Diesel will not start

rob miller · 11-25-2011, 05:45 AM

after having new heads fitted my Jeep would not start the next morning,it eventually did after i left it for an hour or so.
This happened the next day,and the next, turning over fine but nor firing,eventually it did.However,day six and it will not start at all now.
I have recharged the battery several times and cranked it over every few hours but nothing.the battery does not seem to last too long though,it cranks maybe for 30 seconds in all before draining,i charge it up for an hour or two each time.
So,can a poor battery be responsible ?is it too weak to warm the glow plugs properly? worth getting the garage out with a booster to try that?
snow on the hills this morning,what use is a jeep if it wont work in Winter?

gphunkplp · 11-25-2011, 06:49 AM

is your fuel gelln up is there water in the line hows the.fuel filter. and maybe have battery checked it might have bad cell.

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rob miller · 11-25-2011, 06:58 AM

Thank you,
i dont think there is a fuel problem,as when it does fire up it goes fine,maybe i will look further into the battery idea.

1HouseMouse · 11-25-2011, 07:02 AM

In General terms... A Diesel's failure to start most likely is Fuel related or something related to the fuel system regulation there of. Clogged Filter, Glow Plugs, Injectors, Fuel pressure (Common Rail), fuel Gelling, computer stuff.

rob miller · 11-25-2011, 07:09 AM

ok,but surely fuel problems/injectors would be intermittent,i.e,some misfiring on startup,at least an attempt to start?also disconnected battery and re connected to try and clear old codes etc.genius mechanics left one cap off the front glow plug,which i thought was the cause,but no.whereabouts is the fuel filter so i can take a look?

1HouseMouse · 11-25-2011, 07:16 AM

A clogged fuel filter is a clogged fuel filter. Try changing it out as a Cheap first step. Bad injectors are bad injectors. They will need replacement. Clogged injectors can be cleaned.... Sea Foam etc. But try a new Filter first and see where that leads. If you suspect the fuel injector pump or the fuel pump itself have it pressure tested professionally. Fuel starvation from the Fuel pump could also be the cause.

1HouseMouse · 11-25-2011, 07:24 AM

Just reread you Original Post..... Maybe..... Valves not set properly after new head installed? Wires not reconnected someplace under hood? Don't think it's battery related other than wiring may not be completed someplace under hood.

1HouseMouse · 11-25-2011, 07:35 AM

Ok, Let's take another stab at this situation. Diesel engines in General terms just don't need new heads. Why was it necessary to replace your heads? What were the signs and symptoms that led up to the need to do so? And the Root cause was? This may be directly related to what your are experiencing now.

rob miller · 11-25-2011, 08:12 AM

heads were replaced after coolant loss,two were cracked.also no heat,so i have replaced the blend doors myself,still no heat,next going to flush heater core,these are all asides to the latest problem,non starting.i seem to have bought a jeep that has everything possible wrong with it,getting it towed away over the next few days so i will have to get a garage to examine it.

1HouseMouse · 11-25-2011, 08:37 AM

Ahhh.... The rest of the story. If it were me at the time of the Coolant loss. I would have replaced the whole engine. That is just me. Too many possibilities otherwise. Now, I would take a step back and (from what you say), I would reevaluate the whole situation from my standpoint and ask myself is it worth it or not. Me.... I love projects. This one..... Cut my loss and loose it. Chalk it up to experience.

**offroading.net** · 11-25-2011, 10:27 AM

check your glow plugs are working correctly. Also give it a blast of easystart before cranking, if that gets it running okay it points more towards glow plugs not working.

I take it you have a 3.1? A friend had one rebuilt and it never ran correctly, bloody bad engines.

RedlegWJ · 11-25-2011, 06:30 PM

Have the fuel pressure checked. Could be anything from a line sucking air after the work, a bad filter, to even a bad injector pump. And, you should be changing your fuel filter every year if not, twice. Always carry a spare flter with you. Not every station as a frequent turn over of fuel like they should and they get crud and oisture buildup in the tank. Sometimes you an get contaminated ful right after they fil their tank du to sludge being stirred up.

rob miller · 12-09-2011, 05:21 AM

OK,it now runs again.
Fuel filter Diaphragm was perished,so no fuel getting through,apparently quite common,but still had to be towed away.

so now back to the blend doors,all functioning properly,heater core pipes hot in and out,and only lukewarm air in the cab...and still smells like exhaust fumes.
re calibrated the doors and they are opening and closing fine,but very poor heat.
code 22 is still showing,thats all.but i have watched the doors open and close quite happily,anyone else had this?

MadderThanMax · 12-09-2011, 05:56 AM

It may be you recirc door is totalled mate, as in totally broken..and lying down on the motor, or partially jammed??

Tis' a pity yer too far a way mate other wise we coulda had a play... offer still stands if yer passin'.

rob miller · 12-09-2011, 06:27 AM

well,it seemed to be opening and closing fine too,the heater core was flushed apparently,the mechanic was thinking it may just be the thermostat not working properly,can that be right?