Transit problem (2 Viewers)

[robrace]

My Mk6 2.4dci Transit BUccaneer Caravel let me down today.Took it for M.O.T and it broke down 5 times.Cuts out and coasts to a halt with no lights on dash.Turn the starter and it starts and a few miles down the road same thing.Passed M.O.T! and got it home.7 years I have had the vehicle it's been 100 per cent reliable!M.O.T tester suggested it could be a battery problem but which one?There are two under the seat and I am not sure why.The workshop manual just say's some vehicles fitted with two battery's.Wiring diagram suggests that they are wired in parallel.Anyone got any idea's ?

 

[daveandsan]

One battery is the starter battery and the other one is the auxiliary battery.
Google Transit forum.

 

[Stealaway]

After 7 years I would definitely suspect the starter battery. Buy a new one, they can finally die over night.
Its likely that one is for the starter and the other is the habitation battery for the domestic lights ect.

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[Yorick]

Set it on fire and claim off the insurance

 

[reader]

I havn't had the cut outs (touch wood) yet but I have been thinking about replacing the Auxillary Battery due to age. The van starts fine, but if you think about it the Auxillary Battery is working all the time powering the likes of the radio emu, alarm and all the other Ford fitted electrical stuff, where as the starter battery only works when needed and thats its job, ok the lights and horn are attached to it but the alternator takes care of that as the van is running.
Just a thought
Do as daveandsan suggests and have a look at the Transit Forum, lots of advice there, model secific and they are a helpfull lot

 

[DanielFord]

It is very weird that it cuts out whilst the van is running! Even more so that the battery clearly has enough power to get the van started again.
Personally, I'd put a multi meter across the batteries when the van is not running, and then when it is this will tell you if the alternator is working. I would be looking to check the earth strap, since that would give the symptoms described if it is loose.

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[andy63]

The front battery of the two is the vehicle aux battery...The rear the start battery.... They combine at ignition on but if vehicle isn't started within a certain time they uncouple...
It s true that if the auxiliary battery is dead it can cause all sorts of problems but the van could still be started as the start battery is only used for that purpose...so its possible but it could be a poor earth... check the main earth under the front right bolt on the drivers seat plinth...
Andy

 

[Drexxer]

Broken Link Removed
I think they circled the problem

 

[Landy lover]

2.4 TDCI transit are notorious for problems in one way or another - I have worked on them for 'fun' when they are fitted to land rovers and now decided there is no fun in them !!!! There is a number of issues first is of course the battery - anything below 12v will shut it down to find out if there is a charging issue you need to have a good voltage meter connected and monitor it over the journey. The parameters are set in the ECM (ECU) and it will react to them by shut down - likewise any input below 12v will shut it down. Many have been a combination of Starter drawing to much power/ battery running below 12v due to failing Alternator, the Diode pack can become unstable and will be happily charging @ 14.6 volts to 15 volts - suddenly it will drop to 11. something and you have a shut down. The annoying thing is you pull over scratch your head turn the key and it starts. Now onto the fuel side - in the back of the fuel pump you have a pressure sensor and a shut off valve - both controlled by the ECM. poor connections can give false readings. Finally check the fuel tank - two things - is the fuel gauge accurate ? had one that read 1/2 full when it was near empty. The other is has debris got in ?? leaves ? plastic bag been used as a temporary cap.??

On Land Rovers there is also an issue with the bulkhead wiring loom but don't think that would be an issue on a transit.

Quite honestly IMHO if you start to get issues like this get it straight to a specialist Electro Diesel company be prepared for a substantial bill (cheaper than replacing bits and hoping ) and get a warranty with the job

Hope that helps someone

Ford = found on rubbish dump = fix or repair daily = there is lots of them !!!!!!!!!

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[jonandshell]

I would start with checking all negative straps.

 

[robrace]

Many thanks for all replies.going to check the earth straps!have ordered a new ignition switch as they are cheap and I have heard they go!Both batteries give a 12.7 voltage.so have ruled that out.The fact that all the lights except the oil pressure guage go out suggests something is breaking down.It doe'snt misfire or anything!It is just as if I have turned the ignition off.I've had 7 Ford Transit motorhomes over the last 30 years and wouldn't have anything else.I tow a racing car all over Europe and prefer a RWD.and they all have been reliable with no probelems except renewables!If I don't sort it myself it will go in the weekend to the guy that normally looks after it!!

 

[Landy lover]

Many thanks for all replies.going to check the earth straps!have ordered a new ignition switch as they are cheap and I have heard they go!Both batteries give a 12.7 voltage.so have ruled that out.The fact that all the lights except the oil pressure guage go out suggests something is breaking down.It doe'snt misfire or anything!It is just as if I have turned the ignition off.I've had 7 Ford Transit motorhomes over the last 30 years and wouldn't have anything else.I tow a racing car all over Europe and prefer a RWD.and they all have been reliable with no probelems except renewables!If I don't sort it myself it will go in the weekend to the guy that normally looks after it!!

Don't rule it out - the ECM reads the voltage under load - you are reading a static voltage - 12.7 on a battery would usually be classified as good. When the ECM reads the voltage as below 12v it shuts the main switching relay down

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[robrace]

The front battery is a new(last year)but the other battery(starting one)is at least 7 years old.I'll get it tested!

 

[GWAYGWAY]

IF You have a battery earth problem, possible, I think, Go to a factor and get a couple of long thick battery leads one of each, bolt them to the battery one to the Engine somewhere and the live to replace the one that is there now to the live side make sure ALL the leads are good connections.
The other thing is check that the diesel filter is clean and no leaks on the suction side,or more likely the fuel tank air vent is free of all obstructions. a sealed tank will hold back the fuel until it stop or slows to a crawl. It stops air creeps back into the tank and allows a bit more fuel into the injection side and off it goes again until the same happens . All us older diesel owners know that in the days of untreated diesel the damn thing would do this all the time in cold weather when the fuel gelled up, a replacement filter was the only answer. I would go for the fuel problem first, try leaving the cap loose and see what happens then on a run. Once running it doesn't really matter what state the battery is in as the alternator will keep it going with power, if the battery was duff it would NOT TURN OVER at all.

 

[Landy lover]

Once running it doesn't really matter what state the battery is in as the alternator will keep it going with power, if the battery was duff it would NOT TURN OVER at all.

When the voltage drops below 12v the engine will still spin but the injector side shuts down - I have worked on over 50 of these engines with similar problems and had the correct manufactures computer to identify faults.( just over £8k) I got so fed up with poor info and unsolvable faults I sold the kit and stopped working on them I now ship them straight to a local Electro Diesel Specialist and even he is getting fed up with them. don't get me wrong when they are good they are very good - in a transit --but put the same engine in a Landy which is where I come on the scene they were never built for the hammering they get

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[jonandshell]

Land Rover haven't got a good track record when it comes to fitting somebody else's engines in their vehicles.
They usually start with detuning it. Look what they did to the poor Rover V8 when it was put in 110s! 40 BHP lost and the ridiculous exhaust air injection to meet Californian emmisions! The stupid poppet valves on the carb butterflies screwed the engine braking too. I soldered mine shut!
No wonder the 2.4 Tranny engine doesn't do well in them too!

Our 2.4 will be hauling nearly 4 tonnes of motorhome up a mountain in a couple of days without a grumble, just as it always does!

 

[Landy lover]

Don't blame Land Rover - every engine designed and produced by Land Rover and not foisted on them has been good hard working and long lived i.e. 200Tdi 300Tdi Td5- The problem has been arrogant manufacturers who have purchased it and decided that THEIR engines are far superior and forced the use only to find out way too late they may be ok for the purpose they were designed but are a total disaster in a Landy and Ford is typical - I have been in and around Landies for over 50 years and spent quite a bit of time working on Transits as well. Both are good in their own right but its always the customer that ends up road testing ideas and paying the bill - could go on but Jim would ban me !!!!!

 

[maxi77]

Don't rule it out - the ECM reads the voltage under load - you are reading a static voltage - 12.7 on a battery would usually be classified as good. When the ECM reads the voltage as below 12v it shuts the main switching relay down

It also matters a lot when you measure the voltage if you are checking a battery. To get a meaningfull reading the battery must have been 'resting' for a good few hours.

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[robrace]

Going to fit as new ignition switch and get battery checked and check the earth strap first.What makes me think it's the electrics is that when it happened I was too busy seeing what traffic was behind me and parking as safe as I could to see what was happening on the dash but the 5th time it happened I was pulling on to my drive.I noticed that there were no lights on the dash except oil pressure light which was on.Will keep you all posted.P.S didn't intend to start an argument over the merits or otherwise of Transit's.I would;nt have anything else but except that not everyone feels the same as me.I've had two Fiats and that was enough for me but there loads of Motorhomers who swear by them!!

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Go to lidl and buy a voltage/alternator checker for about £4 on special a couple of weeks back so they might still have them left. clip to the battery and run it . It will tell you if it is over/undervoltage and whether the alternator is working OK. simple and cheap.
Still think it is the fuel being held back before the pump though.
Simple things first the go to the more expensive options.

 

[robrace]

That's good idea.will have a look in lidl tomorow

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