Hiace Starting problem

[TruenoBoy]

I have a Hiace a a 3L Diesel (2.8litre)

It usually starts fine even if left for a few days, But lately when I go to start it in the mornings it will crank but wont fire, Ive tried glowing it for ages but it still does it. It also sounds like its cranking a little slower than normal too. I eventually have to crash start it down the drive way, once its going its fine but it seems the longer I leave it with out re starting it it gets harder to start and seems to struggle turning over. Ie. if I leave it untill the end of the day when leaving work it's hard to start and may need a crash start but if it gets driven during the day or at lunch its starts ok.

I first though that battery was on the way out and have put a brand new battery in... same problem, put a new fuel filter in for good luck....same problem.

The only other thing wrong which I am thinking maybe not helping the situation is that the crank seal has a small leak and it is time (just coming up 300 thousand) to do the cambelt.

I am getting this done tomorrow hopefully but just wondering what else could be causing the starting problem? Alternator not charging properly? starter motor faulty? Cambelt jumped a tooth and timing is out?

Any help much appreciated? and any quick tests i could do would be much appreciated

[bbq1988]

stuffed glow plugs?

[TruenoBoy]

anyway to test them?

it could definately be that but to me if it was the glow plugs it would crank alright and just not fire but it seems to crank and die in the mornings

[sergei]

Depending on size of the battery, diesels require substantial current to crank.
Glow plugs can be tested with multimeter (resistance). Can't remember exactly the value (~4Ohm? pulling figures out my ass), but if they are open (resistance is larger than a few Ohms) that means that they are stuffed.
Technically glow plugs are consumables, and need to be replaced once a few years. They are about $100.

EDIT: you need to test each individually, which means taking off voltage rail, don't drop plastic washer/insulators .

[TruenoBoy]

cool thankyou will try that

[d1 mule]

just take them out and get a bettery and jumper leads and put the positive on the end where the wire goes and the negative where the thread is and if they get hot they will be fine.

its a easy fix should only take 1/2 to and hour. the one on #4 requires the inlet pipe to come off tho

[matt dunn]

My bet will be 4 stuffed plugs,

as most toyota's will start fine with even on e good plug unless it's below 0 outside.


Easiest test to tell is with everything switched off use a test light between the batt +ve and the glow plug rail.
Dont even need to undo or disconnect anything.


If it lights there is at least one good plug,
and you then need to pull them to test properly,

but if it does not light there is no good plugs and that is the problem.