Hi there.
We have a Fiat Ducato 11 JTD SWB van '02' and was hoping someone could help with a couple of issues.
Firstly the van used to be a reliable starter but now although the engine turns over with the key it doesn't actually fire up though it starts straight away with a bump. Sometimes it may start after a couple of turns but often not. Any ideas what could cause this? It's been to the garage a couple of times but suddenly started working on the key, got it home and it was fine for a couple of days and now nothing again - though the garage suggested we park it facing down a hill? Could it be faulty injectors? If so where do I find details of exactly where they are and how to access them?
Also every gear is getting very difficult to use. Yesterday we couldn't get any gears at all and managed to limp it home by pulling away in whatever gear we could force into (3rd). Turned the engine off and could run the gearbox smoothly. When we turned it back on the gears were useable again but they are getting really really stiff. My hubby said he's noticed a burning smell when this happens and at first thought it was the brakes locking on but it smells more like burning water.
BTW the van started after 2 or 3 attempts yesterday but won't start at all this morning.

Thanks for your help guys, the local mecahnics face drops every time we pull this van into the garage lol.

Sounds like you have two unrelated problems.
The gear shift issue is because the clutch doesn't release completely, most probably a defective hydraulic actuator or a cable that badly needs replacement.
Poor starting is often connected with low battery voltage. The battery may not have enough charge, it may be too old or there is corrosion resistance in the high current circuit.

Thank you for your response.
Hubby did something to the injectors taday (tightened them I think) and the van is now starting fine.
The gearbox has been dodgy for a while apparantly - is there a chance there could be water in it?
Is the cable an easyish job with correct instruction? Hubby is pretty good at learning these things

You should have a hydraulic clutch in your van. The first thing to do is to bleed it - just the same as bleeding the braking system.

DucatoMiltonKeynes said:

You should have a hydraulic clutch in your van. The first thing to do is to bleed it - just the same as bleeding the braking system.

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Thank you for that, I will get hubby on to that
The van isn't starting again so whatever he did to the injectors was just coincidence that it started again - it starts randomly.
Does anyone else have any idea what could be causing the van to not start? Like I said before it does turn over fine and when you first turn the key you hear the usual whirring noise. The van turns but just won't kick in

I would have the injectors checked. Sounds like you've got a leaky one. If one is down on pressure, the engine's brain won't allow the engine to start.

DucatoMiltonKeynes said:

I would have the injectors checked. Sounds like you've got a leaky one. If one is down on pressure, the engine's brain won't allow the engine to start.

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I did wonder if that may be the problem.
Hubby has discovered that if he bleeds the injectors slightly the van fires up and will continue to fire up all day as needed and probably will also fire up the next day though it may take longer to kick in. After a couple of days though he can go out in the morning and it will just keep turning over again until he bleeds the injectors.
He wondered if he had a diesel leak so he left cardboard under the van all night after running it and there was nothing on it - perfectly clean.
Would this still sound like an injector problem do you think?
Thank you so much for your help so far

Yes, it sounds very like an injector problem. Look up Diesel Bob online. He will recondition your injectors for a fraction of the cost of new ones.