Hi there I have a marea weekender 1.9JTD 2002. It has never really given me a days problem except last week it wouldn't start - it turned over but wouldn't fire. Left it 10 mins and tried again and it fired first time. Took it to the garage who replaced the heater plugs/spark plugs not sure what the proper ones are for diesels!

Been fine then today it did the same thing. The garage are scratching their heads on this one.

I am in France so there is language issues too!!

Help!

At this time of the year changing the glow plugs wont make a blind bit of difference to the cars starting performance. Do you have any injector lights or key code lights appearing when it wont start?

Can you hear the engine turning over and its just not starting or does the engine not turn over. Could be sticking starter motor, fuel pump not working?

We need more info. Thx

Hiya

The glowplugs light often comes on and has done for the last two years but I have been told not to worry about that mainly because it was an expensive job????

No no lights come on when it doesn't start and it has only not started twice out of the last - well it has never not started but definately not had a problem since the glowplug light issue.

My battery light sometimes stays on when it is cold but disappears when I rev but they tested the battery and said that was fine. It hasn't shown up when it hasn't started.

The engine is trying to start it just won't fire. It chugs away. If I leave it a little while then it starts. My dad mentioned that his lorry had exactly the same problem - doesn't know if the engine is composed the same way - but he said the pump has a plunger that cuts off the diesel when engine turned off and the plungers wears out over time and needs replacing and that was the solution for the lorry.

Ideas gratefully received thank you!

Does it starts when the engine is cold? What about if it is hot?

expensivelady said:

No no lights come on when it doesn't start and it has only not started twice out of the last - well it has never not started but definately not had a problem since the glowplug light issue.

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How many times has it not started out of the last ??? as its not explained properly. Has it just been once or twice. Is it a regular occurence?

when this happens do you think it is trying to fire up (is there smoke from exhaust) ?, or is it just turning over ?. One common cause of intermittent non starts (turning over but not attempting to fire) is the crank sensor, its cheap enough to replace to rule it out. Have they attempted any diagnostics, i.e. connected a diagnostics scanner ?.

Not started twice out of the last two weeks after having previously started fine so engine hot.

It is just turning over there is nothing from the accelerator or smoke out the back.

I am assuming it has been hooked up to the diagnostics thingy but it isn't a Fiat garage (Peugeot) so I don't know if it will be that accurate? The nearest Fiat garage is 35 miles away!

I shall ask what crank sensor is in French and ask them to check....

The faults codes will be accurate. However no engine light will mean no permanent errors stored. I also think its could be the crank sensor too but ideally the fault code from the diagnostic would prove useful.

Alors!! The car is coming back to me for the moment - the garage have had it 5 days and cannot get it NOT to start! They have tried everything I said and more and it has started everytime.

They have not put it on the diagnostics machine as they say it is too old to be compatible with their Peugeot machine (wrong USB cable apparently) but they have said that if I take it to Fiat it must not start for them to find it on their machine anyway so I would be wasting my money.

They do not think it is the plunger/pump idea or the crank sensor as somebody else suggested as it is too intermittent and the car does not stop whilst driving.

Someone else suggested this ....(have you disconnected the battery (makes sure you have all codes etc) for a while to reset the electrics, a friends 307 SW wouldnt switch off, could take the keys out walk around come back still running, all ignition lights stayed on and failed o go out, disconnected the battery, left it for 10 minutes, rehooked it up and voila.. been ok since, so could even be elecrtical and with Fioat it wouldnt be uncommon, and again new cars are like that .... what does everyone think before I try and translate that into French!:bang:

Help! I don't want to end up in the middle of a forest somewhere completed broken down with the dog!! The car not me - but then that is also possible....

Run the car as normal for a week or two. Keep a mobile phone handy when you do go out, just incase. Maybe the faults cured itself or it was just bad fuel. Maybe getting the fuel filter changed on the next service would be advisable.

See how it goes.

Will do, fingers crossed.

ta x

OK Boys - run the motor all day no problems. Pulling up tonight the engine cut out (second gear clutch down NO I didn't stall it!!). Moved it and pulled up again and it did the same thing?

Any further ideas? My garage said it would only be the crank sensor if it died during driving - would this count???

Help!:bang:

nay, it could cause it to cut out or not start either way. the cam sensor is another possible culprit, but it will store a code. Next thing to try for intermittent cut outs / non starts would be the ECU relay, which is a small black or red relay mounted above the glovebox (glovebox has to come out to see it).. at this stage are you sure the engine management light hasn't come on while driving ?. Also, listen carefully for the fuel pump when you turn the key to ignition - it should run for a few seconds and stop. does it run when it won't start ?.

The only light that has ever come on whilst driving has been the glowplus/coil light which Fiat told me not to worry about. I will have a listen tomorrow from memory there is a whoosing type sound but no I do not remember any sound when it wouldn't start..

will have a listen tomorrow and let you know - thanks alot - you were the fella who sorted my overheating problem last year (thump it and if it moves its not the car its the instrument panel) so I have faith!