Refuses to start

[graape]

I had a service station change my battery and it has not and will not start after installation. They say it has spark and has fuel. Now they want to change timing belt. this was changed 60,000 km ago. Is it or does it have a computer that could have been shorted out when the battery was changed. this is the first time it has ever given any grief starting. I am already close to $500.00 for a battery and still watching the bill climb. Any ideas?? Please... L400 3 liter gas engine with automatic trans.
Thanks
Clarence

[TardisDeli]

Dont pay more,
Maybe it wasnt a bad battery, but something else that was dying. what were your symptoms. That's the main info we need.

Hmmm, is battery strong enuf to start our engines? NOt sure what the CCA Cold cranking amps are on gas version. Why 500 for battery, I just buy lead acid, Starting battery (not deep cycle), absolutely strong and best bang for buck, you only need fancy gel cell or agm glass mat is you want to ensure battery will work upside down (ie in a sailboat capsize).

If a battery is drained below 50 percent, if cannot take a charge.

Tests: don't try to start engine, turn off ALL accesories (ie stereo, dvd, lights, heater, fan), just turn key to accessory, turn on high beams, go look, are they really truly bright, if so your battery is OK. Turn key to try to start, do you just hear a click (if so dead battery, but if your headlights are bright then look to starter or large size fuse problem), or does engine strongly try to chug chug chug (if so then look to fuel problem). Put vehicle in neutral, with parking brake on, and press foot heavily on brake pedal, try to start, if it now does then is neutral safety switch (so your kid can't accidentally start the car).

Where is the van, maybe someone lives near you who can look at it??? Put a load test on the battery to prove that it is OK. Then go back to what your previous symptoms were and fix those (ie fuse, starter motor, alternator).

Chrsitine.

[graape]

Here is a bit more info. It started first time all the time, worked like a charm. I had it in to replace bush bar and skid plate. While it was there I asked them to check the battery as it would be dead if I left the van sit for more than 3 days. They called and said the battery needed replacing as it failed under load. They replaced the battery and have not been able to start it since. It turns over, has spark and has fuel. The $500 is battery, plugs, installing bush bar and skid plate. My concern is replacing the timing belt if it isn't needed. It was replaced by C.V.I. 80,000 km ago. It has a remote start burglar alarm but the alarm people say it would only turn off the starter preventing it from turning over, not immobilize the vehicle. My thinking is if there is spark, fuel and air it should run???

[Feds]

What's an easy test for the timing belt? Perhaps pull the valve cover and make sure the cams are spinning?

It is very odd that your timing belt would go while it was in for service. Did they perhaps cause a vacuum leak while changing out the battery?

[Big-Bird]

The best and quickest way to check for a broken timing belt is to pull one spark plug and put a pressure tester into that threaded hole.

If pressure develops then the belt is probably fine. Its also very unlikely the belt jumped a tooth on a sprocket which also makes starting hard if not impossible but that usually happens only when a belt is stretched and old.

Chances are a fuse may have been blown during the battery swap. Most vehicles, Delica's included, have 2 fuse blocks. 1 Under the dash for stuff that is controlled from inside the cab and one under the hood.

[nxski]

Pull out every fuse in the alarm system and try again. I was stranded last night due to a short in my remote and this was the soloution.

[Feds]

The best and quickest way to check for a broken timing belt is to pull one spark plug and put a pressure tester into that threaded hole.

If pressure develops then the belt is probably fine. Its also very unlikely the belt jumped a tooth on a sprocket which also makes starting hard if not impossible but that usually happens only when a belt is stretched and old.

Chances are a fuse may have been blown during the battery swap. Most vehicles, Delica's included, have 2 fuse blocks. 1 Under the dash for stuff that is controlled from inside the cab and one under the hood.

How is the spark controlled on these engines? My mitsu gassers were all 4-cylinders, but they were controlled by a cam angle sensor that was just bolted on in place of the distributor. If the timing belt is broken, you may not have spark at all.

[TardisDeli]

There are several electrical connectors that float around above or beside the battery. BUT Particularly one skinny wire that has a plastic block about one inch square on the end, which clicks into a matching plastic block with another single skinny wire. Looks too skinny to be important. It is SUPER important. Will cause total lack of electrical activity, ie mimic a dead battery. Usually the plastic block is a milky clear white plastic, sometimes it looks brown and toasted (bad thing). Sometimes it has been replaced already with something else in a plastic connector thingy. The plastic block gets brittle with age and dies. Look for it, this is a common problem.

This is not the same thing as your 4 wire Fusible Link.

Do not let a non delica mechanic touch any belts, if not tightened to the exact amount will blow up your engine later. And if they screwed up already, why let them touch anything else. RUN AWAY.

Where are you, can another delica of the same type park beside yours to see what wires are not matching.

Is yours gas or diesel (we usually say spark for gas, if so then my advice has been for diesel engine).

Christine.

[delicajohn]

We're having a similar problem with our 1996 L400. I just went out to check if our vehicle has ABS and discovered the battery was dead. It been running fine since we purchased it a few days ago, but when I tried to start it now it was completely dead. When I turned the ignition on, all I could hear was a loud, repetitive clicking noise and the engine did not even try to turn over. I'm assuming this is the result of a dead battery. I have a battery charger so will attempt to charge the battery and see if this is the culprit. If anyone has any other suggestions please feel free to chime-in! Thanks

[fredt]

We're having a similar problem with our 1996 L400. I just went out to check if our vehicle has ABS and discovered the battery was dead. It been running fine since we purchased it a few days ago, but when I tried to start it now it was completely dead. When I turned the ignition on, all I could hear was a loud, repetitive clicking noise and the engine did not even try to turn over. I'm assuming this is the result of a dead battery. I have a battery charger so will attempt to charge the battery and see if this is the culprit. If anyone has any other suggestions please feel free to chime-in! Thanks

YEP! that sounds just like mine when the batterys die! usually starts first time when I jump it from the Jeep :)

[Firesong]

Or the connections at the battery are corroded / poor. Clicking at start could be that or poor connections at the alternator. Clean the up and see.

[delicajohn]

YEP! that sounds just like mine when the batterys die! usually starts first time when I jump it from the Jeep :)

I connected my battery charger and attempted to recharge the battery but it did not seem to be charging. I boosted the Delica with my other vehicle and it started first time. Took it for a 45 minute drive, parked in the driveway, switched the engine off and tried to start it. Dead as a doornail with just the clicking sound. Does this sound like just a simple case of a battery that needs replacing, or do the symptoms indicate a more sinister issue or problem?

[nxski]

YEP! that sounds just like mine when the batterys die! usually starts first time when I jump it from the Jeep :)

I connected my battery charger and attempted to recharge the battery but it did not seem to be charging. I boosted the Delica with my other vehicle and it started first time. Took it for a 45 minute drive, parked in the driveway, switched the engine off and tried to start it. Dead as a doornail with just the clicking sound. Does this sound like just a simple case of a battery that needs replacing, or do the symptoms indicate a more sinister issue or problem?

It could be a very dead battery or a dead alternator, I've had these symptoms from both. You can have the batter and alternator tested to figure out which is which. Sometimes a bad alternator can kill the battery too.

[delicajohn]

The alternator seems to be working fine so I'm 99.9% sure its the battery. Just been done to Canadian Tire, really helpful people but unfortunately don't have a battery that will fit the Delica. What are other people replacing their stock batteries with over here and where are you getting them?

[Jolly Roger]

I'd also be interested in finding out where to purchase new batteries.