will not start

I know little about diesels so I can't even diagnose the problem(S). I would welcome any ideas and suggestions of what to look at from you folks.

Thanks

MP

I'd start at the injectors to see if you have fuel...loosen the nut connecting the tubing to the injector, open the throttle and crank the engine. You should see a good strong spurt of fuel from the loose fitting... not bubbles or foam.. if you don't see the spurt, work your way back through the fuel fittings until you get fuel... then bleed as appropriate. Check your fuel filters to make sure they aren't plugged.. all the usual stuff.

If you do have a strong fuel pulse at the injector and it won't run... hmm.. now you're talking more serious stuff.. (and somewhat unlikely)... plugged injectors, injector pump broken, out of time..catastrophic loss of compression etc..

good luck

I kind of suspected a fuel problem so I took out the filters for replacement. I wish I had known how to check at the injectors as you mention. Will do this also, after I bleed the lines.

Also, I've been having battery trouble (won't hold a charge) and I wonder if this could be related. Unlike a gas engine, I always thought that once a diesel runs it doesn't need an electrical charge for ignition. Am I mistaken in this?

Thanks again

M Poulin

I just went through some 'fuel troubles' myself, turned out the tank petcock was jammed with crud... there was just a dribble of fuel coming through.. it would run ok for awhile but then you could hear the engine start 'surging' a bit... then she'd lose power and die. Aggrivating.

bbott