Forum:
I have a Fourtrak 2.8TD and recently it became harder and harder to start. It has a new battery and I finally decided to change the glow plugs suspecting that to be the problem. It wasn't! I was just wondering if anyone can suggest anything I could try before taking to garage? The 'heater' warning light on dash works as expected, and when I took it to the garage to get the new glow plugs - he checked that power was getting to them and it was. Any help greatly appreciated. Fraz
Just a thought
Just a thought but....
Depends what your problem is, but when I bought my Fourtrak I used some Diesel fuel system cleaner which made a difference to the amount of smoke on startup as well as making it run and start better.
I personally used Redex Diesel treatment (aka fuel cleaner, injector cleaner, system flush all the same sort of thing but from different companies). You tip a measured amount into a full tank of diesel so it all goes around together. I added it to several tanks since I got a bigger bottle but certainly noticed a difference after a few tanks.
Doesn't sound like mine was as bad as yours and could well be a different problem but for the sake of a fiver might be worth a try... shouldn't do any harm anyway!
BTW, is it only a problem when starting or while running as well? A common thing so I've heard with Fourtraks (most big diesels really) is that in colder weather the glow plugs don't do enough (don't stay on long enough). I normally do my glow plugs and wait for an extra click from the fuel heater relay 3 times when it's been standing in the cold for a while.
Auto5.
Thanks for the reply
Auto 5, thanks for the speedy response. I now have to do the glow plugs at least 3 or 4 times ALL the time I"m afraid - and to be honest is seems as if they're not doing anything anyway. It is as if the engine would start with that many tries regardless - I'm just loathe to try it without the glow plug palava in case I flatten the battery and render myself stranded for the day! - I live in the sticks by the way. The symptoms described happen irrespective of how long it's been standing for or how hot/cold it is. Granted, it's slightly better if I've just switched it off..... but not fantastic. I didn't think there was a problem when it was running, but perhaps 2 or 3 times I have noticed it become a bit sluggish when planting the accelerator? Also it may just be mis-firing ever so slightly when at idle - but sometimes I think I'm beginning to hear things - just coz I'm looking for a fault, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, that's the symptoms so far - I may give your Redex thing a try, but will probably wait a bit to see if I get any further suggestions here....
PS. Just a few months ago - and with an old battery, even if left for 2 weeks (whilst away on business) in a cold day, one turn of the key to activate glow plugs and it would start first time - and quickly too! If it didn't start first time it ALWAYS started second!
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
Fraz
leaking fuel lines !!!
Take a look under the o/s/r leaf spring and u will be able to see the fuel lines enter the tank it is quite common to see them leaking i had this happen on both the supply line and more recently the return pipe . i renewed the hoses and bled the system completely job done no probs since. Hope this may help KEV
Thanks Kev
Will have a gander - I did go over a very large bit of wood and ripped off front mudgaurds a few weeks ago so perhaps did some damage at the same time? Will let you know.
Could it be Water!
I am having the same problem as you describe. Car hard to start, lack of power when driving and then like magic the problem goes away and she drives like a She Beast! But, then the problem always comes back! A spluttering and a missing. No power and you fighting to keep the engine going! She's turned into a doddering old Granny.
Well in a dark part of the Black Country, where time has seemed to have passed everybody by is a little grubby garage (I'm being kind, its a shed really.) where a little old man works in his oil cover coverall. An old woolly hat covers his grey haired head and a roll up ciggy between his dry cracked lips. Bert is his name and he says my problem is..
“Yo got wata in ya filta or yo'ar suckin air, clean it an bugger off and leave me be.â€Â
What a card old Bert is.
I hope this helps you (well I hope it helps my problem as well!)
have a nice day,
Greeny.
Think I've gone and fixed it!
Thanks for your help guys.... I popped front of Fourtrak up on stands and took a look underneath. Since I have never washed it in the 2 1/2 years I've owned it - it wasn't difficult t spot the diesel soaked mud caked on the bottom! I was coming from the fuel filter, so I disconnected banjo union and filler, also the elctronic gubbins and removed from engine to garage. I then cleaned and drained it. I think it was leaking from the plastice drain tap. Anyway put all back together and turned it over - started without even putting on glowplugs? I opened bleed screw on filter and pumped the pump (what else would you call it!!!) and then started again. I then cracked all the injector fuel lines and Bob's your Uncle. I left it over night and started 2nd time (two glow plug heats) - it actually fired on the first attempt but it coincided with me switching off the ignition! (patience!) Will monitor for a few days and if I don't reply then that's it sorted.
Again, thanks for all your comments. If it's worked then saved time, hassle, money and feeling a bit smug too. Oh yeh, and the wife's impressed too which mean more Brownie points - and that translates directly (I forget the ratio) into beer!!
Fraz
Update
No I didn't...... well, nearly anyway. I was working outside late the other night and using my car light to see..... yeh, yeh, I know - well my battery went flat. So, to get the best chance of starting before it went completely flat I thought I'd prime the system with the filter pump. Anyway, as I was doing this I noticed a small 'jet' of fuel squirting from the filter. On closer inspection it seems that there is a pin-hole in the filter body! This MUST be the root of my starting problems. I got a new filter today - but left the flippin' housing at the garage, doh! I'll get it this morning and fit. Then a few hours on charge and should be cooking with gas as they say. I'll let you know....
SORTED!!!!
Woo hooo!!! Okay, sorry for the childishness of this post but I am chuffed to bits! I fixed it! It was the pin-hole leak that was causing the problem and now (even with very weak battery this morning) it starts in a nanosecond. I guess it pays to percevere....
Thanks again to all that steered me in fuel problem direction.... happy days!
Fraz