General Help with 53 JTD Eleganza not starting

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General Help with 53 JTD Eleganza not starting

Paul Cole

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Mar 2, 2010
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Hi,
I am really hoping somebody might have some insight or information into a problem I have encountered with not being able to get my 53 Ulysee Eleganza 2.2 jtd (54k miles) started.
It's a bit baffling as well as frustrating !


About 10 days ago now, when the really cold weather & snow arrived, I parked the car in the works car park and didn't go back to it for about 36 hours. (Party season & and all that ) . It had been driving perfectly well up until the point I parked it.

I think the temperature reached - 9.5 degrees or so on the night it was in the car park. Car wouldn't start the next evening after work, so called the AA. It was turning over but not starting; They tried the usual jump start pack, 'easy start' spray approaches, but we had to agree to abandon efforts after about 40 mins of trying and getting nowhere. It was 'alive' but not kicking. Diagnosis was that it could be frozen diesel, which when checked on the internet wasn't quite as far fetched as I first considered, and should get it somewhere to 'warm up'.

So got car home. (long story but no AA available due to unprecedented nr of calls to them, no garages available over Christmas & did not want it in car park any longer).

Fully recharged battery, "wrapped" it up, weather warmed up a bit etc etc, and was hopeful.
But now when I turn the ignition key, the engine / starter motor just 'spins' and it's the same result when I try a bump start - there's just no response from the engine.
- there appears to be no compression within the engine?

I'm sure I can rule out busted cambelt because can see it going round.
(it was only done 10k ago).

I'd really appreciate any knowledge you could share so that I can do something about understanding what I could do or might need to get the garage to look at so I can get the 'bus' back in operation for the school run in the New Year for the wife.

It's definitely not a good time of year to have a 'dead' car.

Thank you
 
Have you checked your anti-freeze your symtoms seem to point to frozen engine fluids, either that or the system that heats the glow plugs or plugs themselves are failing but i would have thought that was the first thing the AA should have checked
 
I am sure all diesel sold recently is winter grade, also the coolant won't stop an engine from starting!, I suspect faulty heater plugs and/or relay. Does it make any attempt? even on one cylinder. Mine was slow to start when I left it for 2 days but fired on 1 cylinder after a few cranks and then took off. (we had -12)
 
I am sure all diesel sold recently is winter grade, also the coolant won't stop an engine from starting!, I suspect faulty heater plugs and/or relay. Does it make any attempt? even on one cylinder. Mine was slow to start when I left it for 2 days but fired on 1 cylinder after a few cranks and then took off. (we had -12)
No, unfortunately it makes no attempt to start. I've had too many goes to count now. There is pretty much nothing coming back at me from the engine.
I have double checked that the coolant level was ok and it is, so have 100 % ruled that out as a possibility. Faulty heater plugs or lack of power to them or remaining blockage in fuel system / filter from 'frozen' diesel is my next and probably last chance of self diagnosis !
Just seems so strange that it was literally perfect and then dead all in the space of parking it and coming back a day & half later ?!
Ah the joy of motors
 
ive got EXACTLY the same problem, ive got a 2.0jtd and only thing ive noticed is the heater spring light thing doesnt come on when i go to turn over so im thinking its the fuel injectors?
 
same nightmare ,,,would only start when temp reached near - 1 ....
122 quid battery helped a bit . has the imobilizer reconize the key again?
i have to reconect the battery and lock and unlock the car with the fob or door key ...
And ive tried a fan heater under the bonnet for a few minites or so ,high preasure diesel pump soliniod sticking ,,buy now leaking diesel pump not presrizing common rail enough :bang:
does start now ,its milder but have to get pump fixed , 550 for a new one plus fitting :eek:
 
Our 2.0JTD did something very similar, but would start if the temterature rose above freezing. I ended up putting a fan heater under the engine for 15 minutes in the morning, which did the trick. Eventually, we had a new (exchange) fuel injector pump fitted, which has been OK even during recent freezing weather, but it has never regained the original quick starting, that it used to have.

No, unfortunately it makes no attempt to start. I've had too many goes to count now. There is pretty much nothing coming back at me from the engine.
I have double checked that the coolant level was ok and it is, so have 100 % ruled that out as a possibility. Faulty heater plugs or lack of power to them or remaining blockage in fuel system / filter from 'frozen' diesel is my next and probably last chance of self diagnosis !
Just seems so strange that it was literally perfect and then dead all in the space of parking it and coming back a day & half later ?!
Ah the joy of motors
 
hi

Ive had a very similar problem with my ulysse not starting and still havent got it going 5 months on, please can you tell me how you got on with yours and if you have sorted it out yet!?! any help/ideas will be greatly appriciated!!

Cheers

Andy
 
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