Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Tried to fire up the Van yesterday.

Turned the key, waited for the Glow-Plug-Klick, turned the key some more, lots of turning over, crank, crank, crank (got new batteries... lot's of starting power).... but no start.

After the 5th about 10 second cranking attempt the exhaust started to puff some heavy, gray-black-blue smoke (like the Truck out of "Duel") and caughed a bit.

Waited about 30 secons, pumped the gaspedal a bit (not sure if this does anything benefitial to awakening a Diesel?)... and cranked again.

This time I got a freaking smoke-galore out of the tailpipe (one that makes people stare at you and makes you feel really embarassed) - and now the van was running..

Runs fine, pulls great, no issues at all. Just a super long and extra dirty starting process.

It always blew a bit of smoke at the start-up - but never like this... and never took so long to get fired up...

Any ideas? Thanks and "caugh, caugh..." through all the smoke...

Worn-out glow plugs, maybe

Oh wow, I need to read the subject line more closely, I originally read, "super MONKEY start!"

You've gotta admit, it does captivate the imagination!

I agree with Konadog, check your glow plugs. Also, do you hear your glow plug controller clicking on/off? Your controller might be having issues. I know that when I forget to let the plugs warm up, my van cranks over a lot like how you've described (I generally shut off and re-try, letting the g.p. controller do its thing)

hope this helps

These are very simple engines by modern standards. If they have fuel and compression they will start. Now that it's getting colder the latter is the usual issue, which means checking your glow plugs.

You only mentioned one click. Are you waiting for the second one?

...laura

Sounds like a good candiate for a Delica Tune.

I would agree that glow plugs may be an issue. Also dirty injectors or poor timing may be causing grief as it gets cooler.

Will get the glow-plugs checked.... the weird thing is: The van had just been standing at CVI for over one month (until a week ago), waiting for a new Cylinder head to arrive from somewhere overseas, getting a new Alternator, new Radiator, new Batteries, new Belts, hoses, Bushings, Oil, Coolant, Tranny-Fluid changes, Thermostat.... and now the Glow Plugs are toast....

Smokey Start and Monkey Start....

Anyway, thanks for all your replies....

i dont know why people keep saying these are easy engines to start. iv got new winterized batteries (two),
a block heater installed, full deli tune and injection cleaning and she still starts how you described. and yes i am waiting for the two clicks so dont bring that up.
im gona check the glowplugs cozz thats all thats left.actualy i geus i could check the starter and alternator.very frustrating

im gona check the glowplugs cozz thats all thats left

This is why I generally recommend checking them early in the process, compared to a lot of the other stuff they are cheap and easy to replace.

Maybe a video with sound of what it is like when you start would be better than words to describe your starts. Then people can compare to what happens with their vans. I know mine would crank and start easily in the cold (just a oil pan heater), but would belch smoke and run very rough for a period depending on temperature.

James

As it turns out, I actually took a short video of the starting (or smoking) process.

The unfortunate thing is just, that once I got cranking, the video screen is just blackened with the massive amount of smoke coming out the tailpipe and it takes a few seconds before anything is visible again.... cough... cough...

The problem is that my video camera claims to have some uploading function for "youtube" but since I can't figure out a simple diesel, I am having an even harder time, figuring out the upload onto "youtube"..

I'll keep trying and will post an update once I have it on youtube... Oh... I guess my license plate can be seen on that video as well... don't wanna get sued for polluting the environment. I guess I'll take another video with the license place covered....

PS: Glow-Plugs will be checked and (if needed) replaced tomorrow. How long does the average glow plug last?

Cheers

impalator wrote:Will get the glow-plugs checked.... the weird thing is: The van had just been standing at CVI for over one month (until a week ago), waiting for a new Cylinder head to arrive from somewhere overseas, getting a new Alternator, new Radiator, new Batteries, new Belts, hoses, Bushings, Oil, Coolant, Tranny-Fluid changes, Thermostat.... and now the Glow Plugs are toast....

Smokey Start and Monkey Start....

Anyway, thanks for all your replies....

Wow, 1 month eh?
I got a new head installed last week in my van, at Japanoid (New West).
Took them 24 hours to get the head in. I had the van back in 48hrs.

BTW to all deli owners: Check your radiators for corrosion. That's one thing importers unfortunately overlook or ignore.

And big thumbs up for Japanoid.
I was freaking out, as my girlfriend was overdue for the baby, so I needed a WORKING vehicle.
Head cracked due to a plugged passage to cylinder #2, and it was going through coolant like crazy.
My own importer(no names mentioned) totally let me down, despite of my circumstance, but Japanoid took me right in, prioritized my job and got it out in no time.

Wow, 1 month eh?
I got a new head installed last week in my van, at Japanoid (New West).
Took them 24 hours to get the head in. I had the van back in 48hrs.

Just for clarification: It didn't take CVI 1 month to perform the work. The head was ordered by the dealer (who's name I am not going to name here) and it took these guys a month to get the new head from Taiwan and send it over to Butch at CVI... therefore not at all CVI's fault that it took so long... once they had the head, it took them a day or so to get everything done...

Van is starting fine now... just minimal smoke. Got the glow-plugs replaced yesterday at CVI as a courtesy - Big thanks to Butch.... this is what I call customer service.

Happy that the Van is running fine again... and hoping that it'll stay that way for a while...

We had a problem starting our deli at Big White at Thanksgiving.Thought it was altitude or maybe temp.As it turned out our selonoid must have stuck in the on position therefore burning out all 4 glowplugs! We have driven it since then but with some very hard starts in the a.m. but then perfect all day.My brother checked the glo plugs last night by removing the bar and checking the continuence on each plug. All dead. Replaced plugs, bypassed the computer with a 12 dollar 25 amp push button switch from lordco (mounted on the side of the console beside e-brake) and the Deli starts like a dream with a 1 second push of the switch and runs so smooth it feels like a new van. Had no idea these engines could start and run with no power to the cylinders and dead plugs on board!.0 smoke on start-up is a bonus