Ford Transit starting problem

[SteveTaylor]

Hello all,

A few months ago I bought a 15 year old 2 litre diesal transit/minibus.

I am a complete know nothing when it comes to vehicles so I apologise in advance if I miss out obviously important info ...

I recently had a problem where an exposed wire under the steering wheel was shorting the electrics and making the van stall. I have insulated this wire now but the van would not start, I assumed that the batteries had been flattened and drove around for a while after getting a jump start.

When I parked up I retried the engine and it started first time.
The next day it would not start, the engine turned over but would not catch.

I took one of the batteries out and slow charged it with a charger.
I replaced this battery and took the other one out, the van started first time (with one charged battery).

I slow charged the other battery over night.

I tried the van again in the morning but it would not start, I put the recently charged other battery in (so that it now has two charged batteries) and it started first time.

I tried it the next day and it would not start.

The voltmeter says that there is only a 50 milliamp draw on the batteries when the vehicle is off so the batteries could not be flat.

Can anyone help me diagnose this, please?

[MrMPuk]

Your Batterys could be duff then, but you might find that only one is used for starting! If the van is diesel it should be 2.5 litre.

The wire that was under the dash had it worn through or had the insulation melted off?

[stevew]

Hmmm,
OK 50mA is pretty small and shouldn't be much of a problem if you're using the van regularly, certainly not enough to flatten it overnight! However it's more than I would expect. If you have twin batteries what other unusual things do you have? If youre bus is ex police or ambulance you might have a heater that comes on automatically every morning at 6.00 and flattens your batteries! OK it's unlikely but worth checking everything.
You have access to a multimeter so how flat is flat? What voltage do your batteries read in the morning?
Also when running what are the battery volts? They should be above 14V if your alternator is working correctly.
Steve

[SteveTaylor]

The wire insulation had become detached rather than melted, although there were slight melting marks on the plastic under the dashboard where the wire had been touching it (I assume).

The strange things is that the van started yesterday and drove happily around town, the engine cut out once but I am not sure if that is because I stalled it as it was when I was parked and leaning across to the passenger side to reach something.

I think my next step is to phone a witchdoctor and ask him to clean the engine of evil spirits

[SteveTaylor]

AAAARGHH!

Now it will not start again!

AAAAARRRRRRGH!

[stevew]

Since it starts OK when you have charged the battery off the vehicle the starter and associated system seems to be OK.
Either:
1. Something is flattening your batteries in the van.
2. The batteries are not being charged by the alternator.
3. The batteries are very low capacity and need changing.

You can test for 1 and 2 with your meter. Check the battery volts in the morning before you try and start the van they should still be at around 12.4V. Check the battery volts with the engine running, they should be above 14V.
Good luck,
Steve

[john leeman]

DON'T FORGET THE SUPPLY TO THE SHUT OFF VALVE ON THE ENGINE PUMP, THIS NEEDS 12v TOO OR IT NEVE WILL START,CHECK THAT WIRE GOOD LUCK