Hi guys,

I've been lurking for a while and now I would need your expertise please.

I have a 2002 Doblo Cargo 1.9 SX JTD (150 odd thousand miles) and for the last while has been giving me some intermittent starting problem.

It would tick over but simply won't start. Sometimes a couple of people pushing it would make it start, sometimes it won't.

Somehow I feel that it happens when the van is parked on a slight slope.

I use it as a delivery van and it always starts from home, but sometimes won't start after a quick delivery (10/15mn). Last time the van started 3 times no problem and got stuck on the 4th.

I got stuck last week, tried to start so many times it drained the battery, jumped it with a battery "yoke" => no luck, tried to jump start with another van => no luck. I was parked nose up on a slight slope.

Pushed it nose down and waiting for 2hrs for the recovery to come, he jumped started it first go and I made it home some how.

Every now and then the Engine Management light comes on, but the ECU doesn't register any codes.

It happened a couple of times too that while driving I would lose the throttle, EML on, all gauges would go down, I would shift one gear down and it comes back again fine.

The heater plugs have been changed a month or so ago, full service with new fuel filter. Injectors were change in May last year.

Today it started ok, went to a hardware shop so parked as usual. I then had to move the van to load the supplies, it started fine, but when trying to start again to go home it wouldn't. 3 lads pushed it and it started ok. EML came on a few times, no codes registered. I then tried to start it a few times at home and it started no bother.

Any thoughts as it's been seen by a few mechanics but nobody can find anything ?

Thanks,

Hi Camile,


When it doesn't start does it turn over on the starter motor briskly, sluggishly, not at all?
Kind of sounds like a power issue if its sluggish.
The earth leads from battery negative to engine block near gearbox are known to corrode and fail. If the battery is more that 5 years old it may be starting to fail, in which case replace.

Hi John,

Thanks for the quick reply.

It sounds to me that it turns over fine for the first couple of go and then goes sort of sluggish.

I shall check that earth wire today.

And would a bad earth make the Engine Management Light come on sometimes ?

Thank you again

And I forgot to add that the battery is just about 2 1/2 years old

Hi Camile,


Yes a bad earth/weak battery can cause all sorts of weird stuff to happen such as the gauges going down which is why I mentioned it.
Give the battery a full charge sounds like it needs it.


Regards, John

Hi John,

Just a quick update .. we made a new earth connection between the engine block and battery to be on the safe side as the original one is not very accessible.

So fingers crossed it did the job, only time will tell now.

Thank you again and I'll keep you posted.

Hi John,

You are my new hero ... I did 2 long trips with several stop in the last 2 days and all my problems are solved .. no EML, started lovely every time

Thank you again,

Hi Camile,


Glad to hear its reliable again, will keep my fingers crossed.


atb, John