Diesel engine experts...

[Rob546454]

Where did you buy the engine? Heard some bad stories about those reconditioned units.

I rebuilt one of those engines myself. All the points I was going to make have already been said so have them all investigated.

Check the vac pipes with this.
http://www.4x4toys.co.uk/images/4x4/tech/vacuum/vacuumhoses2lt.jpg

Buy a snif tester to check for exhaust gasses in the coolant if you still can't find anything.

 

[scotb]

pump timing is retarded, and check the inlet side of the pump ,theres sometimes a small filter about 1/8" wide and 1/2" long inside the inlet,just remove and bin it

 

[bill_gj]

I had a similar problem with the 2.2L diesel in my Toyota Estima.

Best way to check the glowplugs is to put a voltmeter from the glowplug power side (the thick coppery strip that connects all of them together) to a good earth and get someone to just turn the ignition on.

Glowplugs can take a serious amount of current and if you watch your voltmeter, when the ignition is switched on, the voltage reading should be 8 or 9 volts. When the relay rops out (glowplug hesting finished) the voltage will go up to nearly the voltage you can measure at the battery terminals.

Sometimes, there may be a two-stage heating and you'll see the 8-9 volts for a while, then a slightly higher figure, and then the battery voltage figure.

Anything else will suggest that one or more glowplugs is burned out. No voltage at all says the relay has stopped working.

 

[aardvark]

Apologies all, seems I gave some duff info. As said I not mechanical... basically I rechecked the glow plugs, they are only receiving 10 of the 12 volts from the batteries, we did a direct link from the batteries To the glow plug bar and instant improvement, so looks like the relay is the likely cause. Will let you know if this is the solution.
Cheers again for all your input on this.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Will be a high resistance joint more likely.

 

[madkayaker]

Or corroded cables. Had that on a landrover changed all the glow start cables for much bigger new ones and it improved starting. From old tractor to slightly rubbish car

 

[bs2236]

Some glow plug systems only run at 10V if i remember correctly. Some Jap stuff had a big resister to drop the voltage for when you were cranking. same as the old ballast resister type ignition circuits.

If you have a look at your plugs they may only be rated up to 11.5 volts.

might be totally incorrect for your vehicle but its worth checking.

 

[MattF]

Some glow plug systems only run at 10V if i remember correctly. Some Jap stuff had a big resister to drop the voltage for when you were cranking. same as the old ballast resister type ignition circuits.

If you have a look at your plugs they may only be rated up to 11.5 volts.

might be totally incorrect for your vehicle but its worth checking.

That's likely correct. Not dealt with the 3L specifically, but the others of around that period use 11V plugs. The resistor bolts into the bottom of the inlet manifold. It's the part circled in green in this photo, (this is from a 2LT engine):

If I recall correctly, the part circled in blue is the coolant temperature sensor, which controls the superglow and afterglow characteristics of the glowplug circuit.

 

[normspanners]

most glow plugs run at 10-11v ,could you answer my question BTW