Thread: Puma hard to start, sometimes

Once running... does it idle normally or does the revs vary - if the revs vary, then the SVC maybe be playing up again...?

Have u checked for Air leaks in the fuel system?

Also, have u noticed if the problem happens or begins to happens when the fuel tank capacity is below 1/2 way? I had an issue with crap in the tank and when the fuel level dropped below a certain level, the crap blocked the fuel pickup causing starting/running problems...

just some things that I've experienced, so it may help u....

sounds like fuel supply to me. the 2.4 does not have an in tank primer pump like the later 2.2. It relies on fuel being primed in the line to supply the high pressure pump on the engine. If you haven't messed with the fuel system it should have a check valve inline to stop fuel running back into the tank. If you have a leak you might be losing prime or the pick up is blocked as Robmacca suggested. I've had a few SCV go in the past 13 years of ownership of my Puma. None presented as your symptoms. That said, i knew my SCV was on the way out because it would smoke on start up something chronic. Still does it if it has been laid up for a while but i put that down to the injectors past their use by date.

how old is your starter battery ?
I had a bit of hard starting, and replaced the battery, and all good.
I think the glowplug needs a bit of power to heat up enough to get it started, you should be able to get it checked at a battery world or something, before considering replacing it.

Just a thought.

Have you tried fitting a new fuel filter? An old blocked filter could be limiting fuel supply.
As stated above, the 2.4 such as mine does not have a fuel pump in the tank, so it needs a clear flow.
BTW if you change the fuel filter, make sure you fill the new filter with diesel, or you will have to spend the next 5 mins pumping it to get enough fuel to the engine to start.

Thanks for the responses.

It has only done about 5k km since new filter and that was around town. Sure you can get a crook load of fuel anywhere.

The motor turns over easily and for an extended time so I don't think it is battery although occasionally it will not crank for a second or 2 just like a weak battery.

It seems just like vapour lock we used to get in petrol motors way back which keeps me thinking it is fuel related.

It is off to the indy to get sorted. I gave up on these things when I could not fix it with a hammer and a shifter.

In the meantime I will check for smoke on start up but I have not noticed it in the past.

Oldie

Probably wrong, but could there be an issue with the power supply to the fuel pump? Just a thought.

Originally Posted by oldie

Hi, my 2009 2.4 Puma is hard to start sometimes. It turns over fine, but just does not fire. But then it fires but does not continue and then as you continue to crank it will finally start.

It seems to run fine once going. And sometimes it just starts normally. But it is getting worse

About 6 months ago had the SCV replaced as this hard start problem was beginning to appear and things seemed to get better. But now I am concerned I will get stranded.

To me it seems to be lack of fuel, but which part of the system ?

I have tried searching this site but nothing jumps out at me so can someone help this Oldie ?

Keith

On a 2.4 TDCi (puma) ...from common to least common
*The switch behind or on the end of the key barrel assembly, this though tends to be a start, stall, start stall type of fault.
*Failing crankshaft position sensor. from all I have done it doesnt throw a code, only use genuine (as in Ford part).
*Pinched fuel line between chassis and body just after fuel filter. Keep in mind often when a suction line gets a kink or pinch it will collapse more.
*as10 signal fault between it and ECU, this is often a break in the harness somewhere, also check for any water ingress into the as10 (as10 is the imobiliser).
*Other harness related breaks, short to grounds. the electrical harness in general tends to be too short and can get cut, plugs come part, pins back out of plugs.
*Front of top of engine main harness, follow it round the passenger side towards the firewall, about 300mm from firewall there is a plug, ensure its clean and no pins have backed out.
*3 plugs that connect to the ecu at the firewall, 1 especially the harness really is too short and stretches the wires, ensure they are clean.
*After that, numerous breaks in the harness and very random places.

Way way down after all that the IP cluster can fault, but this is rare.
a faulty ecu and again very rare.

Had the truck back from Indie for a week now and not much improvement after new SCV and fuel filter even though both had been done in February.

The mechanic could not really explain the cause or guarantee it was fixed. He checked out the glow plugs but they seemed fine. He put his scanner on the truck and reckons the high pressure side of the system was good even before the motor fired.

So that all suggested electrics/electronics. But battery checked OK. We were thinking maybe dodgy battery voltage dropping below electronics threshold when cranking. So day after I got it home it took for ever to start so I got a new battery since the existing battery was 3.5 yrs old. Seemed to be a bit better but still occasionally cranks for ever before firing. I have noticed also that the starter seems to stall every now and then, almost as if the car is in gear. I am presently thinking something is stopping the injectors letting fuel into the cylinders...but ...

So thanks Dazza for those suggestions. I will look into them and DiscoMick, the Puma does not have a pump in the fuel tank. It is a suction system and the fact that the high pressure rail is up to pressure tells me there is fuel getting that far. But thanks for the thought. Most confusing.

Oldie