300 wont start?

[MacFamily]

Today while I was a work got the phone call from the missus saying the 94 300tdi defender wont start luckly its in the driveway but she is 4 weeks away from giving birth to our second child.:o
Anyway Ive done everything I can so far with the available light that I have..

It cranks but just lacks that little extra kick to start so I have checked following.

It has dual batteries the crank has just about had it from me trying to start it but the aux still has plenty of power.

I checked to make sure it pumping fuel just undoing the bleeder on top of the fuelfilter and it pumps out diesel.

The glowplugs seem to have no power as i put the testing light on them it worked on the second glowplug for about 2 seconds then i tried the first plug and got a few sparks.I even tried wiring a wire from the battery to the last glowplug directly and put the test light on the first and it worked I had power to the plugs but still wouldn't kick over.(I maybe should have not done that but its to late now)I couldn'd find the fuse in the box as i dont know what iam looking for and anyway the test light worked on all fuses.From the searchs ive done the 300tdi shouldnt need glow plugs till its done below 0 deg.

The starter seems ok cause the motor wonts to crank but like i said just doesnt have that extra bit to start.

Ive been searching on here for about 3 hours reading and trying different things and Ive called it quits for the day just thought i would put a post on here to see if anybody had any different ideas.

Iam new to landrovers Ive spending alot of time fixing things on the old girl lately but this one has me stumped:(
Do you think the pump maybe be stuffed as it has started to leak a very tinny bit like a tea spoon every 4 days but I cant pin point where its coming from.
It couldn't have happened on sunday when I was surrounded by landy people at least someone might have had an idea?
Cheers Azza

[muddy]

It has dual batteries the crank has just about had it from me trying to start it but the aux still has plenty of power.

Hi Azza
Don't forget to put the crank battery on charge over night.

[zelko]

Hey mate

Maybe check the fuel shut off solenoid, I had trouble with mine ended up being broken wire that runs to it.

Zelk

[LandyAndy]

The onset of cold nites will bring out the worst in a stuffed battery,as suggested charge the main and also isolate(remove earth cable) the aux.
Depending on how the dual batteries are set up either one could be stuffed,you may be loosing your charge to the aux as you turn the ignition on or not able to use the aux at all if the main is stealing its grunt.
GOODLUCK
Andrew

[rick130]

Hey mate

Maybe check the fuel shut off solenoid, I had trouble with mine ended up being broken wire that runs to it.

Zelk

You can also get corrosion on the spade terminal on the solenoid that won't let the damn thing energise.
It's happened to me a couple of times now.....

[MacFamily]

It has dual batteries the crank has just about had it from me trying to start it but the aux still has plenty of power.

Hi Azza
Don't forget to put the crank battery on charge over night.
Done thanks for reminding me Muddy

Hey mate

Maybe check the fuel shut off solenoid, I had trouble with mine ended up being broken wire that runs to it.

Zelk
I dont know what a shut off solenoid looks like?Can you tell me from this pic what iam looking for...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/06/9.jpg
I can only see the one wire on the pump.
Cheers Azza

[PAT303]

There is one wire running to the back of the pump.Take it of and then put it back on and make sure it ''Clicks'' back on.If it doesn't click it is not right. Pat

[Tiny]

Yep, I'd vote for the solenoid connection being stuffed - happened to me also.

[camel_landy]

+1 on the solenoid.

There is very little that can go wrong on a 300TDi... It doesn't even need the glow plugs to start. In winter, here in the UK, my 300TDi starts 1st time, even without glow plugs!!!

The connector is a spade type and you'll find it on the body of the pump. It only needs a +12 feed, so for the purpose of troubleshooting, you could even just run a lead straight from the battery (just remember that if you get the engine going like this... You'll have to disconnect before the engine will stop).

HTH

M

[roverrescue]

The easiest solenoid check to do is get a mate to turn the key to ign whilst you place your finger on the solenoid body. You should hear and feel a solid click as the plunger disengages.
If no click then youve found your problem, just need to work out whether the issue is 12V feed on ign to the solenoid or the solenoid itself. My feeling is if the glowies wiring is a bit dicky then maybe the solenoid wiring is affected. The glow, solenoid, oil pressure warning and coolant temp are in a combined loom round the back, then along drivers side of the 300tdi, may have got crushed or something?

If there is a solenoid click on ign then the issue has to be fuel supply to the injectors. So that means injection pump, fuel filter, lift pump. You say there has been a small leak from the inj pump. Could it have been coming from the fuel lift pump? (drivers side underneath the air filter) A crook lift pump will eventually stop a 300 from starting.

Hope something in that ramble helps

S

[MacFamily]

:)Well today i got home checked the wire to the solenoid on the pump and bingo the wire was not connected I must have bumped it off when I was looking for the leak on sunday :oops2::bangin:.It helps to have daylight when looking for these things.

Anyway thanks for everybodies help.

I fitted a new lift pump with a new exhaust gasket 2 weeks ago and i thought it may have been that but its pumping diesel when i prime it.

Cheers Azza

[PAT303]

Your shout!!! Pat