist of troubleshooting? I have filtered through the forums but haven't found a direction to work with yet. Hoping its simple.

I'm from Penticton, does anyone know a shop that actually works on these?

Thanks for any help you may have.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Take a wire brush and clean your battery terminals as well as the cable ends. The cold/condensation can create a film on the surfaces. Cold can also tell you that your battery has too little amperage left. See where that takes you... smiles.

Falco.

[TardisDeli]

We need to know your definnition of "no cranking'' as in ''the engine turns over but does not start'' or the starter motor is doing nothing. And by the way the average time between "clicks '' is about 7 seconds .Cheers Jay Tardis Deli

[Kooster]

Normally I do have about 6 seconds in between clicks and then turn the ignition and she starts. The day I got her 1 month ago I started her at
-22 Celsius. Now there is no second click and no turning over of the engine and it was +1 Celcius. I am inclined to say it may be the starter or the glow plugs. If this were a gasoline powered car I would immediately assume the starter.

[konadog]

Maybe an ignition switch issue...? No clicks and no turning over. If the motor cranks over but doesn't fire glow plugs are a good bet, but from what you describe my money is on the ignition - I'm no expert though.... Good luck!

[TardisDeli]

pm sent

[Super Exceeded]

I had the same problem, was the locking mech, in the ignition.

[jessef]

I just had the same problem yesterday.

After testing my batteries, they failed the amperage test.

New batteries. Fired up instantly.

[yojimbo]

The batteries have had it I expect, in this sense there is no difference between a gas and a diesel engine. If the batteries are too far gone to turn the engine, it won't start no matter which fuel. The lack of extra clicking is probably because the initial starting on the glowplugs is killing what juice there is in the battery(s) and after that nothing works.

[Kooster]

I plugged in a 700amp portable battery booster direct to the leads to no avail. However as I was
standing there mulling over the situation, the second click that usual occurs 6-7 seconds after turning the key happened
approximate 40 secs later. But she still won't start. It is -10 Celcius outside today.

BTW thanks for all the help. I really really appreciate it!

[lopar]

I plugged in a 700amp portable battery booster direct to the leads to no avail.

Do not use this as your answer to possibly dead battery. The battery may be drawing too much from the pack, leaving not enough juice to start vehicle. The packs are typically only good for a light duty jump when the lights are left on or something...... tried a 1000A pack buddy had to start my cruiser that had dead battery, no go.

Keep us posted on remedies and set backs though!

[Kooster]

WOW thanks all you all! I'm keeping the Delica. LOL

The amount of suggestions and PMs lead me to a dead ECU to the glow plugs (I'm learning the lingo) and a direct bypass from the battery started her up! I guess now that I've scanned a 1000 posts and read at least 100 that this is a common problem leading to many symptoms.

Although the bypass switch works for now, I'd still like to replace the ECU unit cuz I'm not one to have wires and custom switches all over. Any suggestions THE RECOMMENDED parts supplier around Okanagan or BC? Otherwise I'm going to Steve at Assinniboine Autos cause he was the one that nailed it with his suggestions.

Thanks a bunch from Penticton, BC
I know I'm having a Happy Happy New Year now so Happy New Year to you too! (can u tell I'm ecstatic from not having to walk?)
Tony