Run...Stop...Run...Stop

[Reinhold]

We have been getting our share of snow and cool weather (yes ) up here in Edmonton recently so this is my first experience with starting the new Delica under colder conditions.
I cycle (2 clicks) the glow plugs four or five times before engaging the starter. It fires right up but dies in 3 or 4 seconds. It keeps on dying (maybe four times) until she catches and runs great. Its consistent with fuel starvation.
The van has been recently tuned up by CVI prior to me taking it home. Other than this little pain, the Delica has been running great and has been a real asset plowing through the snow drifts on my blown in driveway.
Any ideas why I'm having this starting problem? It hasn't been really cold only -9C. I read a thread about the UK members installing a fuel pump to increase the fuel pressure on the 400's that were having this problem. I'll have to do some more research to see if its applicable to the 300's.
Thanks

[jaggedfish]

In your starting sequence, are you using the manual throttle or your diesel peddle (no gas peddles here )? I know I have had to keep the revs up between 1000 and 1500 rpm for the first short bit in cooler weather while the glow plugs cycle thru their warm-up. Sounds like things are running fine once you get it warm.

The other side of the coin... and this I'm not an expert on... perhaps the glow plugs aren't getting enough juice to provide enough heat for a good start-up. They ARE getting some juice tho otherwise the engine wouldn't fire in the first place.

My hope is that it's just your starting sequence and not actually a problem...

Cheers!

[EricN]

^^^^What he said. If you have no problems starting at all other than now, I would go with that. 99% of the time I reach in, let the glow plugs go for about 5 seconds (I dont waste my time waiting for the last click) then I crank it. I noticed though on the colder days (-5 and colder), after the engine fires, as soon as the glowplugs would cycle back on, it would kill the truck (too much load on the motor I guess??). Tip in a touch of throttle and it would be fine.

[Reinhold]

I'm using the peddle. I'm going to have to experiment with different techniques. Maybe I'm not giving it enough diesel on start up before she dies. On my landcruiser cycling the glow plugs 3 or 4 times would help on start up in cold weather not sure if this is the case on the Delica. Thanks for your help....

[MardyDelica]

Hi, reinhold,
pls call me maybe i can help
Cheers;

[Miloki]

I cycle (2 clicks) the glow plugs four or five times before engaging the starter. It fires right up but dies in 3 or 4 seconds. It keeps on dying (maybe four times) until she catches and runs great. Its consistent with fuel starvation.

I found the same thing starting up mine [in Edmonton in the April winter as well].
I found the only thing to do was to have the throttle wide open and keep the starter engaged until she was clearly firing. BIG clouds of smoke!
IMO, it IS fuel starvation - I'm sure if the beast had an actual choke, we wouldn't be having this issue at all. Wonder if it's possible to add one?

Valerie
safely back home in Halifax with the DoberDeli

[marsgal42]

Diesels don't have chokes. They don't need one. No diesel has ever had one, or ever will.

They need their intake manifolds to be wide open, all the time. That's how they work.

Now that its gotten a bit warmer here I've shelved the cold-weather starting procedure (foot to the floor plus smoke) in favour of the warm-weather starting procedure: leave the accelerator alone until it catches, then gun it gently to hold 1200 RPM or so.

...laura

[Miloki]

Diesels don't have chokes. They don't need one. No diesel has ever had one, or ever will.

Better tell that to Volkswagen, because their diesels have chokes, and I can assure you it does make a difference in cold starts (-10C and below).

[marsgal42]

Diesels don't have chokes. They don't need one. No diesel has ever had one, or ever will.

Better tell that to Volkswagen, because their diesels have chokes, and I can assure you it does make a difference in cold starts (-10C and below).

Which models? Which years? I am familiar with the A2 diesel, and its cold-start handle did two things: increase idle speed, and advance injection timing. It did not alter air flow.

If you restricted intake airflow the engine would draw in less air on each intake stroke. Less air would not compress as much, and would not get as hot as a full air charge would. This would make the engine harder to start, not easier.

...laura

[mdrive]

you should pay attention on your glow plug ECU, eventually from intermittent problem it will become permanent. have your ECU capacitors replaced.