Clutch Starting a Td5

[Col.Coleman]

Done a search, can't find an answer. Probably relates to all modern vehicles but,

Want to know if my battery poops itself or I kill it running something, being that the engine is basically run from under the seat, will it clutch start with a dead batt? How much voltage is required to provide enough signal to open the injectors. In my thoughts, you need power to pressurise the fuel and then send a signal to inject so clutch starting wouldnt be possible. Any thoughts on this? Any one know for sure?

[BigJon]

To start a TD5 you will need reasonably good battery power. If the battery is dead flat it won't start, even if you push / roll it. As you noted, power is required for the fuel pump and computer system.

The same goes for any petrol powered car too. Even a points ignitioned, carbied car won't start without at least some battery power.

[foz.in.oz]

This is one of the reasons I went for an auxilary battery set up, and used a starter battery rather than a deep cycle, for the second unit. If needs be, I can swap the cables over, and with a fair wind and a calm sea be back on my way in a jiffy.

Just a side note, my original LR battery lost one cell thus only giving about 10.5 Volts. The car was really slow to crank but eventually it would start, so even if you lost your main power you could use any old car battery or even a 12v motorcycle to get going as long as you clutched started and didn't crank.

Ray

[Blknight.aus]

you can clutch start at down to 7v but you need a big hill or a tow car.

pick about 2nd gear and get up to 30ish with the ignition on and then ease the clutch out, once engine rpms are high enough to get the alternator working it will start off of the power coming from the alternator. 7v is about the nominal cut out point for the excitation of an alternator if you have any load on it (which you will) and about 3v if its open circut and spinning fast.

This however is not good for your fuel injectors as they arent being properly lubricated until the fuel pump powers up the residual fuel in the head should offer them some lube but I wouldnt want to be relying on this method continuously.

[Tusker]

Yes can be done.

Had a clown turn up on a day trip once, with an early TD5 defender, would only start intermittently. We made him park on hills everywhere.

Until the end of the day, when he botched the clutch start. He knew what the starting issue was, a dodgy terminal on the starter. Considering it could have & should have been fixed well before, no-one was jumping to volunteer to tow start him. About 20 mins under the car, all fixed.

Regards
Max P