please help - van shuts off by itself!

[jthom]

At the beginning of the day, after I start the engine on my 93 super exceed, it will often idle for about 15 seconds and then the engine will just shut off.
More often, it does this when I shift into reverse after starting the engine (i.e. to leave the parking space).

I've also noticed that this first 20 seconds of idling includes some pretty funky smoke coming out the pipe.


Has anyone else experienced this with their Delica?

I've had the battery replaced and oil and transmission fluids changed all within the last week but it's still doing this.


Thanks!
:)

[Mr. Flibble]

How long to you wait for the glowplugs to click? It sounds like the engine is not warm enough with the colour of smoke described coming out of your tailpipe.

[loki]

if the glow plugs aren't working well that would do it (it will also not start very easily, what is your starting procedure and what it happens during it). if it isn't it, it could be the seals in IP are a little dry and over night some air is being drawn into it, this can be solved with a rebuild, an IP replacement, or often running a mix of some Veggie oil through it can bring the seals back to life. But check the glow plugs first

[Green1]

sailing seals are usually described as stalling a couple hundred metres down the road, so it is possible, however I know when having starting problems on my L300, stalling shortly after putting it in gear was normal, basically if the revs dropped before it warmed up a stall was imminent.
This could be a bunch of different things, but I suspected bad compression on mine... hard to say for sure though.

[TardisDeli]

Hi, Need more info, happy to help.

Hey local Victoria folks, can anyone stop by his place and listen and observe, this is all basic Delica Community Friendship.

Some ideas to consider detailed herein: Remote starter; madly clicking glowplugs - start with all accesories OFF to listen; recent maintenance goof; new problem with cold weather??

Fuel system issues: veg oil in system, air in fuel system (seals aging or injector needs tuning), water in fuel system (frozen condensation in lines), parked on a steep hill so fuel hasnt had time to pump uphill, sediment in filter or lines or injector.

Are you using a remote control starter? They are programmed to start remotely but then require you must touch the pedals and ignition in a specific order they will halt the engine (child proofing).

Do you HEAR madly clicking glow plugs when starting on colder days, if so be more GENTLE in your starting so they don't click on / off quickly, keep all accesories OFF so you can LISTEN. On cold mornings, I start the van with a very delicate foot NOT over-revving but just keeping it about 850 revs for one ENTIRE minute with all the acessories turned off so I can listen to the engine and ensure NO MAD CLICKING from glow plugs, just barely touch the pedal with your foot to keep to 850 rpm. Within 1 minute it purrs happily without any choke/pedal, now turn on the accessories, then I drive slowly, BUT if you get the madly clickly glow plugs then it is still too much cold/dirt/air for your fuel system and it is getting fuel starved. So pull over for 30 seconds to let it stabilize.

You also mentioned a recent oil change etc, maybe they goofed? Check your fluid levels NOW, ensure all stuff on airtight, wonder what the oil was (it is nice to throw in 1/2 litre-ish of 5 or 10 (versus 10-30, just the 10 alone is good in winter) weight only diesel approved oil in the winter when topping up, just ensure that it is same type as what was used, so it thins out entire oil batch).

Has it always been hard to keep started, or is this just after the maintenance done ?

Anyway, as already mentioned, give us more specifics, does it die quickly or sort of chug chug chug itself to a stop while clicking and shaking.

If you're on the island, the True King of Deli maintenance is Glen and The Lads at Coombs Country Auto repairs.

If you visit the mainland, come stay at the TardisDeli motel so we can all listen in the morning (standing in the freezing cold hmmm) to isolate what it is not.
Cheers, Christine.

[jthom]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

To get more specific -

this is not a new issue - it's done this about once a week or so since I bought it 3 months ago.

my startup routine is: turn the key halfway, wait for two plug clicks, turn engine on.

i'm not using my remote starter, so that's not an issue. no veg oil system either. no steep hills. might be water in the fuel system, but we're barley dipping below freezing here in Victoria - I don't think it's cold weather related.
the glow plugs aren't clicking madly - the engine sounds like it's kind of struggling (chug chug chugging) to keep from stalling, then it stalls.
as for oil, i bought the oil for the change myself it was 5W.

I'll try revving at 850 for a minute before doing any shifting.

Thanks again,
:)

[Erebus]

The not stopping is often a symptom of a misbehaving daytime running light system. If you know how it is wired, can you disconnect to test?