Flat van battery (Diesel).

[Nigel]

Hah ! Probably connected negative to positive....etc.

Thats what I thought, but it was the leads I was using; too small.

 

[Nigel]

Yeah,a charger is the 'proper' option,but you could jump it off a suitable battery and then the battery would charge up quicker,as you drove along.
One thing tho'.....If a diesel isn't turning over quickly enough, i.e. your battery is low,then you'll be very lucky to get it going.
As I've said tho'.....If you're having to churn it over for more than a very few seconds,the glow plugs are probably not working ! Get them investigated !
When you've started the van previously,do you get lots of white smoke from the exhaust (from a cold start) ?? Does it 'misfire' slightly ??

Are the glow plugs easy to change on Ford Transit?

 

[Jayen4]

Are the glow plugs easy to change on Ford Transit?

It depends which engine it is,but generally,they are readily accessible,right on top of the cylinder head,next to each injector.. Some have an extra glow plug on the inlet manifold,as well.

BTW...have we got this Transporter back in action yet ??

 

[King Biscuit Time]

Borrowed a charger from a bloke at work - charged it up in my kitchen (took about 24 hours for a full charge), and now it's up and running fine again.

Cheers for the help thread peeps.

 

[Nigel]

It depends which engine it is,but generally,they are readily accessible,right on top of the cylinder head,next to each injector.. Some have an extra glow plug on the inlet manifold,as well.

BTW...have we got this Transporter back in action yet ??

Its off the road at the moment going to have a look at it tomorrow, recentely replaced an injector, but thinking about it could be plugs.
Keep you informed.

By the way is all the info I need in Chapter 4 of Haynes manual?

 

[zippyRN]

I'd be careful trying to jump start a diesel van with a VW Polo. The output from the Polo's battery might not be enough to get the Transporter going and you could just end up flattening the other battery.

run the polo

i've also been taught to do jump starts with the donating battery on a running vehicle unless it;s charging cart acting as donor

 

[Nigel]

run the polo

i've also been taught to do jump starts with the donating battery on a running vehicle unless it;s charging cart acting as donor

Its alright with the right size leads, if you are close could lend you some otherwise could cost about £40-50.

Why not just re-charge the battery.
Have you checked, by say beeping your horn to make sure that it is Battery?

 

[Nigel]

Am I stating the obvious!!?

 

[King Biscuit Time]

UPDATE:

I charged the battery Wednesday night/Thursday.

On Thursday night I reconnected it. There were a few sparks when I connected it, but the engine started fine. I let it tick over, high fived a passer by etc etc etc..

Didn't use the van until Sunday when I took it out for a spin. No problem

Monday I tried to start the van up, and it won't start. The LCD clock on the radio is working (just about) but there's no headlights or anything, so the battery is flat.

So I'm 99% sure the battery is knackered. The only thing I'm concerned about is buying a new battery to find it's something else. I guess this is pretty unlikey?

I might charge the battery up again today so I can move the van at the weekend, and then get the battery swapped.

 

[Jayen4]

KBT...... Sounds to me like you've got an electrical drain somewhere. You think that you've turned everything off,but there is still something drawing power.
2 ways to confirm this / if it is the battery...... 1: Charge battery up,fit to van BUT, when you park the van up,disconnect the battery until you need it again. 2: Have an 'isolator' fitted. This is effectively a 'switch' in the earth lead from the battery. Same effect as disconnecting a lead.... I always had isolators fitted to all my vans and trucks....eliminates the 'power drain/flat battery' issue !
If battery holds charrge o.k using these methods,then you need an auto electrician to trace the power drain.....easy enough for a qualified sparky.
Keep us informed.

 

[Nigel]

Diesel Filter

Having trouble getting diesel filter on; plugged it in screwed it on (by hand) but diesel is still spewing out.

Any tips

Penny for your thoughts

 

[Nigel]

Are there any special tools that I can use to tighten it up.?
Do I have to get another Gaskit ?

 

[Jayen4]

Re fuel filter. If it's a 'spin on' type (i.e. does not have a bolt through the middle) make sure that : 1: you have fitted the ring seal around the top correctly (should have one in the box,with new filter) and : 2: make sure that the old seal isn't still stuck to the top housing.
They're pretty foolproof really. If it's the screw on type,you shouldn't need any more than firm hand pressure to seal it. You can get 'strap wrenches' for filters,but these are really for removing over tight filters. You need to be careful not to over tighten,if you're using a strap wrench to tighten the filter on.
BTW an 'ordinary' filter,that has both top and bottom housings will have 2 sealing rings. Got to get both seated properley !

 

[Nigel]

Cheers