Transit Intermittent non start

[AbbCon]

Morning All,
Posting on behalf of my company, hope this is allowed.

We have a 19 plate Transit Luton, with a 2.0 panther diesel engine, rear wheel drive.
It intermittently does not start, and we are all out of options.
We have a Ford Master Technician on our books, who is quite knowledgeable, in fact a lot of the Ford dealers in the UK call him if they have a problem, they can't solve.
Anyway, our van,
It is kept in our warehouse at night times, and in the morning starts on the first turn of the key. Runs really sweet.
I take it outside, then at night time, it does not start when we bring it back in the warehouse.
Admittedly it does not get used as much as it should.
Our Ford Man has changed the EGR Valve, Injectors, MAF Sensor, Cam position sensor and the crankshaft position sensor, but still no luck.
It is not throwing up any fault codes.

We got it running, and took it for a 20 mile run along the M3 motorway, then back another 20 miles, with no problems. Little bit of smoke when we first started off, but that soon cleared.

Someone suggested Fresh eyes on it, so anyone got any ideas.

Best Regards

Kenny

[metalworker0]

When it does not start, is starter motor turning slowly or normally

There have been some faults reported when starter is hot it is turning too slow and causing starting issues because it cant turn over the engine fast enough and make the compression high enough to start.
other faults have been.
Leaky fuel filter letting air into it and allowing fuel to drain back to the tank
Faulty in-tank pump / combined fuel sender and pump unit - pumps can stick / lock when they are on the way out intermittently... bashing the tank with a big rubber mallet may get it running again if this fault occurs.

Have they done a compression test - worn valve seats in this engine have been reported and at low mileages

IF mast tech ford cant help ... we are stuck to guessing

all the best.mark

[AbbCon]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
When it does not start, it turns over normally.
No compression test done, as it drives and runs really well when it does start, with no lack of power.
Van is limited to 62 mph, and it got there no problem on a recent test run.

i will suggest Filter and Pump to the master tech.

Thanks again and I will update if anymore news.


Regards

Kenny

[DanMK7uk]

Very hard to give much advice without seeing what it is doing during non start.

First thing most would do is check cam / crank sync and fuel rail pressure.

Does it start on easistart ?

Unlikely as there seems to be pattern to it but has the ignition switch been investigated?

[AbbCon]

Thanks for the messages.

Crank and Cam position sensors have been replaced.
Does not start with Easy Start, even sprayed direct into throttle valve.
Fuel rail pressure was a bit high, and the rail replaced.
No change.

When it does not start, it turns over normally, just does not fire up.
If you can imagine an old Mk3 Cortina or similar, with a low tension wire removed from a coil, then try starting it. That's what it seems like.

I was wondering if its anything to do with the immobiliser / alarm

I think my company are going to sell it as a non runner.

Many thanks and regards

Kenny

[metalworker0]

When you use easy start .. does it not even try to fire ?

If it does NOT, the only thing i can think of stopping it is the throttle valve / body that is in the intake, if this is closed off nothing will get through. look out for DTC P2112 (Throttle Actuator Control System Stuck Closed).
its electronically controlled can fail due to carbon buildup, actuator failing, or wiring or its multiplug.

Carbon build up in the throttle body can possibly effect it intermittently or at different temperatures ... we haven't had one complaint here in the last 3 years about throttle bodies, so this is me guessing to be honest.

Other than that, its a compression test

or a fuel relented fault if it does start to fire


note we cant really make any further diagnostics on this without you plugging it in a diagnostic scanner and reading the codes

all the best.mark

[AbbCon]

Thanks Mark.


When you use easy start .. does it not even try to fire ? - No. Nothing at all

If it does NOT, the only thing i can think of stopping it is the throttle valve / body that is in the intake, if this is closed off nothing will get through. look out for DTC P2112
its electronically controlled can fail due to carbon build-up, actuator failing, or wiring or its multiplug. - Throttle Body was removed and cleaned, no carbon build up. No codes being displayed, even when it does not start.

Other than that, its a compression test - Compression seems ok, as the van drove well on the M3 motorway, up to the 62 mph limited speed, and it got there very quickly.

or a fuel relented fault if it does start to fire.

Please don't waste your time on this any more, as I am pretty sure its being sold as a Non Runner. Saw a couple of chaps looking over the van this morning.


Thanks to all who responded

Best regards

Kenny