vito/viano not starting when cold. easy start spray works everytime though

[rburnham11]

Hi all
I have a issue with my 04 viano. when it is cold it doesn't start, it turns over but wont start. however if I remove the air pipe and spray a little easy start and turn the key it starts every time easily, with that in mind I cant imagine it being anything major if a spray can solve it!
my farther in law is an AA man and I had him erase all error codes then when I started it surely only the problem code would highlight itself. it did, I cant remember the code but it said 'rail pressure'.
any suggestions where to go from here? I thought maybe the fuel rail pressure sensor. has anyone else had experience with this fault before? I cant help but think its going to be something easy and simple.....I hope!

thanks in advance
Rich

 

[Crickleymal]

Glow plugs?

 

[rburnham11]

was my thought too and indeed one glow plug is indicating a fault but 3 out of 4 should be enough to start the engine. I think its more to do with the rail pressure, unless the one glow plug out causes a rail pressure fault. not sure

 

[Vitocliff]

If it said " rail pressure " as the fault, it is usually injector leakback which causes the rail pressure to be lower than required to create an effective injector spray. The engine would, no doubt run just on easystart if you sprayed it in with no diesel being injected ! The solution is to do a leak back test. This is where you attach a measuring device, normally calibrated glass tubes, to each of the injector leak off hoses and run the engine. You may find that there are more than one creating excessive leak back. A good injector will leak very little fuel back to the tank. An easy test, with the right gear, but can be an expensive rectification due to injector cost whether reconditioned or new, but a possible solution if it is low rail pressure.
Low rail pressure can also be caused by other things such as a worn pump but I'd start with the leak back test. Cliff

 

[m80]

Is this engine using the clear fuel pipes with 'o' rings?
Could air be leaking into a fuel line overnight?

I would be surprised if glow plugs were the issue.

 

[moog999]

Ideally you need a local deisel specialist that can do a leak back test and tell you which injector is faulty. Then replace just that injector.

I had a Volvo V70 that did the same. Used to get it going on cold mornings by chucking half a kettles of hot water over the top of the engine. A new injectors sorted it though

Leak back test cost £70.

 

[Vitocliff]

Is this engine using the clear fuel pipes with 'o' rings?
Could air be leaking into a fuel line overnight?

I would be surprised if glow plugs were the issue.

Air leaking in would not allow starting after a spray of easy start unless a prolonged spray that caused the system to bleed itself. Problem with continued use of easy start is that you could wreak your engine, so advise getting it sorted asap.

 

[Vitocliff]

Ideally you need a local deisel specialist that can do a leak back test and tell you which injector is faulty. Then replace just that injector.

I had a Volvo V70 that did the same. Used to get it going on cold mornings by chucking half a kettles of hot water over the top of the engine. A new injectors sorted it though

Leak back test cost £70.

Leak back test is pretty simple, I'm surprised at the cost quoted , but I'm a bit out of touch with garage costs due to being able to do it all myself ! Cliff.

 

[rburnham11]

does anybody know a good Mercedes independent or diesel specialist garage in Essex

 

[rburnham11]

looking at videos it doesn't seem too difficult to change injectors, but is there any way of knowing which injector needs replacing?

 

[Vitocliff]

The leak back test is the best option and the only real way to determine which one is faulty. Replacement is relatively straightforward, Often the injector gets coked up and needs a bit of persuading but important not to use too much force. The injectors themselves usually need to be re programmed once fitted, anyone with the correct equipment can do this. If you want to remove all the injectors a diesel specialist would be able to test them and recondition as required. Have you checked on the prices ? I paid £114 for one to be reconditioned for a Renault 1.5 DCI. New ones cost much more !
I'm guessing that you are around the Burnham area in Essex. I am an Essex lad myself but now in Daventry otherwise I could do the leak back test myself ! I can't remember anyone in your area that is a diesel specialist but you only have to look on the web to find someone local if nobody on the forum is able to help. I was tempted to use ebay but thought that things can go wrong and it wasn't worth the risk. What ebay did help in was getting the price down ! I quoted the ebay price and the company matched it, result !

 

[Crickleymal]

Listen. Put a screwdriver on the injector and your ear on the other end. I had an injector replaced on my Picasso and it took the garage ages to get it out. Soak it in plus gas and wait, then wiggle and so on. Don't lever on the cylinder head.

 

[moog999]

Will listening really tell you which injector is letting fuel back into the tank or is it just a case of finding the noisy one and replacing that.

Re injector coding. It was mentioned when I replaced one on my Volvo but wasn't needed, I just made sure the replacement injector had an identical code on it.

Getting it out was a doddle too but apparently it can go the other way and they can sometimes need burning out with a plasma torch. Which sounds fun.

Have a search for "pf Jones" as a source for a new or recon injector.

Good luck with it.

 

[Vitocliff]

If an injector is leaking back sufficiently to prevent normal starting, the pressure in the line will be much lower than normal and it will be unlikely that you will notice any change in sound. The normal pressure in the system is huge, I can't remember the figure but if the injector is partially blocked so that only one hole is open it's not unknown for a hole to be made in the piston ! Not joking. You could even get some leak off pipe and make your own leak back kit ! You just need to have a jar for each of the injectors and enter the pipe in, making sure the jar doesn't fall over, and run the engine for a short while. With the starting probs you've described it will be obvious which one is faulty. The jars need to be fairly small and all the same, something like sample tubes from the docs would be good !!!!!!!!!!! When I did mine the faulty one leaked 10 millilitres to the worst of the others 3, that obvious. Whatever you do, DON'T disconnect an injector pipe with the engine running because of the pressures involved, even at a reduced level.

 

[merc85]

does anybody know a good Mercedes independent or diesel specialist garage in Essex

mandccolchester

 

[toolman1954]

6 Cylinde Diesel Injector Flow Meter Adaptor Set Common Rail Leak Off Tester GB | eBay £21 inc postage

 

[Vitocliff]

6 Cylinde Diesel Injector Flow Meter Adaptor Set Common Rail Leak Off Tester GB | eBay £21 inc postage

 

[Vitocliff]

They've come down in price ! A must have in my opinion.

 

[Vitocliff]

was my thought too and indeed one glow plug is indicating a fault but 3 out of 4 should be enough to start the engine. I think its more to do with the rail pressure, unless the one glow plug out causes a rail pressure fault. not sure

Rail pressure and glow plugs are completely unaffected by each other.

 

[Colterry]

I have a Vito issue like you are talking about, at the end of the fuel rail is a pressure valve, the "O" ring was shot, went to merc service gave the guy there £2 and replaced the ring, problem solved.