Afternoon
Recently bought a doblo van of a pal as I needed one for work. Van had starting issues and hed tried ...
Fuel rail
fuel pump (second hand)
and nothing cured it! you can go out to van put key into it turn it over and it will start OR you can go out try itll turn over with out starting then battery goes flat put jump leads on and eventually it will start.


When running its faultless no misses or anything like that but then if you turn it off your back to square one doesn't matter if hot or cold. You can literally have it running a hour turn it off then flick key straight back on and it will just turn over like its never ran a day in its life!


Another good friend who knows a bit has had a look due to fact it will fire first time on EZ start has concluded its probably a fuel problem! But has no idea what it is..


Some one has had a go at fixing it before but to no avail..


I seem to have 2 options..


1.) start changing random parts until it works
2.) take it to a diesel speacilist near me but he will charge through teeth!


just trying you guys as intending to run van for a long time but I also run a Impreza and on the owners club for them and constantly advising or being advised on there!!


Also apparently pump in tank is fine as when ignition on its pumping


Any tips hints expierence or help honeslty appreciated


Thanks
Mike

I was going to suggest having the crank sensor checked out, but I remember a mate having a Combo (same engine) with a similar problem and it turned out to be something simple!

The electric pump wasn't getting a feed for some reason, he found something wasn't connected, but for the life of me I can't remember

I'll ask a mate if he remembers....

That would be really great pal please it's getting frustrating!

Not sure if the 1.3 Multijet fuel priming is the same as the 1.9JTD, but this time last year I had similar issues with my 1.9JTD. I couldn't get a voltage feed to the lift pump in the tank. If a bye passed the lift pump by intercepting the fuel line in the engine bay and hand pumped fuel into the main fuel pressure pump, it ran perfectly or until I couldn't get enough fuel into the pressure pump.
With only the small manufacturers handbook to work with, I thought I had checked all the fuses and relays, which the handbook indicated where located in the engine bay fuse box. Then by chance, I came across a post in the Multipla section whereby a fella had to change his fuse box that is located in the cabin. I had a luckier escape than that guy. My cure was a fettle with the four relays in the cabin fuse box and bingo, leccy was restored to the tank lift pump and it fired up straight away.
What I can make of it, the lift pump primes the fuel feed to the pressure pump. Once the engine is running, and I could stand corrected here, I believe the main pressure pump takes on a suction role and helps draw fuel up from the tank.

Iv noticed it's got a bit of a fuel leak from pump on engine so going to try another, I think pump in tank is working as I accidentky left ignition on and cracked fuel line off and it was spraying fuel until i turned ignition off!

IF.....you have a leak at the pump or the fuel rail, you will have starting problems.

The pressure needs to be high so the injectors can fire.

If the tank pump is working, I would be looking at the leaking main pump then!

There's a place near me that brakes vauxhalls and they have a few 1.3 Cdtis in taking my pump of in morning and going to try match it up 50 quid they want for a pump but think it's a good place to start!

It might only be a leaking washer, seems a bit drastic to get a whole pump if it's only a 20p part!!

Iv checked washers and leak seems to be bottom of pump but I'm just about to take it off so I'll have a good look at it. Honestly just desperate to get it on road

Well changed washers new pump new pipes etc no difference, a pal thinks it's ecu but why would it start of ez start if it was!

Also spoke to mechanic that used to maintain van so far it's had new injectors new crank and cam sensor new fuel rail with all sensors and other bits n bobs to try solve this issue

mikedoblo said:

Also spoke to mechanic that used to maintain van so far it's had new injectors new crank and cam sensor new fuel rail with all sensors and other bits n bobs to try solve this issue

Click to expand...

Sounds like an injector / injectors loosing pressure to me. But of course could be wrong.

regards

Mal

Litterally just had a leak of test done and all injectors performing. ;(

I feel your frustration

Mates van wasn't getting power to the tank pump and it turned out something was unplugged.

Yours sounds more electrical if it starts one minute and not the next.

I would be thinking sensor.

Have the cam sensor & crank sensor checked. My thoughts are with the cam sensor....

According to mechanic that maintained it he changed everything trying to chase problem, got down to pump in tank or ecu. Although tank in pump is working. It's frustrating that it starts straight away on e z start !

I wonder if you have several problems!?!?

These vans are known for compression getting low as the engine wears, this means they are hard to start....squirting in ez start would overcome this. The fix for this is a faster starter motor (available from Vauxhall for the Combo).

Another problem could be the timing chain! They re also known to stretch and then jump a tooth. This puts the cam and crank sensors out of sync and make it hard to start.

Does the yellow engine warning lamp flash at the times it turns over but wont start? If so, that could be an indication of a sensor fault.

Yet another problem is the alternator. They have a one way clutch that can either break or lose friction and can't charge as well as normal. If the battery isn't getting a sufficient charge, it can create a non start issue (ECU not getting a clear signal that the alternator is spinning).

I would get this van on a diagnostics and do a "live data" test on it. This will find any problematic signals or lack of signals. If it starts the live data will diagnose the timing signal and point to whether the chain could be worn as the signal from crank & cam sensors will be off to a degree.

That's the best I can do from the comfort of my couch

No updates as of yet and I think they've tried just about everything. How can such a small engine be such a headache !

Have they done a live data test yet?

That's the only way to find sneaky problems....

They think it's down on fuel pressure but have now given up on it, that's third "mechanic" I know now that can't do anything with it! No idea what to do everything seems expensive now, ecu kit or one of those updated starter motors again just clutching at straws! Really getting to me this little van!

Engine management light comes on as and when it wants the other day it was on and the whole panel where mileage and time is was flashing if that helps