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1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:42 am
by outdoorzy
Cold start issues. My L400 runs great, except for the cold start. I let the plugs warm up then start. Always turns over but rough and blows smoke. Few seconds later it runs good. Anyone have the same trouble?

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:46 am
by Rising Sun Auto Import
outdoorzy wrote:Cold start issues. My L400 runs great, except for the cold start. I let the plugs warm up then start. Always turns over but rough and blows smoke. Few seconds later it runs good. Anyone have the same trouble?
Replace glow plugs if not done yet. :-D
Very simple.

Steven

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:01 pm
by mac_stang
Yup, replace those plugs...but use good ones, my cheep chinese plugs didnt even last 20k.
Mitsubishi plugs are often changed out due to miss diagnosis.
They are supposed to last quite a long time...apparently?


Brad.

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:56 pm
by jessef
Read this before you replace your glowplugs.

Could be cold start adjustment, injection pump main shaft seal and/or glowplugs.

http://www.delica.ca/forum/problems-sta ... -8560.html

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:48 pm
by MardyDelica
hi, check the glow plug but not the glow plug all the time:
this is not 4d56 engien its a 4m40 engine:
diff type of system. big job to do replacing the seal
e-mail me pls if need help
cheers;
Mardy

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:16 am
by ragenasian
I have just replaced the injection pump seal and o-ring. It wasn't that bad but just make sure you mark everything so you can put it back in the right way. If you don't you could get the timing off. Also replaced the glow plugs and put in a new generation glow plug rail. Starts great now and am interested in seeing how it starts on these soon to be very cold days.

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:44 pm
by Steve, Melissa & Family
My van was starting really rough, with clouds of white smoke, and charging light dimly flickering, rebuilt the altenator and all is good again.

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:20 pm
by Van Diesel
Try this out as a good temporary fix. I had the same problem and the canola oil worked. I also plan on eventually replacing the injection pump seals.

http://www.delica.ca/forum/white-smoke- ... -7463.html

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:36 pm
by delicat
Same here, pajero isn't starting easy. This morning i had tomcrqnk for over a minute and smoked myself out. I rebuilt the wire/bus-bar at the glow plugs, put new glow plugs, rebuilt the ECU and i'm pretty sure I still have 0v at the glow plugs! Starts fine if I hook the glow plugs directly to the batteries. I'm getting out of ideas and very frustrated!

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:42 pm
by tonydca
delicat wrote:Same here, pajero isn't starting easy. This morning i had tomcrqnk for over a minute and smoked myself out. I rebuilt the wire/bus-bar at the glow plugs, put new glow plugs, rebuilt the ECU and i'm pretty sure I still have 0v at the glow plugs! Starts fine if I hook the glow plugs directly to the batteries. I'm getting out of ideas and very frustrated!
Duff glow start relay or the connections to it? Can you hear it click when you first turn the key?

If so, could check for 12V on both sides of the relay when it fires up...

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:23 pm
by delicat
It's a 2.8 so no click (quick plugs). I could test and trigger the relay I guess?

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:02 pm
by tonydca
Is the 2.8 Pajero and 2.8 Delica glow plug system the same or different for the same engine? (4M40)

On mine (late-94 built), when it is stone cold, as soon as I turn the key to "On", there is an immediate and loud "click" from a relay which I am 90% sure is in the upper-left passenger side of the engine compartment just below the hood line.

After about 3 seconds, there is another click, which I understand is the "fast-heat" system switching off when (supposedly) the plugs should be warm. Crank, start, and away we go, the amount of smoke depending (for now) on how cold it is.

After driving for about 1 min or so, I hear a second "click" off, which I understand is the lower-power plug circuit switching off once the engine itself starts to get warm.

So on your system you don't hear any relays triggering at all? Hmmm......

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:58 am
by tonydca
With the temp dropping to a brisk +6 degC this morning (Brr...) it was a real pig to start up. Gotta get those glow plugs. Frustrating...

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:38 am
by delicat
Quite interesting tonydca what you're saying about the clicks. I'm pretty certain the newer Paj and 400 have the same system and I've only driven both only in the summer so never heard any clicks which are more typical on pre-94 L300 (double click system). I was under the impression that the newer style (quick glow) didn't click, just wait a second and crank... I could be wrong.

I'll test my relay (isn't there 2) today and will let you know.

Cheers,
Mr. D

Re: 1994 L400 Cold Start trouble

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:09 am
by ShaneA
My L400 operates exactly how Tony describes.