Help a newbie?

[topgun]

Hello funsters,

I have a 1990 Hymer motorhome based on a Fiat Ducato 2.5 diesel.
All of a sudden the engine will not start, the starter motor turns over but the engine will not start.
The engine will run for a couple of seconds after a blast of quick start.
Is there a built in safety cut off? i.e. habitation step down or still connected to ehu?
Did they have the technology back in those day's?
Any help would be gratefully accepted.

 

[cranky]

Hello funsters,

I have a 1990 Hymer motorhome based on a Fiat Ducato 2.5 diesel.
All of a sudden the engine will not start, the starter motor turns over but the engine will not start.
The engine will run for a couple of seconds after a blast of quick start.
Is there a built in safety cut off? i.e. habitation step down or still connected to ehu?
Did they have the technology back in those day's?
Any help would be gratefully accepted.

if it starts with quick start, albeit briefly, it isn't a cutout or it wouldn't start at all. first check is fuel getting through? is there fuel in tank? (don't trust gauge ) remove pipe after pump and spin it over.

 

[jockaneezer]

Sounds like the fuel isn't getting through or it could be an immobiliser fault if it has one fitted ? There's generally a fuel cut off solenoid (might be on the injector pump itself) that stops the fuel flowing when you switch the ignition off, check that for a supply voltage, sticking or a blown fuse. Also, does your fuel filter have a priming bulb on it ? These can perish with time, letting air into the system which allows the fuel to drain back out of the system into the tank.

 

[Jev88]

Fuel cut off (might be different place but I have an older Ducato)

 

[Jev88]

If it actually runs briefly then immobiliser probably okay as on older vans it completely powers OFF the fuel pump. Unless it is only using your quickstart spray and that points to no fuel.

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[Flook]

How old is the fuel in the tank, day's, weeks', months.
Is a local garage nearby who you can ask.

 

[Jev88]

Forgot to say. Do you have any lights on dash? An orange KEY Code light for example - should illuminate when key first on and go out. If it stays on it is immobiliser fault.

 

[TheBig1]

fuel pump solenoid? blocked fuel filter? have you primed the pump?

 

[Vipar]

How long has it been standing?

 

[TheBig1]

a 30 year old engine will need some work replacing perished rubber parts of course

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[topgun]

How long has it been standing?

5 months, the ignition barrel dropped long long story.

 

[topgun]

Forgot to say. Do you have any lights on dash? An orange KEY Code light for example - should illuminate when key first on and go out. If it stays on it is immobiliser fault.

Thanks i'll check out the dash

 

[Flook]

5 months standing, diesel would be bad, that won't help. Suggest if that is the case, ie 5month standing with a partial tank full, try topping up with fresh diesel, should mix up with the old when filling, then hopefully with starting up it would fire up after a few attempts.

 

[TheBig1]

5 months standing, diesel would be bad, that won't help. Suggest if that is the case, ie 5month standing with a partial tank full, try topping up with fresh diesel, should mix up with the old when filling, then hopefully with starting up it would fire up after a few attempts.

those old diesels will run on chip fat. so a bit of stale diesel is not going to be an issue when it fires up. The fact it fires on ether in the air filter tends to point at a fuel supply issue. the old diesel pumps are pretty simple in engineering terms. A proper mechanic will have it running without too much fuss

 

[PeteH]

Fuel Starvation. Multiple possible causes. Blocked filter, Failed fuel pump (or inhibited by an Immobiliser). First check, remove Fuel line and see if it pumps fuel into a container when you crank it. If you have fuel, then I would be concerned that the fuel metering is not functioning. That can be mechanical on older engines or electronic on later ones. This is often a great place of reference:- https://www.fiatforum.com/ .

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[Apache]

Hi Jack Alert
Is using easy start a good idea ? I was told many years ago and again more recently that once you use it the engine gets used to it and won’t start without .

 

[george w menzies]

it will be needing bled most older diesels dont self bleed as someone said proper mechanic new fuel filter and bleed

 

[Jev88]

it will be needing bled most older diesels dont self bleed as someone said proper mechanic new fuel filter and bleed

Good point! I think 2.5TDI introduced self priming and perhaps the older 2.5D did not? I know mine primes as it started after about 15 seconds when I had to fit a new fuel filter unit. Hope this all helps the OP and he comes back to tell us the outcome.

 

[DaveandJen]

At times like this - sometimes its best just to call on the services of your local diesel engine mechanic who will probably sort out the problem in a few minutes - and you do a couple of hours of overtime at work to pay his bill

 

[Flook]

In post 6 I wrote Is a local garage nearby who you can ask. D&J you just up graded it.

With all the help from all the great guy's here, there is an abundance of information, however, it all can just as easily be confusing. So, as you have said D&J sometimes its best just to call on the services of your local diesel engine mechanic who will probably sort out the problem in a few minutes.

That would solve the problem, also the OP would be able to give us what the actual problem was/is.

Flook

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[DaveandJen]

Echo Flook’s comment above. Topgun please keep us informed when the fault is found so us and others visiting the site in the future can learn by it.