hey guys got a problem with my doblo 1.3 multijet year 07, there are times when it wont start. You can turn it over and nothing just the clicking of the solenoid working. Then generally speaking the second or third time you try it fires away like a good one. This is a intermittent problem and i can go days without any probs at all. Sometimes it can take one turn and it fires other times nothing for ten mins or so then all of a sudden up she fires. Had a diagnostic done nothing comes up, checked connections to the starter motor they are fine, brought a new battery and still havent solved it. Not a millionaire so dont want to throw needless money at it, but have been told today to try and change the crank sensor and starter motor just to eliminate them. Any suggestions guys cos my head is done in now .

I was gonna say make sure that battery is fully charged but you done that already
If you did a scan and no errors were logged in ecu i find it hard to beleive that some sensor could be at fault...
To me sounds like a duff starter solenoid or the starter motor starting to fail
Have you tried to gently tap the starter solenoid with an hammer?

Check engine earth to chassis, the wire corrodes and develops resistance, its in the gearbox area somewhere. Means solenoid and starter doesn't get full power hence clicking. Could temporarily connect a new wire to battery negative and a bolt on the engine somewhere to eliminate.

I have never tried tapping the starter motor but the guy at the garage today did suggest doing that, also I have checked the earth cable all seems to be intact and on tight, but I may well try a new wire as I have read this a few times before on this forum. Thanks for the help!!

I had a problem starting and it turned out to be a cable from the battery leading to a switch which then went to the glow plugs.I found a loose nut on which i presumed was a sort of relay,which led to the plugs.Cable ran from possitive on battery to a switch to the bottom left under the battery box.It is a little larger than a matchbox and the cable is on the bottom which is secured in place with a nut.Might not be it but its trial and error.

Had exactly the same problem but with a 2001 Ford engine. Called out the AA who said it was a common problem and I needed a new starter motor. I fitted a new starter motor/solenoid ------same problem. Called he AA who checked it and said "you need a new starter motor"
I said it was all new and the guy said, "yes but it could be faulty best try another one."
I wasn't having any of that so I told him to check it properly, with a meter connection from the battery to the starter with me turning ignition at the same time. Amazing!! there was a huge drop in the voltage when the ignition was turned. The cable was faulty somewhere.
The problem was at the battery connection where the cable joined the connector. It was impossible to see any fault and had to be removed and hit with a chisel and drilled and soldered. A new cable is £140

Moral is start at the very beginning and listen to your own head.

doblos delight said:

hey guys got a problem with my doblo 1.3 multijet year 07, there are times when it wont start. You can turn it over and nothing just the clicking of the solenoid working. Then generally speaking the second or third time you try it fires away like a good one. This is a intermittent problem and i can go days without any probs at all. Sometimes it can take one turn and it fires other times nothing for ten mins or so then all of a sudden up she fires. Had a diagnostic done nothing comes up, checked connections to the starter motor they are fine, brought a new battery and still havent solved it. Not a millionaire so dont want to throw needless money at it, but have been told today to try and change the crank sensor and starter motor just to eliminate them. Any suggestions guys cos my head is done in now .

Click to expand...

Hi, did you sort it? I now have the same problem and don't know where to look?
Thanks