Hi All
Had this problem since buying Dobby 10 months ago. Starts fine first thing in the morning but go for a run 10, 15, 100 miles and stop engine. Sometimes it starts and other times have to turn it over 5 or 6 times before it eventually starts! A small history - I have serviced it, new diesel filter, air filter etc. New timing belt, water pump. I have just replaced the crankshaft sensor and the battery but still got this fault, in fact its maybe getting slightly worse! Has anyone any ideas on where I can go next?

:bang:

Cheers
Sam

Hi,
Have you run any decent diagnostic software on it? If so were there any faults stored? Have you looked at parmeter like fuel pressure?
Multiecuscan allows you to graph parameters so you can go for a drive while recording and then do a hot start and see what has changed.
What you have spent on parts and time would pay for MES and a interface.

Robert G8RPI.

Hi
Thanks for your prompt reply. I did have a scan done by a local garage which came back with a faulty glowplug and they said that someone had changed the battery before I had it. As I said I put a brand new battery on. I have one of those plug-in to cigarette lighter battery volt meter which, when I am turning the car over, can go as low as 12.3v and on occasions less than 12.0v. It does seem to start when it goes up to 12.6v. Does this make any sense to you? Some have mentioned a new starter but, as you say, it looks like I will have to put it into the main Fiat dealer for a scan.


Cheers
Sam

Hi,
12V on turning over is indicates aa good battery.
If yu want to DIY and have a laptop running windows. get a copy of Multiecuscan (MES) www.multiecuscan.net and an ELM 327 interface and doy it yourself 50 euros for the software and £20 for th interface
While not needed for the engine on your van, a A3 (Yellow) adaptor lead is required for full access to some mmodules.
e.g.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152875225743?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152907210346?
or a set
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162904443097?
Avoid the cheap <£10 interfaces from China they have a design flaw. I also recommend wired (USB) rther than wireless, a bit of interference during a critical phase of adjustment cout "brick" the ECU. Very rare, but not worth the risk.
Cheaper than a visit to a dealer.
Robert G8RPI.

Thank you for your very informative reply. I will look into what you suggest but it may be easier, if going down this road, to take it to a Fiat garage. Got one or two other options to try first but thank you again for all your help.

Cheers
Sam

ldv400 said:

Thank you for your very informative reply. I will look into what you suggest but it may be easier, if going down this road, to take it to a Fiat garage. Got one or two other options to try first but thank you again for all your help.

Cheers
Sam

Click to expand...

Hi Sam,
Where are you located? Someone may be adle to suggest a good garage.

Robert G8RPI.

Hi sorry for delay I,m in lochgelly Fife.Thought I would check Earth cable at gearbox and it was corroded through at the connection,Waiting for a new earth cable to come and will try that.


Cheers Sam.

Hi update so far put a new earth cable on and turns over faster and starts more or less first time but still now and again takes 2 or 3 attempts. Will see how it goes and may try a starter later on.



Cheers Sam.

Hi,

Have you considered a voltage drop test. As you have noticed the doblo starts better with

the new earth cable, but now again still a couple attempted to get going. If you have a

multimeter handy, with one lead connect to battery positive, and with the other connect

the B+ terminal on your starter motor. Now crank your engine, the meter should read 0.0 volts

or very very close to it. Second test, check ground/earth side of circuit, one lead from your

meter goes to battery negative, the other lead connects to the body of the starter motor.

Now crank engine and again you should see closer to 0.0 volts. On the ground side, the

acceptable voltage allowable can be up to 500mV ( one half of ONE volt ). Any thing higher

would indicate an issue with high resistance. The nearer to ZERO the BETTER.

The issue with one glow plug highly unlikely to prevent poor starting, unless you live in a

very cold damp climate.

My first test would be to check the battery voltage then crank it and see your voltage readings.

If there is a difference this could say that not all of your voltage is going to the starter, hence the

need for the above tests.

Hope this may be of some help.

John.

Hi,

Mine did that ,and finally it was the fuel pump in the diesel tank.
200 euros part and job cost.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a WIS for the 1.3jtd? Or even a pdf version would help.

Thanks