Poor starting and wont tick over

[rexters]

Ongoing issue with my 96 2.7 Mav, sometimes it is damn near impossible to start and wont tickover, then the next day its fine, i have changed the fuel filter but as it runs fine at speed and the fault is intermittent i am ruling out anything mechanial and fuel related and now looking at the electrical side of things.

Any one got any pointers to start me off?

 

[4x4_Gav]

Have you checked the connections on the battery, also battery voltage?

I had a very similar problem the first day I brought my T2, wouldnt turn over and in fact there wasnt even enough power to heat the glow plugs in my case, relpaced the connectors and also in this case replaced the battery, never happened since

Gav

 

[clivvy]

sounds like ignition switch, to me.

try turning the key snail-pace slow, see if it starts then. might have to do that a couple of times. Mine used to do this, so I changed the ignition switch after testing, and its started fine ever since.

other thing to check is both battery cables and clamps, all the earth straps, especially the one that makes contact with the inner wing (mine was worn and it wasnt easy to tell)

good luck!

 

[badger]

also check for coroded wire on heater relay, you have to remove battery to get to it, sort of in the inner wing, poor conection here could be causeing current starvation to heaters and or not current flow.
meter on glow plugs would confirm.

steve

 

[clivvy]

also check for coroded wire on heater relay, you have to remove battery to get to it, sort of in the inner wing, poor conection here could be causeing current starvation to heaters and or not current flow.
meter on glow plugs would confirm.

steve

good point, a very well hidden area.

 

[rexters]

Hi,
thanks for all replys so far, some excellent ideas.
Idont think its glow plug related as the problem can occur when the car is up to temp.
I have cleaned up the battery connections today and it is running and starting well, but as its intermittent i cant tell if its ok for a few days.
I did notice the earth strap to the inner wing direct of the battery negative looks a bit green so i will look at that next.
Keep the ideas coming and i will let you know how it goes.

 

[lacroupade]

Hi,
thanks for all replys so far, some excellent ideas.
Idont think its glow plug related as the problem can occur when the car is up to temp.
I have cleaned up the battery connections today and it is running and starting well, but as its intermittent i cant tell if its ok for a few days.
I did notice the earth strap to the inner wing direct of the battery negative looks a bit green so i will look at that next.
Keep the ideas coming and i will let you know how it goes.

Don't just focus on the battery connections themselves, they usually corrode and break under the rubber bits somewhere, so best to nip to your motor factors and buy a couple of the good old-fashioned post clamps (couple of quid each max) where you secure the cable in a hole with two dirty great screws...

And yes, defo clean up the earth attachment, refit and then plaster vaseline or something like that over it all to keep the water out..