Looking for a decent set of jump leads

Mutton_Geoff

Are you actually letting the glow plugs warm before turning the starter motor. I see many diesel engine drivers who try to start the car like a petrol version and don’t wait 5-10 seconds for the glow plugs to warm up.

loskie

put the ignition on two or three times allowing the glow plug to illuminate and extinguish each time BEFORE attempting to start. This may well help.

onomatopoeia99

WLM21 wrote: »

89 Turbo Diesel van

Had it been a petrol I might have had some ideas, as I have 1.9 wasserboxer Caravelle (mine's 4wd though and people keep knocking on my door asking to buy it).

I agree with other suggestions, buy copper leads, not CCA, and look for at least 35mm2.

ohreally

Easiest way to check if your glow plugs are working is use (borrow) a clamp meter on the circuit cableing, enquire what the load for a working set should be.

Mutton_Geoff

It's also very unlikely all 4 glow plugs would have failed so current to individual plugs might isolate a faulty one but wouldn't answer the non starting issue.


Either all four are not warming due to a circuit fault. I don't know whether the indicator light would still illuminate if the glow plug fuse had blown? Otherwise, engines not starting are down to two or three very basic issues.

AdrianC

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

It's also very unlikely all 4 glow plugs would have failed so current to individual plugs might isolate a faulty one but wouldn't answer the non starting issue.

Either all four are not warming due to a circuit fault. I don't know whether the indicator light would still illuminate if the glow plug fuse had blown? Otherwise, engines not starting are down to two or three very basic issues.

It's a very simple glow system on these - it's basically a Mk2 Golf engine.

The light says the relay's energised, no more. That then feeds a link bus to all plugs. It's entirely likely that it's been a while since all four worked, and what's happened now is that the last (or penultimate) working one has succumbed... They'll start on two, but one is pushing it as the weather drops.

OP - Was it a bit grumpy from a cold start before?

forgotmyname

Just start it up is bad unless your giving it a run to get the engine upto temperature. Starting it and letting it run for a few minutes wont get the engine hot enough and can cause condensation in the engine.

Either get it upto temperature then another 20 minutes or dont start it, just keep the battery charged. If its not in a position to leave on charge remove the battery.