Hi all,
We recently purchased a 2001 Ducato Motorhome, I believe with the 2.8jtd engine (based on the badges on the body). It did the drive from Somerset to Southampton really well, but something was slightly bugging me. We did a couple of hours, temp upto halfway and stayed there, We then stopped for a break. Upon restart it had become dark and rainy, and for the rest the of the journey home, the engine temp was hotter under load than it was for stage one of the journey. The interior clock also dimmed slightly when extra pressure was applied to the gas.

I had a family friend check the basic electrics over and all seemed okay. I then got a timing belt change, mechanic is a friend of mine, so gave general check over, all seemed okay. It came home again, and about a week later, went to start, and I had crank, but no fire. No smoke or fumes out of the exhaust, just a whiff of quick start when that was attempted, to no effect. Local repair company came to have a look. No real idea, recommended recovery to main dealer in Southampton - which would have to be in a week or so as they couldn't see it until then. Tried both keys we have inc. the red key.

A few days later, tried again and woohoo, it started. And it has every time I have tried since, including this morning. The main dealer thought it not worth bringing in for a non-start fault, when it started! However, today after starting, I let it run up to running temperature which I hadn't been doing. It sounds lovely, smooth can't believe it is 18 years old, but it is only on 28000 miles.

Anyway temperature went up slightly over half, and I though I would have a look under bonnet, see if I could hear the fan coming on. I couldn't. I turned the engine off. Anyway the needle then shot off the top of the dial, and the red oil light was on. But this was only if the driver door was open. If I closed the door, the needle dropped down to off and the oil light went off. However, I am now back to it non firing - although it does sound different to the last time it wasn't firing.

I am not mechanically minded sadly - but I think the original non-start is likely to be something immob. related, and seemed to have resolved itself (until the next time!) But this one, I am not so sure about.

My questions to you more experience folks are I guess, do you think an auto electrician may be a better investment than recovery to the main dealer? And then the follow up question is there anyone anybody could recommend in the Southampton area?

Sorry for the long post.

Crank but no fire could be lift pump sticking when you turn the key to first position without starting you should hear it humming in the tank for about 20 seconds before turning itself off. Familiarise yourself with the sound and listen out the next time it won't start.

Sounds like an earth fault if opening the drivers door changes things

Thanks for the response. Strange thing is now the dash lights up as normal, and the thing starts! Have it booked into a garage, will explain all the symptoms and hopefully an old school mechanic will get to the bottom of it. When it runs it it is great - my fear is is never knowing if it will start or not when I put the key in.

ecu earth would be my guess, the black wires bolted to the bodywork beside the ecu, unbolt them and clean the contact point.

Thanks Cris1111, I will suggest it to the garage - it is booked in, and I will give them a full rundown of the issues faced, but yes. I think though, the far the are the cause.
Another thought though regarding the initial non starts. Have I read somewhere that the cables become tangled in the steering column, and this could cause immob issues?

Just to close off on this, there was an earth lead in bad condition at the starter motor. All cleaned and tidied up and thus far all seems to be resolved. Thanks to those who responded.