Technical Ducato 1.9D starting problem

[buckbyengineeringltd]

2002 1.9D sometimes starts, sometimes doesn't, when it doesn't the oil light comes on when the key is removed, it stays on for maybe 24 hours with a faint flicker every second, finally the oil light goes out and the engine may start, when I say it wont start, i mean it wont crank and there is no solenoid click, just prior to the problem started I noticed cranking was a little slower than normal, on the most recent attempt to start it a bystander said he saw sparks through the grille, gearbox side, now before you all shout "engine earth strap" it's not, we've had that off, cleaned it and re fitted it. occasionally the immobiliser "key symbol " will light up but disconnecting and reconnecting the battery fixes that. The flickering oil light is what confuses me, is it a countdown to reset? I can't use the van as I cant trust it, any help would be appreciated.

 

[coastline taxis]

Try having the starter motor load tested. Also does it return to noemal (no oil light) if you diconect and reconect the battery or do you still have to wait 24 hours before it starts

 

[buckbyengineeringltd]

Once the oil light is on it's a case of forget it for however long it takes, it can't be cleared manually.

 

[buckbyengineeringltd]

Does anyone know what the function of the oil light is apart from the obvious, and does the immobiliser stop the engine from cranking?

 

[buckbyengineeringltd]

RESULT!!! This morning, same problem, I connected a jump lead from the negative side of the battery to the engine, sparks! Oil light went out and the van started, means I have an earthing problem, weird symptoms but it seems this could be the route of many evils on these vans.

 

[buckbyengineeringltd]

RESULT!!! This morning, same problem, I connected a jump lead from the negative side of the battery to the engine, sparks! Oil light went out and the van started, means I have an earthing problem, weird symptoms but it seems this could be the route of many evils on these vans. (photo) this is from the gearbox end of the engine / chassis earth strap.