Technical Ducato 2.3 multijet not starting.

[Lexion770]

Hi Guys been here before but had the recurring problem when on holiday up in north of scotland van just decides not to start.
Immobiliser lights go out with either key van cranks over but not starting.
Nice to get chauffer driven home on the back of a breakdown truck, nice man from AA siad it would be the high pressure pump as they are bad for it!!
Anyway he could not get it to go no matter how much easystart he put down it told him it was not good for the engine.
His diagnostics said high pressure regulator but no body had one
Anyway started yesterday to look at suction control valve on high pressure pump but was fine when test on the bench still all key lock lights going out not flashing or anything. So looked at ring behind key and wires down all fine if you dissconect the lock light stays on in dash.
Then tried to find fuel pump after digging it out fron in the cab once found it had no power coming to it will that be immobiliser or ecu or wiring fault???
Rigged up a quick cable from a live and earth pump runs van starts first turn of key evrytime you try it ( thankyou thankyou).
Trying to trace wire to wear it comes from but not had much luck yet

Anybody know if i run a live from the ignition to the pump will that be fine, assuming the pump will run all the time the van is running anyway with excess fuel returned to the tank??
Any Thoughts much appreciated wife is getting sick of short holidays.
Regards Mike

 

[ecunotemu]

Sorry to hear about your holiday. Pressure regulator is pwm driven no idea how you tested it on the bench but it will have been a meaningless test slightest bit of dirt or weakened coil or spring can be enough for a no start condition. Would be useful if he gave you tested he codes. As regards short holidays I travel with pump, rail, injectors and dealer grade diagnostics in the overcab for the same reason.

 

[Lexion770]

Thanks for that no no codes
Do you know if the padlock icon should show a open padlock or is it always locked and just goes out which is what mine is doing?? after the ignition has been on for ten seconds

 

[CDK]

Your solution with a hard-wired pump works of course, but it is considered dangerous. On impact in a traffic accident or with an otherwise damaged fuel line there is a substantial fire hazard.

When you turn the key, the pump is switched on by the ECU for a fixed time, then switched off again until the ECU detects a running engine. If insufficient pressure is present at the intake side of the high pressure pump, signals to the injectors are suppressed to prevent a dry running pump that would have a very short life.

 

[Lexion770]

Thanks for the reply CDK
Ok I follow what you say but checking the relay for the fuel pump in the fusebox in engine bay then should i see a live at both small pins while the ecu is sending that first 30 seconds?
I have followed the wire back all the way from the pump to the fusebox in the cab where it goes in one side comes out the other side (is the immobiliser behind here?) then goes to the fuse box in engine bay cant seem to find it live any where as yet?
Could the high pressure switch/sensor on the end of the common rail be malfunctioning telling the ecu that there is to much pressure and therefore not setting low presurre pump away?
The fault codes that came up a month ago were saying 40 errors on the fuel pump relay (replaced relay) and 40 errors on the fuel high pressure (is this the sensor on end of common rail) might have to run it in to local garage to check them again.

 

[Lexion770]

Hi all
I seem to have eventually found the problem on my vehicle not starting, after a long harvest and drilling time (busy time for us farmers) finally got around to looking at the wiring diagrams in the e manual and after lots of searching and testing with a meter I found that pin 32 in connector E on the CPL (dashboard control unit) was not connecting with the plug/wiring harness when it was clipped into it.
Cleaned the connectors with electical cleaner and a toothbrush (dont tell the wife as i used hers!!) and put a slight bend on the terminal so it made better contact and van is currently starting everytime only been on a short run so far will update after we have been away.
It did occur to me that if I took a wire from connector A pin 9 to pin 32 on E then that would bypass the CPL unit and body computer!!
Will update later if problem has been cured.

 

[sumpplug]

Hi Mike, well done sorting out your problem, hope your troubles are over now, and thanks for sharing your knowledge.


Eric

 

[Lexion770]

Morning all Went on first long trip this weekend over to Dumfries and Galoway stopped in the forest of AE and the van was fine got our confidence back in it.
So i suppose if you have a issue check the simple things out first before going to blame ECU or High pressure pumps etc etc if it aint getting any fuel it wont start!!!
Happy Camping

 

[Ducatiman]

Has a very similar problem with mine, fuel pump not running when ignition turned on, but it was the actual wire beyond the connector that was giving a very high resistance so I just cut that at both ends and put in a new piece of wire. Job done!!