p reg 406 td not starting?

[everalp]

hiya me again more problems! arghhhhhhh having trouble with my p reg 406 td it just wont bloomin start, normally its first thing in the morning had a service a couple of weeks ago got the glow plugs checked and they r fine the man said there was a problem with the fuel getting through but whatever he has done hasnt solved the problem the battery is dead it doesnt seem to be charging for some reason also there is a bluish chalky discharge coming from the battery any ideas mates?

[504gld]

The chalky residue is battery acid, so your alternator could of been overcharging due to a fault in the regulator, and hence its killed the battery.

If the diesel engine is not starting it could be 1) no fuel 2) lack of cylinder compression 3) faulty stop solinoid on injection pump 3) air leak in fuel system 4) ignition temperature not met.

Get a good battery fully charged or a hefty jump start. Use fuel primer, this will either be a squeezy bulb or a canister with a handle on the top (you need to screw the handle to make it pop up). Squeeze or pump constantly until its really hard to do so. Slacken the fuel union on one of the injectors, and then continue to pump until you see fuel come out. Tighten it up. Activate the glow plugs, then press the accellerator fully, and crank the engine until it fires, keep it revving or it will stop whilst the rest of the air is primed out.

If this works then you certainly have an air leak which is allowing the fuel to drain back to the tank overnight. Its fairly common for rubber pipes to perish this way, and you'll need to replace them. Fitting clear fuel pipe between the filter the pump will show any air getting in.

You need to use a multi meter to take a reading across the battery when the engine is running. It should no more than 14v i think, if it is then its certainly the aternator regulator faulty. Depending on the type fitted it will either be a new circuit box or a complete unit.

[Donaldiesel]

Hi Everalp,
Diesels need a good strong battery to start, especially when cold. Your post indicates battery and/or charging problems, so the first thing is to get this sorted and fit a new battery. Sometimes a diesel will appear to crank over normally with a weak battery, but it is not quite fast enough to fire. Just to confuse matters, this also gives all the classic symptoms of air leaking into the fuel lines. You will welcome a good battery when winter sets in.
Good luck,
Donaldiesel