Date:         Wed, 2 Apr 2008 18:56:53 -0800
Reply-To:     Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      '81.5 Diesel 1.6, Won't start
Comments: cc: vidublu@gmail.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Neil,

Didn't you say one of the cylinders only read 200 psi? Not good! The last
time it ran, did it smoke a lot? Assuming you get it to start again, check
valve clearances. In the meantime, to check and see whether or not you've
got fuel, crack open one of the injector lines at the top of whichever
injector is easiest to get to, crank engine over a couple of times, and
check for fuel dripping from the loose fitting. If no fuel at injector, next
thing I'd check is the fuel shut-off solenoid. If I was sure it was getting
fuel, I'd check the glow plugs. You should be able to hear a click when
turning on the key, and another click when the relay shuts off, around 20
seconds later, IIRC, depending on temperature. If no click, put a voltmeter
on one of the glow plug terminals, when you turn on the key, you should have
voltage. If after a couple of cycles of turning the key on and off you can't
feel any heat on the glow plug body, remove the glow plug wires and check
for continuity with your VOM. Or take a jumper wire from the battery and use
it to touch the glow plug terminal - - this should result in a healthy blue
spark. If the glow plugs check out, suspect the glow plug relay. If it's not
working, throw it in the nearest trash can and install a push button system,
then you won't have to worry about the relay any more.

Hope this helps - - and don't leave the key on till the battery dies, you'll
just shorten the life of your battery.

Gary

'82 GL Diesel



> Date:    Wed, 2 Apr 2008 08:32:02 -0700
> From:    Neil Crawford <vidublu@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: '81.5 Diesel 1.6, Won't start
>
> Well lads, I checked the new ground from battery to block and it's fine.
> The old ground went to the block AND the starter housing and I'm wondering
> if that could be the problem.  Perhaps the starter ground is
> faulty.  Didn't
> check that yet.  The positive terminal and leads look fine too.
>
> On advice from someone here, I kept the key on y'day until the battery
> died.  Still no starty.
>
> I'm looking into the glow plugs next.
>
>
>