Ford Transit 350 Leader 2021 Starting issue

[mmoncrieff]

Hi, this is going to be a long one.

Brought this vehicle from new March 22 after about 6 months we started to have a starting issue but it was every now and again. But this gradually got worst to the point that I took it to Haynes to have it investigated. They couldn't find any fault.
Obliviously the problem got worst to the point at times it just wouldn't start and guys were stuck on site. The problem was, sometimes it starts but other times it would just keep cranking and wouldn't even fire, wouldn't matter whether it was hot or cold. When it would start it would idle low and shudder and take a while before revving up.
We decided to take it back to a different Haynes garage to investigate and was once again told no faults.
This time I got in contact with Ford Live and refused to take it from the garage until it was resolved. After 3 weeks of investigation work they finally done a compression test which found the engine to be faulty.
The engine at 8000 miles was then replaced July 23 under warranty.
After a year or so of hassle free running this staring issue started again but very sporadically. Eventually it got to the point that it was a problem, so once again took it to Haynes same one that changed the engine to investigate, this was Feb 25. Once again get told no fault.
Asked them to do a compression test and told me I would have to pay for one as warranty had expired. I thought I had 3 years warranty from date of purchase but apparently not as it was a pre reg which was Dec 21. My mistake. Also I wasn't told the new engine will only get warranty what is left on the vehicle.
So with this I took it to a friends garage he couldn't find a fault and took it to Diesel injection Specialist. still couldn't find a fault.
Still in contact with with Ford live and ended up taking back to another Haynes garage for more investigation work.
Started with changing fuel filter, then fuel regulator, fuel regulator system, glow plugs, battery, and all injectors at a cost of £5000 and at the garage for 3 months. No compression test.
After all this I was told it was sorted but it's not, it's exactly the same as before.
Now Ford are telling me they can't help as the warranty ran out and it's down to me to take it back to the garage if I want to get it sorted.
My issue is the problem is the same as before so has never really been rectified and why haven't they done a compression test. Because if the engine turns out to be faulty would they be liable to change it again.
I could pay to get a compression test but if it come back faulty I couldn't afford to replace anyway. After spending £5000 on all the other stuff.
I just don't want to throw any more money at it. So it's a right off at 27'000 miles. £30,000 + down the drain.
Any advice would be much appreciated and sorry it's a long one.

[metalworker0]

My guess is as good as yours. seeing as ford trained mechanics have no idea

1. Problems with the starter motor can make it hard to start .. if the starter is turning to slowly, it will not make enough compression to start. i would imagine the starter from the old engine was put on the new one.

2. When it fails to start completely .. you could use engine starter spray to prove its a fueling issue .. if it starts even monetarily on starter spray .. its then a fuel related problem.

3.

So with this I took it to a friends garage

Why did he not do the compression test?.

4. Stop/ start and battery life , the vehicle is coming up to 4 years old, if this feature was used often, then the battery life is considerably shortened-- some have less than two years of battery life.. then you get things like under voltage , slow starter .. under voltage will underpower the electronics which don't work well on anything less than 12 volts and then no start... get the battery drop tested.

5 . Why would an engine with 8000 miles on it wear out and fail the compression test ... all i can think of is an over fueling / oil dilution problem during DPF regeneration .. this is controlled by the engine management .. and there have been cases of sump oil level rising (i'm really not sure of the dates when this fault happened) .. and a fix for it was a software update ... perhaps this software update was not implemented. google "18b42" oil dilution Recall. to check this you'd be looking at the dipstick often for oil rise , and smelling the oil . again not sure of the dates. note : it will be build date year .. not registration year.

all the best.mark

[metalworker0]

Note also . use of stop/start will wear the starter out sooner .

all the best.mark

[mompracen_bs]

My guess is as good as yours. seeing as ford trained mechanics have no idea

1. Problems with the starter motor can make it hard to start .. if the starter is turning to slowly, it will not make enough compression to start. i would imagine the starter from the old engine was put on the new one.

2. When it fails to start completely .. you could use engine starter spray to prove its a fueling issue .. if it starts even monetarily on starter spray .. its then a fuel related problem.

3.

So with this I took it to a friends garage

Why did he not do the compression test?.

4. Stop/ start and battery life , the vehicle is coming up to 4 years old, if this feature was used often, then the battery life is considerably shortened-- some have less than two years of battery life.. then you get things like under voltage , slow starter .. under voltage will underpower the electronics which don't work well on anything less than 12 volts and then no start... get the battery drop tested.

5 . Why would an engine with 8000 miles on it wear out and fail the compression test ... all i can think of is an over fueling / oil dilution problem during DPF regeneration .. this is controlled by the engine management .. and there have been cases of sump oil level rising (i'm really not sure of the dates when this fault happened) .. and a fix for it was a software update ... perhaps this software update was not implemented. google "18b42" oil dilution Recall. to check this you'd be looking at the dipstick often for oil rise , and smelling the oil . again not sure of the dates. note : it will be build date year .. not registration year.

all the best.mark

5 . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6V29CuN_Y8
Engines replaced under warranty are rarely 100% new.
They are used “rebuilt” units, which may have been rebuilt for the pistons, but the head has not been touched because it was deemed “okay” and is actually nearing the end of its life due to corrosion of the valve seats.