Technical my baby just wont go!

[Bronz]

Okay guys (and Girls)...Ive proudly just inherited a 2002 multipla, 5dr 1.9 JTD and i love her to bits but ive inherited her with an issue.
The lovely (and he really is) guy i inherited her from had had an issue with water in the diesel filter, and a minor electrical fault causing her not to start. The electrical fault we knew what the prob was and had the bit replaced. So on to the next bit...water in the diesel filter. Ive put a nice spanking new filter in, and yes i got the right one and fitted it correctly, but she just doesnt want to fire. She winds over nicely, and the diesel filter fills up with diesel but she she wont fire. Now, being moderately mechanical minded i sought advice from a diesel mechanic friend who unfortunately knows nothing about the multi or fiats in general really'(stupid boy), but suggested it could be an air lock in the injectors....sounds plausible but id really like advice from someone in the know. The reason the car was parked up was because she stopped and wouldnt go again....(the previous owner knew about the issues but hadnt quite got round to fixing it', and she died on him).
Any of you great folk out there able to offer any other advice? unfortunately the car is a 5 hour journey away from where i live so i want to go prepared.....

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi.and welcome.
The engine is a JTD.. the 1st generation of ALL MODERN DIESELS.. FIAT invention.

It uses a Common fuel Rail..same as petrol cars.. so 'priming and airlocks' should not really be an issue.

Most common mechanical fault is a worn pump.. so the engine cannot attain the HUGE rail pressures required for injection.

NOT a 5 minute fix.

Electrical... ;

Immobilising..key code symbol flashes on then goes off

Glow Plugs.. ditto.. if it flashes AFTER cranking it signifies a fault

Those are crucial...

Then looking for actual combustion..

Remove the clip from the 100mm-4 inch rubber hose between engine and battery
(Inyercooler feed hose)
Squirt in a whiff af EasyStart.(solvent brake cleaner)

And a QUICK spin on the starter.. if it runs briefly.. youve got a sound set of enginel internals (you've supplied FUEL.)

MY JTD has poor glowplugs.. and brakecleaner gets it spluttering into life.


This is a tad risky for engine life though.. so only use as a test..

Where is the multi parked currently?

Plugging into the cars engine EVU may help get valuable info..

Charlie . Cardiff ..and Oxford

 

[jackwhoo]

The water in diesel sensor that screws into filter often fails giving water in fuel warning. Unplug sensor to get rid of warning but make sure you change filter at recommended intervals.
No start could be crank position sensor , need to read any stored fault codes.
If it was previously hard to start when hot then almost certainly crank position sensor.
What was the previous small fault stopping it starting?
After changing filter turn key to position before cranking for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times , the in tank pump will run each time and fill diesel filter.
I love the multi

 

[jackwhoo]

The advice you had about air locks in injectors doesn't apply to your jtd common rail diesel engine.
How many miles has your multipla covered?

 

[Bronz]

Thanks guys.it's stuck down in Porangahau near waipukurau here in good old NZ. The airlock thing was a new one on me but then I've always been a petrol gal.
The electrical fault was the immobilizer. ....that's all sorted. The diesel filter has filled with diesel so I would have thought the pump okay but I shall give your suggestions a try when I go back down at the weekend. I've also just bought a code reader that works with the multi and my laptop so I shall take all that with me too and see if any error codes come up. Thought of maybe draining the tank and putting new diesel in too just in case there is more water in there.
I love the multi too....my previous vehicle was a Toyota Bibi and no where near as cute lol.

I'll let you know how I get on. Cheers guys.

 

[varesecrazy]

You can read the fuel rail pressures via the OBD PORT..

Your basic supply..filling filter sounds fine.

Other option..get a litre of FRESH diesel.

Fill the fiter assembly in your hand ..then screw into place.. fresh clean diesel..at the point the HP pump can take it into the rail.

Take a good battery-booster also.. RPM on cranking helps build rail pressure.


Good luck.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Not firing AT ALL? Mmmm . Perhaps the crank sensor or camshaft sensor has died?

Also, how did you diagnose water in the fuel? The warning lamp on the dash can sometimes give a bogus reading, usually because there's a short in the sensor wire at the filter.

 

[varesecrazy]

Or no fuel being injected..

 

[martyc5674]

If you have a laptop download multiecuscan and using a usb to OBDII connector(cheap) you can see if rail pressure is getting to required pressure while cranking. And read any faults too.
Don’t be concerned with glow plug lights if you have them...it will start with those disconnected unless it’s -10c.
If you can get some easy start and squirt it in it should fire, with the added bonus of spinning up your engine and increasing the rail pressure and it may actually stay running... it can be of help troubleshooting, as if it starts and stays going you’ll know it’s not crank or cam sensor, but it could be MAP sensor or genuine poor rail pressure.
Marty.

 

[varesecrazy]

If you have a laptop download multiecuscan and using a usb to OBDII connector(cheap) you can see if rail pressure is getting to required pressure while cranking. And read any faults too.
Don’t be concerned with glow plug lights if you have them...it will start with those disconnected unless it’s -10c.
If you can get some easy start and squirt it in it should fire, with the added bonus of spinning up your engine and increasing the rail pressure and it may actually stay running... it can be of help troubleshooting, as if it starts and stays going you’ll know it’s not crank or cam sensor, but it could be MAP sensor or genuine poor rail pressure.
Marty.

Mine wont light up below 2'c...

Really helpful in the uk..

The op is in nz..so should be relatively hot now.