Won't Start - SOLVED

Hi all I am new to this forum and have a problem with my 2007 Navara D40 engine manual transmission 276685 km no mods and I have had it since new. It started with loss of power and a huge black smokescreen up to around 2500rpm when the power came back and no smoke. This would happen all the time not intermittent and no codes present in computer. Replaced diesel filter, pulled turbo apart and checked, cleaned MAF sensor all to no avail. Nissan dealer took it for a drive with his diagnostic gear and said everything appears OK. Power loss was that bad if I put the aircon on and tried to take off it would stall. Now car is sitting in my shed and won't start. It turns over but doesn't fire It sort of tries to now and then but doesn't. I have taken off the return fuel hose and this dribbles fuel out when cranking. I have tried removing the fuel cap and starting still no good.
Any advice you can shed on this problem would be great. I have read the forum threads and nearly all loss of power has been related to limp mode. I don't believe this is my problem as as soon as the vehicle got above 2500rpm everything ran fine power wise and no smoke. Not sure if two issues are related. I have purchased an OBDII tool from ebay and am waiting its arrival but probably need to get the thing started before it will be any good.

Just in the way of starting it, what happens when you try and prime the fuel via the plunger?

and does your D40 have the secondary diesel filter?
a friend of mine has an "07" rx and it runs two filters and was told the second filter NEVER needs changing which we found out to be BS as the thing blocked up and stopped the show for her but once replaced away she went.

Oh and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome nathan22
I can only see te one filter on the drivers side of the engine bay. On the other side all I can see is I think it is the body computer?
Reading the learning nissan pages, I found a link to it from the forum, It shows a filter inside the fuel pump????I ried starting it with someone priming the fuel but still no good.

broaden said:

Thanks for the welcome nathan22
I can only see te one filter on the drivers side of the engine bay. On the other side all I can see is I think it is the body computer?
Reading the learning nissan pages, I found a link to it from the forum, It shows a filter inside the fuel pump????I ried starting it with someone priming the fuel but still no good.

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Does the primer go hard??

Yes the primer goes hard after about 5 to 6 squeezes. I have noticed after trying to start it without someone squeezing the primer then the primer is soft again and takes about 5 or 6 squeezes to go hard.

If I try to start the car with someone squeezing the primer the primer doesn't go hard whilst the engine is turning over

Hey mate welcome and sorry to hear your issues with the Nav.. It sounds like you may have a few issues. From the first part it sounded like the boost solenoid is playing up but it seems its a little more extensive then that.. Personally I would change the suction control valve it's about $200 from nissan.. It also could be a few other things but by throwing the obd on it now you can see what codes it's thrown and go from there.. You should try the ecu reset pedal method and try getting it started once you enter diagnostics mode.. Just search ecu reset and you will find a step by step guide to resetting the ecu.. I had a drama on Friday I blew a injector tube fitting and spewed diesel without noticing for 25km! I replaced it and got limp mode and rough idle, I was thinking yep something is now buggered but after the reset it was sweet.. Give it ago seeing as you probably don't have much to do until you get the obd tool.. Good luck man

Thanks 4byfor. I checked for codes using the pedal method and got 0000. I also did a reset using the pedal method as well. sorry should have mentioned this earlier. I might try a new suction control valve if I can get hold of one. Reading the forum it looks as though there might be a bit of a wait

broaden said:

Thanks 4byfor. I checked for codes using the pedal method and got 0000. I also did a reset using the pedal method as well. sorry should have mentioned this earlier. I might try a new suction control valve if I can get hold of one. Reading the forum it looks as though there might be a bit of a wait

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Mate we got them here in Brisbane so if you get stuck for a small fee I can get you one and post it to you as I would have to drive around abit but let me know how you go

Thanks 4byfor. I am in Warwick so if I get stuck I might get the address off you and take a trip to Brisbane and pick it up

Welcome to the forum.

Usually the SCV presents as a cut-out when driving, not a refusal to start, and doesn't provide clouds of smoke - lots of black smoke means lots of fuel and not a lot of air. That doesn't mean it isn't the SCV - but that's dollars to spend, and there are things that can be checked for free first.

I'd check the operation of the turbocharger actuator and check that the turbocharger itself is in reasonable condition. Clean the air hosing and undo it from the front of the turbocharger, then remove it making sure nothing falls into the intake. Use a clean thin piece of wood like a chopstick (fingers won't reach the D40 impeller because of the angled intake) try to move the impeller. It should move fairly freely.

If the engine won't start at all it might also be an issue with glow plugs - there's a few km on the clock so the glows have seen a considerable pounding.

I don't really suspect a fault in the fuel rail pressure sensor possibly sending back a lower signal than needed (thus overfuelling the engine = black smoke). While the engine is running I'd expect this fault to provide MORE horsepower if the turbocharger was properly operational.

If the turbocharger is in good condition then it's possible that your intercooler is somewhat blocked up. As it's cranked over, look at the outlet hose of the intercooler and watch to see if it collapses (indicating a vacuum). If it does collapse, cleaning the intercooler should be attempted - unleaded fuel is fine just give it a couple of hours to dry.

Good luck!

well then that sounds normal, the plunger would no longer be herd after you turn the key.
what happens if you pull the fuel line off from in-between the filter and the engine and then pump the primer?? do you get a good flow fuel??
have you checked all the vacuum hoses??
apparently there is a plastic piece on one of the vacuum lines that runs down near the oil filter that is prone to cracking and can cause issue like allot of black smoke and loss of power.

have a read of this thread, it may not be the same but its well worth checking.

http://www.navara.asia/showthread.php?t=21813

I realise this has nothing to do with it not starting but more to do with the problems before hand.

broaden said:

Thanks 4byfor. I am in Warwick so if I get stuck I might get the address off you and take a trip to Brisbane and pick it up

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No dramas, but +1 on what old tony said glow plugs! I would defiantly check them out too.. Getting fuel but not combusting sounds like that may be the problem..

Thanks old.tony and nathand22 will do those checks tomorrow afternoon and look at the vacuum line. I will repost tomorrow afternoon what I find

Thanks all for your input. looked at everything this afternoon still no go. Took the hose of the EGR valve and had a look inside. Found the sealing disc has come off the plunger. Took the disk out and made a plate up so no EGR. Nav started and ran. I am thinking this could be the problem with the no power at low revs. Would I need to relearn computer after blamking EGR?
Thanks again for everyones input.

How good is that, glad to hear you got it running again.
I would not of thought of that and would not of associated it to not starting, power issues maybe, BUT not starting never.
Oh well good result and something i will remember to pass on if i hear of it again.

Glad it's fixed - I hadn't thought of that myself but it's obviously possible - that's why the EGR valve turns off at idle, so it doesn't kill combustion at low rpm.

That's a new one, good work mate

won't start

I have what seems to be a similar problem with a 2007 Navara STR 3.0 DI: won't start but eventually does, may be at first lacks power and conks out, sometimes not, once going goes well.
Had it into diesel specialists for 3 weeks and could find nothing wrong but eventually put in new fuel pump ($5,000), got it back and exactly same problem. Discovered that glow plugs were not replaced and so replaced them myself which made the problem less often but still happening. Just had the car serviced and had a good extra fuel filter put in to stop water, was an issue with the sensor making the defect light come on - got new sensor. Still the same problem and when it happens the defect light is on. Had that checked while still on just after difficult start and nothing definitive. Mechanic had similar issue with same type vehicle and is checking to see how he solved it.