Series 1 Expert starting problem

[Expertamateur]

My 2001 Expert 1.9D has been a good starter, summer and winter but just recently it has been reluctant. Winding the starter it sounds like one pot is trying to fire but not enough to get the rest to join in. I figured maybe the battery was on the way out. It was showing a decent voltage but probably dropping under load so I bought a new one. The new one spins the motor faster but I still get the same symptom. Sounds like only one cylinder trying to fire. My next guess is that I need to replace the glow plugs.

Any ideas what might be the problem?

[wheeler]

Deffo check the glow plugs. See if it will fire with a bit of easy start.

[Expertamateur]

Thankyou for your input. I may be on the right track then.

[Expertamateur]

I can't find any Easy Start here and the soonest I can get any from UK is in January when a friend is coming over. I have been reading dozens of threads about cam belt failures. It seems they can break on switching off or just starting. While I'm waiting for the Easy Start is there any way to check if I have a broken belt on this engine? VIN: VF3**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] first reg: March 2001, 1868cc(?), WJZ(?).

[PaulC5]

If you remove the oil filler cap and can see the cam shaft, then put the car in 2nd gear or reverse and push the van a bit so the engine turns over. If the belt has snapped then the cam shaft will not turn at the same time.
Carb and brake cleaners might work as a substitute for easy start.

[Expertamateur]

Yes. That sounds logical now I think about it. As soon as the pouring rain stops I'll go out and see if any moving parts are visible under the filler cap.

[Expertamateur]

Just had a look. The main filler cap is just behind the radiator and feeds to the bottom of the engine. I found another on top of the engine that is tucked under the screen too far back to see directly into it without a mirror and light. I will try again tomorrow when I can find someone to turn the key while I look.
...........to be continued.

[Paul-R]

I can't find any Easy Start here...

Similar stuff is available on Ebay.fr

https://www.ebay.fr/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... =0&_sop=15

[Expertamateur]

With free delivery! Thanks.
I'll see what happens tomorrow with the belt inspection. If it's still moving I will go for a sniff of the devil's breath.

[Expertamateur]

I managed to find a can of Holts Start Pilote which seems to be the equivalent of EasyStart. Tried it and not much success. The engine eventually fired but only remained running for about ten seconds and sounded like all four pots were firing but sounded like a bag of nails. Lots of banging and clattering. It then stopped, sounding like it was running out of fuel. I am getting a bad feeling about this. Injection pump failure repair will be way beyond my means if that's what I'm up against.

[Expertamateur]

I have had another thought. Does this engine have some sort of fuel shutoff solenoid? I am guessing there might be something that shuts off the fuel when you turn off the key. Or is there something like this as part of an immobilisation system for anti-theft? If so, could this be the problem? I have been without wheels for a month now and if I can't get this sorted I will have to scrap it and look for something else.

[moizeau]

I'm guessing this is the DW8 version of the XUD9? Basically added armour to the pump (that stops you changing the solenoid easily) and an EGR. Never played with this later version but...
Did you change the glow plugs? Beru are the make of choice.
Is the hand primer bulb hard. Turn the ignition on and prime the fuel with it before trying to start.
Has the fuel filter been changed recently? If no, worth changing. If yes, was the O ring new and secured properly. There is also a commonish fault with the fuel filter housing letting in air.
Where are you in France?

[Expertamateur]

It could well be the DW8 but I have no way to confirm. The glow plugs are still in UK awaiting someone bringing them over to me in January. They are Bosch. I am not looking forward to fitting them, I can barely see the left one let alone get a spanner on it. And all the rest are completely hidden under a lot of pipework with no removable clips. I will have to destroy them to remove. The primer bulb has a fairly stiff spring and it pumps up OK until it seems very firm after a few strokes. I changed the filter about ten days ago, the old one looked clean. I fitted a new O-ring at the time.

Do you know if there is a stop solenoid somewhere? I had a problem with a petrol lawn mower engine. The solenoid was stuck closed stopping petrol getting into the carb. I just wondered if there is something similar on this diesel engine.
I'm in Brittany dept. 22

[CitroJim]

The stop solenoid is on the injection pump and as Pete said, it's under the armour to prevent easy hotwiring and theft...

You can eliminate the stop solenoid by pumping the primer bulb until it's firm, and then loosen off one of the injector unions a little and wrap a rag tightly around it...

Crank the engine and the rag should become wet with diesel if the pump and stop solenoid is behaving correctly. Note that the stop solenoid is under the control of the immobiliser so you must do this test with the ignition on.

And be careful. Diesel spraying out at high pressure from a loosened union can deeply cut through skin, hence the reason to wrap the loosened union tightly in rag.

Do you have any indication on the dash the immobiliser may not be happy? Such as a warning light indicating it's not been correctly de-armed.

[Expertamateur]

I'll have a nose around and see what I can find. I don't know if there are any dash indicators that relate to the immobiliser. I didn't get any manuals or tech info with the van when I bought it, and I have never managed to find any workshop manual. Its a RHD one originally sold new in UK.

Just wondering. If I stick my ear close to the pump while someone turns the key on and off would I be able to hear the solenoid operating?