Why is my Diesel not Starting

suzolla · Post by **suzolla** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:09 pm

Hi, I have a LN130 Surf with a 2L 2.4l diesel. I am running on about 60/40 diesel/vegatable oil and have been for the last 4 months.
Up until yesterday it was starting Ok, to make it fire almost first crank I would make the glow plugs glow twice before making it crank. Now it is very hard to start, initially it only seems to fire on one cylinder and only starts after alot of cranking. Have checked that there is voltage on the glow plug power rail. I am guessing that there is something wrong with the glow plugs but not sure how to check them.

Can anyone advise how to test or suggest possible causes.

Thank you
Tim

NJV6 · Post by **NJV6** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:25 am

Glow plugs are very easy to check however you do need to pull them out.

Simply get a 12 volt battery, put the + to the top of the glow plug where the power normally goes in and - to the thred where it screws into the head. Within a few seconds they will be glowing red hot at the bottom so don't hold them!

If not - then they are bung.

Dak · Post by **Dak** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:15 pm

Don't feed 12V to them for long or at all, most glow plugs aren't even 12V, most are only around 6V.

Cheers, Jeff.

spankmeister · Post by **spankmeister** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:43 pm

I had exactly the same problem with the Terrano I used to own. It turned out that 3 of the 4 plugs were dead, so replaced them all. Was good as new after that.

suzolla · Post by **suzolla** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:34 pm

Hi, thanks for the comments, turned out 3 of the glow plugs were stuffed, did a resistance check and found they were open circuit, kuckily had another motor with some good ones in.
Tim

wopass · Post by **wopass** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:58 pm

just drop the V6 in tim and you wont have these problems anymore :wink: