X250 3.0 ltr - Labored Starting?

[7Hvn]

Hi All,

My X250 with a 3.0ltr engine just seems a little bit labored when starting - almost like its a struggle although it starts quickly. Here's a couple of videos:

From the Engine Bay

From the Cab

Any thoughts?

The Cab battery looks to be showing good charge. Not sure if the starter motor is struggling or its a trait of the 3.0ltr engine?

TIA...

 

[Speve]

Notice all your dash lights flashing till she starts running has it always done that? As I remember on one of our vans when they flashed like that the battery was going flat and eventually packed up.?

 

[7Hvn]

Notice all your dash lights flashing till she starts running has it always done that? As I remember on one of our vans when they flashed like that the battery was going flat and eventually packed up.?

Its just the IPhone video which shows them flashing - they don't actually to the naked eye.

 

[DBK]

Has its behavior changed? In other words, is it now turning it over more slowly than it used to? It doesn't exactly spin the engine fast even when everything is correct so if the vehicle is new to you it may be fine.

 

[Stanbrook]

My brother has a 2007 x250 3.0 and after a few months of starting issues ie turning over and not starting, no error codes. We replaced the relay under the bonnet that supplies 12v to the lift pump in the tank and the problem went away. However. The reason for the relay failing was scuttlegate and we had the take apart and clean the corroded fuse/relay board to remedy the high resistances/corrosion causing the little relay to over heat and repeatedly fail. However your problem may not be that. Best of luck.

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[ambulancekidd]

Couple a colder battery with colder thicker oil than mid summer & hey presto.
Doesn't sound like a problem to me.

 

[Two on Tour]

Didn't sound anything out of the ordinary to me.

 

[7Hvn]

Couple a colder battery with colder thicker oil than mid summer & hey presto.
Doesn't sound like a problem to me.

I've had it for a few months. Its always been the same. I do agree though its almost similar to an engine with cold oil in winter.

I'll leave be at the minute and see how it goes. Just wanted some other input.

Thanks All!

 

[Allanm]

Sounds fine to me, but, looking at the dash readout for the oil level, it looks like your engine has no oil in it

 

[Richard n Ann]

The engine earth strap is prone to failing on the Sevel vans so I'd check that too.

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[7Hvn]

Sounds fine to me, but, looking at the dash readout for the oil level, it looks like your engine has no oil in it

PANICS !! Its been like that since I collected the vehicle. On doing some hurried research it looks like it is a count of the shapes as opposed to a circle vs a blob comparison on the ducato of this age (2009) if that makes sense.

@Others - can people comment?? Rightly or wrongly I have read my reading as 5/5 full.

The engine earth strap is prone to failing on the Sevel vans so I'd check that too.

Thanks - Can you point me in the right direction as to its location on the 3.0ltr unit?

Cheers,

 

[Detnor]

My 3ltr x250 developed a similar problem, eventually traced it to the alarm system. Did the 'undo everything and put back' and it solved it. Never did work out the cause.

 

[7Hvn]

My 3ltr x250 developed a similar problem, eventually traced it to the alarm system. Did the 'undo everything and put back' and it solved it. Never did work out the cause.

Interesting - it does have a Cobra Alarm and Immobiliser...

 

[7Hvn]

PANICS !! Its been like that since I collected the vehicle. On doing some hurried research it looks like it is a count of the shapes as opposed to a circle vs a blob comparison on the ducato of this age (2009) if that makes sense.

@Others - can people comment?? Rightly or wrongly I have read my reading as 5/5 full.

Checked the handbook - It means 5/5 as I thought. Fewwwww. Attached for info for others

 

[TheBig1]

a sluggish start can be a number of issues. a frequent one is high resistance on the engine earth strap. can be ruled out using a jump lead from the battery negative post to the engine block. if the jump lead improves it, replace the earth strap

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[Detnor]

Interesting - it does have a Cobra Alarm and Immobiliser...

And it was a cobra alarm on mine. Do you press the fob then turn the key? If so, a quick check is to try starting the engine without pressing the fob, then press the fob and try again.

 

[hchris]

Sounds exactly the same as mine

 

[7Hvn]

a sluggish start can be a number of issues. a frequent one is high resistance on the engine earth strap. can be ruled out using a jump lead from the battery negative post to the engine block. if the jump lead improves it, replace the earth strap

Thanks! Now where did I put those jump leads....
Where is the earth strap for visual inspection do you know?

 

[tonyidle]

Didn't sound anything out of the ordinary to me.

Me neither - sounded perfect.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Where is the earth strap for visual inspection do you know?

Somebody said on another forum "you can get to it without removing the air filter" so it's near the air filter ??. I'm going to check mine when I get back, but mine's a different engine anyway.

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[R 90]

The 3 litre appears to be a slower cranking engine, ours is the same as your video,
the engine earth is on top of the gearbox near the selector cables, if you want to check,
Its worth having the battery tested, as voltage is only state of charge,
Provided it fires up quickly i wouldn't worry,
Charles,

 

[jockaneezer]

My son was complaining that his Combo van would only start if you put it in first gear. A quick look underneath showed the earthing lug to the starter motor had fractured in half, putting it in first made the gear linkage push the terminal into the starter's body and made the circuit ! You can see the little scorch mark just behind the lug.

 

[Wagoneer]

Easiest way to test the earth between engine and chassis is.......connect a jump lead between the engine lifting point and negative terminal of the starter battery. Since the starter battery is in the floor of the cab, you'll probably need to connect two jump leads together.

Then start the engine and see if there's any improvement.

Good idea anyway to add a supplement earth connection. I bought a 60cm long battery cable from Halfords and connected it between the engine lifting point and convenient chassis point in the engine compartment.

 

[7Hvn]

So a few updates... (Thanks all for your input up to now)

Seems to be getting a bit more sluggish to start and had a couple of failed starts where it has not quite started recently. Clearly its colder and thus the oil more viscous but its not *that* cold.

I took the battery out and put it on the Ctek charger over night and that indicated it seems to be well. It was about 12.8v when I took it out and just over 13v when I installed it.

One thing I should note is that I always leave my dipped beam on so that they are on when I drive. This means they are on when I start the motorhome and could have been drawing a bit more juice than necessary? Thoughts? Need to trial without the headlights on for a few starts.

Earth strap looks good and I put the multi meter between the jump start points under the bonnet with the engine running and it was showing 14.14v which I *think* indicates that the alternator is a-ok. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I picked up an OBD reader from Aldi yesterday and thought I'd run the DTC codes: It came up with P0180 which is apparently 'Fuel Temperature Sensor A Circuit Malfunction'. Could this be the source of my woes??

Thanks Again...

 

[sonny]

Try turning your lights off then see if it improver.

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[Richard n Ann]

You could measure the voltage drop across the earth strap while cranking, select 'Peak hold' on the meter if it has one.

I've got a little Bluetooth monitor on the car engine, which is very handy. measures voltages including cranking voltage...

Was only about 25 quid ??

 

[Richard n Ann]

QUICKLYNKS Battery Monitor BM2... Amazon product ASIN B07MY1B3DY

 

[Wagoneer]

Might be worth cleaning up the electrical connections to the starter motor. When under cranking (drawing lots of amps), some of this energy may possibly be tracking to earth.

As you are aware, the starter motor is at the front of the engine and exposed to the elements, with the potential of collecting dirt and grime.

 

[Misterg]

Earth strap looks good

It is my understanding that the problem with the Ducato earth straps is that the braid corrodes inside the flattened ‘end cap’. So it could still look OK, but be poor electrically.

You can eliminate it as a cause by fitting an additional strap (or even use a jump lead temporarily) in a more accessible location.