Please Help (Starting Problem)

[Wallis22]

Probabaly gonna be a long post, with a lot of pointless s**t, so ignore it all except the last bit where i ask for help if you want.

I don't believe my luck. I've had tons of problems with my SEAT(s), and now i have a new one.

My car won't start. As you probabaly know, i have a 1.9TDI mk2 Ibiza. I've just finished repairing it because it was written off. Anyway, the engine was working fine. I finished the body work and fitted a new rad, well 2nd hand but still... (car started at this point)

Anyway, the rad was leaking too bad to fix so i had to get a new one. Fitted the new rad, topped up the coolant to the MAX level and ran the engine. (car still starts here...)

The coolant ran through the engine but i ran out before the expansion tank was at the right level. No matter, i'll fill it up tomorrow, i thought. So i drained the fuel filter of water because it was due. (Didn't try and start it after i drained the fuel filter because the battery was disconnected because i moved on to the airbag control unit.)

Anyway, i topped up the coolant today and disaster, the engine won't start. It turns over but doesn't fire. I know if you don't refill the fuel filter it will take a few seconds of cranking before it fires, but i was cranking for ages - and the battery started going dead. I've got a portable battery charger but even using that the engine doesn't fire...

So... I have a question, or two. Do you think it won't fire because of the fuel filter? I'm going to fill it with fuel tomorrow and try again. I havn't done anything else since the car started so it's got to be the fuel filter, right?

My next question is; how can i check if there's a spark? (this is the main one.)

Another thing, when i tried starting the engine after filling it up with coolant, it wouldn't start, and the alarm kept going off everytime i tried starting it. Then, after cranking for a while, when i turned the ignition on i heard a load of 'clicks.' i wasn't trying to start the car, just had ignition on, and it clicks for about 10 seconds the goes. Any ideas?

Also, when i try and start the engine, the timing belt ect... rotates very slowly. It starts to rotate for about 1 CM then stops rotating, even though i'm still cranking the engine. This isn't normal, is it?

I've got a (very) basic Vag com scanner so i'll try that tomorrow and see what it says. Just thought i'd try you guys first...

ANY help will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

 

[m0rk]

Hi

No spark, so as long as fuel is getting into the cylinder - it should fire.

i'd guess either an air blockage in the fuel line, or the filter is blocking it.

the clicking you're hearing is just the solenoid opening, but not enough juice to turn the starter.

timing belt should turn as the starter though.. unless the battery was that flat.

 

[Wallis22]

Hi

No spark, so as long as fuel is getting into the cylinder - it should fire.

i'd guess either an air blockage in the fuel line, or the filter is blocking it.

the clicking you're hearing is just the solenoid opening, but not enough juice to turn the starter.

timing belt should turn as the starter though.. unless the battery was that flat.

I think (at least i hope) it's an air blockage. Do you know how to get it out? Also, if the filter's blocking the fuel, willl i need a new fuel filter?

Thanks for the help.

 

[myseatcupra]

there is no spark. you have glow plugs its a tdi??? if you've flattened the battery all you get is a click of relays or starter solinoid. if its turning over slowly thats also cuz its a tdi very high compression. so if that batterys flat it'll will strugle to turn the engine over.
to bleed the fuel system . slacken off the nut that bolt the fuel line to the injector. and turn the engine over till you get good flow. thats how ive done it in the past.

 

[Wallis22]

When i try and turn the engine over it rotates very quickly. The sound is like ticktickticktick, about 2 ticks per second, rather than - tick tick tick - one tick per second... (hope that makes sence. lol)

So there's no spark? I'll try bleeding the system tomorrow and keep you updated. Thanks for all the help.

 

[myseatcupra]

no spark. it has glow plugs. they heat up and glow. and ignite the derv as it compressed by the piston. or something like that. sorry if that stating the Obvious

 

[myseatcupra]

pure guess but maybe the ticking is the fuel injectors opening and closing.

 

[Wallis22]

to bleed the fuel system . slacken off the nut that bolt the fuel line to the injector. and turn the engine over till you get good flow. thats how ive done it in the past.

When you say slacken off the nut that bolts the fuel line to the injector, do you mean the one on the right of the injector? (as you look at it) - so the fuel comes out of the injector, rather than the hose/ fuel line, ect... I can't get to the nut on the left of the injector because there's something in the way. (I'll take a pic tomorrow and show you what i mean.)

I've tried doing this but my battery's too flat to keep cranking. A bit of fuel came out though.... I'm gonna get a new battery tomorrow and try again.

Also, the pre heating light doesn't come on at all. I think it's coz the battey is too low though. When the battery has a bit of power it flashes for a split second then goes off. Not like it does normally though, it's literally a flash.

I also noticed that when i charge the battery a little bit the clicking noise i hear when i turn the ignition on changes into another noise. I'm not going to try and explain it because it would be impossible, but when it's nearly dead, that's when it clicks, or ticks. Do you know why it's making this clicking noise? It may be the injectors or the solenoid, but why's it clicking? It doesn't normally do that.

Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you posted...

 

[Wallis22]

no spark. it has glow plugs. they heat up and glow. and ignite the derv as it compressed by the piston. or something like that. sorry if that stating the Obvious

Lol, i forgot diesels don't use spark plugs

 

[myseatcupra]

unbolt the fuel line as close as you can get the the injector. most that ive seen are right on top of the injector. post a pic like you said. charge your battery up and give it another try dude. bit of luck you'll get it fired up

 

[Wallis22]

Ok, just got the car running. I bled the fuel system and recharged the battery and, brum, off it went.

However, it ran for about 5/10 minutes then went dead, which leads me to believe that the altenator is faulty. Does anyone know how i can check to see if it's working properly? The battery was completly dead so do you think that's why it cut out? ie the altenator couldn't give it enough power? Or do you think it's the altenator?

Thanks for all the help so far, and thanks in advance for this one... LOL.

 

[myseatcupra]

start the car then remover the earth battery terminal. if the car keeps running then the altenator is fine. but if it cuts out it a goner

 

[Wallis22]

Ok i'll have to check that tomorrow coz it's too dark now. Thanks.

 

[myseatcupra]

no probs. also if you got a volt meter. check and see if the battery is holding its charge when the engines running. it should be anything from 12v to 14v if it starts to fall alot then you'll know

 

[Wallis22]

It must be the altenator because i've just fitted a different battery and removed the negative (earth) battery terminal and the car cut out straight away.

Sadly, i don't have a volt meter. I've been meaning to get one for a while now so i'm gonna have to get one pretty soon. The fact that the car cut out shows that the altenator's dead though doesn't it?

I've got another altenator so i'll try fitting that tomorrow. Might as well do the aux, timing belts, and water pump while i'm down there. If i order a water pump from SEAT, are they the plastic impeller ones? Where can i get a metal one from? Thanks.

Cheers for all the help mate. I really appreciate it!

 

[myseatcupra]

no problem glad i could help you.
ive no idea about the water pump. but at least your getting it sorted bit by bit

 

[Wallis22]

Yea it's getting there. All be it very slowly. lol

Got another problem. (surprise surprise)

The guy who sold me the altenator had to cut off the main cable because the nut that holds it to the altenator kept turning without coming loose. He told me i could take the black plastic thing off and there might be another nut on the inside of that. Well, i can't get the black plastic thing off because that nut holds it on aswell.

I'd take a pic to show you what i mean but my digi cam is being fixed an the min.

Any ideas on how to remove this nut? I think i'm gonna need another new altenator though.

 

[ibiza_95]

It must be the altenator because i've just fitted a different battery and removed the negative (earth) battery terminal and the car cut out straight away.

I should imagine the car would cut out if you take the negative side of the battery off as thatll make an incomplete circuit for the whole car
Youre best off getting a multimeter and measuring the current and voltage produced by the alternator and the battery to see which isnt playing

 

[Wallis22]

I took the negative (earth) terminal off my Honda straight after to make sure and that stayed running...

Before removing the altanator i'm gonna check the voltage though.

Thanks.

 

[myseatcupra]

I should imagine the car would cut out if you take the negative side of the battery off as thatll make an incomplete circuit for the whole car
Youre best off getting a multimeter and measuring the current and voltage produced by the alternator and the battery to see which isnt playing

the car will run off the power of the alternator. or in wallis22 case it doesnt lol.