Hi everyone,

Sorry for the first post being one of desperation and help but I'm desperate and need help (Or so a few of my mates tell me anyway :P )

I've recently purchased a cracking little Escort Van (The massively powerful 55bhp not turbo variant lol) but the poor little fella is struggling to start first thing in the mornings. Once started it runs great and usually starts fine for the rest of the day.

I changed the glow plugs and this seemed to help for a bit but things have been getting progressively worse again. When trying to start the engine in the morning the engine makes a good go at turning over to the point where the whole van can shake as it's trying but then it seems to give up and makes a whirring noise as if the starter motor solenoid has retracted and is spinning by itself if that makes sense ???

So, I decided to take the starter motor out and see if there was any damage to the teeth and praying no damage to the fly wheel!!! On first inspection to the engine though I noticed a unit on the side of the engine which seems to have some hoses missing.

Leaving the task of the starter motor behind I visited a local scrap merchant who said he thought that this was the diesel preheater matrix and that it was possible that a hose was missing or it may have been replaced with a part that was not quite right and they may have blanked one of the hoses off?? Does this sound right and would it cause starting issues or am I right to carry on and look at the starter?

I've tried my best to take pics of the unit and missing hose (You can just make out where a jubilee clip was on the end of the hose)

Any pointers would be most appreciated, thanks folks :-)

Col

did you check that the glow plugs are working? check the voltage on the bus bar should be around 10.5 with the plugs connected and stay on for around 7 seconds.

did you check that the glow plugs are working? check the voltage on the bus bar should be around 10.5 with the plugs connected and stay on for around 7 seconds.

Thanks for the response. Just checked it just now. As you described it gets about 11V for about 7 secs then your hear it tripping and it drops to 0V so the Glow plugs are getting power and as I mentioned they are brand new Glow Plugs.

Next steps? What's your thoughts on this Diesel Pre Heater Matrix???

Cheers,

Col

Does you fuel line run directly into the pump? The pics look like someone has bypassed the fuel heater & filter. The filter body has a non-return valve so if it's been bypassed the fuel may be running back to the tank overnight, making it difficult to start.

Does you fuel line run directly into the pump? The pics look like someone has bypassed the fuel heater & filter. The filter body has a non-return valve so if it's been bypassed the fuel may be running back to the tank overnight, making it difficult to start.

Thanks for getting back to me. I actually gave in and took it to a garage (Needed Timing and Fan belt done anyway) but you are spot on with your diagnosis. Mechanic said exact same thing. Can't understand why anyone would do that mind? I'm hoping there's not a sinister underlying reason but the van has been starting first turn since so fingers crossed.

Thanks again for getting back to me, appreciate it.

Col

CrazyCol I dont know if you'll read this but if you do thanks for the pm.Tried to reply to it but f....d up somewhere,haven't quite got to grips with the forum yet...but I'll learn :(

cheers