Won't start and I'm at the top of a mountain! (1 Viewer)

Jph123

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Nov 2, 2013
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Not enough!
Ok firstly I'm technically useless, but I've done all I can do to make sure my Fiat Hymer would survive the extreme weather.

Im at Val Claret, French Alps, wild camping thanks to a very generous (corrupt) parking supervisor who is allowing me to stay in the coach car park in the highest European skiing resort. Prime position but I can't get the engine started after 3 parked up days.

I've winter fuel with 10% ethanol, -20 anti freeze, new batteries both reading fully charged, 2 x solar panels fine and working, but the diesel pre ignition warm up light is flashing and not going out, hence engine not starting. It's turning over sluggishly but just won't start.

The weather has been -12 overnight but 3+ by midday.

I'm too high up for caravan club recovery, it's listed as a "uncovered area", of course a local garage in the valley can come up and sort / recover but this will involve selling vital organs to cover the cost ...

So my question is with warmer temps forecast in the coming week, will it sort itself out and thaw out whatever is causing the issue? I'm still here for another week so no rush but is leaving it making the problem worse?

Any help most welcome.

Great skiing mind, so life is good if I can just get started!

Kind regards

Justin
 

hilldweller

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Possible solution - jumper leads from leisure to starter battery.

Worst case, you go from stuck, to freezing your nuts off and stuck.
 

dogman

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Do you have a generator with battery charging facility??

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Jph123

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Nov 2, 2013
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Not enough!
Batteries are fully charged

All batteries, engine and leisure are fully charges and have been topped up by the solar panels throughout the sunny days. Not sure what the jump leads from one to the other will do?

Justin.
 

old-mo

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Try giving your battery terminals a good clean... :thumb:
 
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Jph123

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Nov 2, 2013
56
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Not enough!
No generator but ...

Do you have a generator with battery charging facility??

I've been offered a generator to borrow, but with all batteries at 100% I'm not sure how that will help?

Justin

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callumwa

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Whilst you are waiting for summer to arrive.....:RollEyes::RollEyes::RollEyes:


you could take some pics and post them here to make us all jealous.....


:winky:::winky::winky:
 

Snowbird

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The glow plug light flashing is an indication of something amiss. Am not sure which model of Fiat you have, but I think its something to do with water in the fuel filter or a heater plug gone down.
 

hilldweller

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Try giving your battery terminals a good clean... :thumb:

Now that's a point, as well as that possibility, the engine to battery earth lead got corroded on ours and that killed the starting. In our case it's right under the engine in just the right place for all the crap to hit it.

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alfandM

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Mar 12, 2012
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HI you need to get them glow plugs working, and as brian says jump your hab battery to the engine battery to give extra amps, i would expect you have ice cristal's built up in your glow plugs so you need to get them to work a.s.a.p, by what you are saying there is not enough power going to the glow plugs, so jump the batterys, YOU NEED TO GET THAT ENGINE GOING a.s.a.p, and when up in those regions in winter you need to run your engine every day, hope this helps good luck,Alf.
 

dogman

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Possible solution - jumper leads from leisure to starter battery.

QUOTE]

I've been offered a generator to borrow, but with all batteries at 100% I'm not sure how that will help?

Justin
You say the engine is turning over sluggishly, the extra UMMPPH from the genny will liven the battery and may turn the engine a little more "enthusiastically" or indeed from the leisure battery slave. If neither works at least you have discounted a battery problem and can then advertise internal organs:Eeek:, try E bay.
 

jonandshell

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First question,

Are you getting thick white smoke from your exhaust whilst attempting to start?

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Jph123

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Nov 2, 2013
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Not enough!
Nothing exceptional.

Hi, not really, a little puff of standard diesel grey, but only usual stuff.

I'm going hook up the two batteries tomorrow in daylight and see if I can get some life into her with extra oomph.

Justin
 

haganap

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Dont want to sound pedantic, but Val T is higher by a few feet :Tongue1:

Anyhow,

try this. Go in to any of the hotels. They will have for sure a battery jump booster for this very situation. it happens so regularly it almost funny watching the owners go out with the jumper kit.. (yes jon ive used one once too :whistle: ) They will probably rent it to you.. or even the car park attendant should have one, and being corrupt he will probably rent it cheap :winky:
Also get his name, he could be handy for future ski trips, I love tignes.

I know you say your batteries are charged, but I agree with others, there is probably not enough charge to fire it up in the extreme temperatures. As has been said before, you need to really start up every day. Or what we always do is open the bonnet in the sun around lunch time when the temps are at there highest heating all the metal work in and around the engine. :thumb:

hope you get it fixed, but if not, it could be worse, Ive been stuck in Newark before, given the choice I know where I would rather be.....
 

Carol

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Eddie is asking what year and what size engine is it. :Smile:

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Mel

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Definitely glow plugs or water in the fuel filter then.

Dave

If it is water is it beter not to try and start it before the water is removed.

Mel

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Jph123

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Nov 2, 2013
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Not enough!
Warmer tomorrow - The Start day!

My goal is set for tomorrow!

Ski the morning groomers, but crusty off piste, then get my arse into gear and get this van started. I've got the jump leads, the borrowed Genny and maybe a booster pack all squared away for a 1pm rendezvous at my van, when it's forecast to be sunny and 5c.

Fingers crossed, will update on my levels of success!

Thank you everyone

Justin





Dont want to sound pedantic, but Val T is higher by a few feet :Tongue1:

Anyhow,

try this. Go in to any of the hotels. They will have for sure a battery jump booster for this very situation. it happens so regularly it almost funny watching the owners go out with the jumper kit.. (yes jon ive used one once too :whistle: ) They will probably rent it to you.. or even the car park attendant should have one, and being corrupt he will probably rent it cheap :winky:
Also get his name, he could be handy for future ski trips, I love tignes.

I know you say your batteries are charged, but I agree with others, there is probably not enough charge to fire it up in the extreme temperatures. As has been said before, you need to really start up every day. Or what we always do is open the bonnet in the sun around lunch time when the temps are at there highest heating all the metal work in and around the engine. :thumb:

hope you get it fixed, but if not, it could be worse, Ive been stuck in Newark before, given the choice I know where I would rather be.....
 

Snowbird

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Water in the fuel will NOT cause it to turn over sluggishly.

Very true. BUT, it will make the glowplug light flash on and off. The outside temp will make it turn over sluggishly.

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Forestboy

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Jul 31, 2007
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Haggers is bang on I had exactly the same problem a couple of years back in VT rented battery pack 10 euros . After that got it going I started the engine every day no more problems.
 
Jan 4, 2012
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The cold starter on that motor uses hot flame manifold start not glow plugs.
Here is some more info on it
.

Here---
Broken Link Removed
 
Mar 21, 2009
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You drove in so nothing has really changed apart from extreme cold temp.
Try warming engine up with hair dryer around starter motor as they have a habit of freezing, might sound strange but has worked for me in the past

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Jul 28, 2010
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Get your clever head on your on top of a bloody mountain:whatthe:
It will not start :Doh:So simples. Let gravity work for you :Doh::Doh:

Push the fu%$*%ing thing down the sodding mountain

Next question problem please :ROFLMAO:::bigsmile:
 

Peter JohnsCross MH

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Easy start (Ether) or pour a couple of teaspoonsfull of petrol into the air inlet after the filter or some hot air into the air inlet from a hair drier

Failing that a good tow start

Good luck

Peter
 

dogman

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Very true. BUT, it will make the glowplug light flash on and off. The outside temp will make it turn over sluggishly.
Very true hence my suggestion to liven the battery with a slave or a genny. Not sure how effective mutli grade oils are at those temps but it will make it much harder to turn over when the oil is like treacle, I would go for the thinnest oil recommended by the engine manufacturer for prolonged stays in the mountains.

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Last edited:
Jul 28, 2010
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On a serious note ( yes I do have moments )

I Carrie a chefs gas gun it's great fir getting heat in to places

And useful when making Crembulae in the kitchen

Ok you think I am showing off now :RollEyes::ROFLMAO:

Heat the inlet manifold to about 40 degrees.
Then turn the key
 

DBK

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Don't even think of pushing it down a hill to try and get it started. Your power steering and brake servo won't work and you might easily lose control unless it is a very gentle straight hill with somewhere to coast to a halt at the end.

The engine oil will be very thick so that won't help. I've seen lorry drivers lighting fires under their vehicles but I can't recommend this although the resulting blaze could keep you warm for a little while. The flashing light might be an indication of a failed glow plug but I would have thought it would still have started unless the engine management system is trying to be too clever.

As advised by others, all you can do is check the battery connections are clean. If it still won't work you may have to consider donating a kidney...

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