So the mechanic and auto electrician is stumped… any ideas?

[Huddy]

My son has bought himself a 2004 D22 Navara for his first car.
He bought it with the thought that the fuel pump was stuffed.
it did start with the Start ya bastard when he bought it.
He has since had the pump replaced, timing chain, fuel filter, air filter.
All fitted and it was running for about 10 minutes and then just stopped!
It hasn’t been able to start again.
it tries to turn over but cranks fine.
No readings on a scan tool.
Checked fuses.
Pulled out ECU to check for any visible issues.
Cannot work out the issue.
You knowledge or advise would be most appreciated by a very disappointed teenager with huge hopes.
thanks in advance

 

[Old.Tony]

Welcome to the forum.

The very first thing I'd do is check that the primer is getting firm when you pump it. It should take 4 or 5 squeezes and then become quite firm to squeeze. If it takes more than that, when it gets firm keep squeezing and look for where the fuel comes out. An air leak in the fuel system won't show up otherwise, and will allow the fuel to drain back to the tank, resulting in very poor starting performance.

If the primer bulb gets firm within those 4-5 squeezes, the next thing to do is check to see if fuel is getting into the cylinders. There are two ways to do this: first, crank the engine as if you are starting it (about 5 seconds is enough). Turn it off, take out a glow plug and examine it - is it wet? The other way is to just sniff the exhaust, you should be able to smell diesel in it.

It shouldn't be something wrong with the air path because it drove before, so you don't have to check the turbo to make sure the mechanic didn't leave a cloth in it or anything like that. However, the EGR valve may be stuck open and might be drowning the intake manifold. Blocking the EGR will resolve this (forever) - replace the gasket on the EGR tube with a blanking plate (make one yourself from 1mm stainless steel sheet).

There's something to look at, anyway. Good luck!

 

[Horatius]

My son has bought himself a 2004 D22 Navara for his first car.
He bought it with the thought that the fuel pump was stuffed.
it did start with the Start ya bastard when he bought it.
He has since had the pump replaced, timing chain, fuel filter, air filter.
All fitted and it was running for about 10 minutes and then just stopped!
It hasn’t been able to start again.
it tries to turn over but cranks fine.
No readings on a scan tool.
Checked fuses.
Pulled out ECU to check for any visible issues.
Cannot work out the issue.
You knowledge or advise would be most appreciated by a very disappointed teenager with huge hopes.
thanks in advance

First thing, as old Tony says, is to check the primer pump on the fuel filter to make sure it is full and fuel is getting to the pump. If normal it should be firm after a couple of pumps (should be firm on 2nd-3rd go). If it only ran for a short while it might have emptied the filter and not be filling properly because it is sucking air?

Then check the earths are making good connection (they are grouped together on top of the inlet manifold).

If fuel is getting to the pump, it might be worthwhile loosening an injector line and seeing if you have fuel there (while cranking it).

If it's all ok something else to think of (as a long shot) is the battery. Sometimes they can crank but not have enough voltage while doing so for the electronics. You could try jump starting it from another car with good battery (while it's running).

Let us know how you get on.

 

[Horatius]

ps. what sort of scan tool? Afaik you need a specific set up for these motors. At any rate have never used one, but there is a way of manually getting the codes.

 

[Horatius]

pps. it is the zd30 motor right?

 

[Huddy]

Hi all,
Thanks for the tips...
Yes it is a zd30 motor.
The primer is firm but when it starts or cranks over it gets just a slight bit less firm. Will follow up your tip there about the air sucking but it is still quite firm.
Earths are cleaned and good connections.
Will try loosening the injector line as mentioned.
Battery has been checked and auto electrician connected to his power pack also and no difference.
2 different scanning tools have been tried now - Snap On and the one the auto electrician had.
It was suggested we need the Consult2 that Navara has but we can't get it to a centre to try.
Still no errors showing.
Have sent the manual codes to see if they can use them.

We had another diesel mechanic come and troubleshoot again and he said maybe it was the computer part on the top of the pump that was not working.
Could 2 pumps fail? A new pump is a ridiculous price these days and we are not even sure it is this part that is malfunctioning.
The last pump came from a working car that was rolled. They do both have high kms on them but hopefully 1 should work.

It does turn over and start sometimes but stops pretty quickly now.

Cheers

 

[Horatius]

The primer is firm but when it starts or cranks over it gets just a slight bit less firm. Will follow up your tip there about the air sucking but it is still quite firm.

Sounds normal.

They're squishy while the motor is running. After it's been stopped for a day or so it should be completely rigid by about 3rd pump.

Will try loosening the injector line as mentioned.

That will at least let you know if fuel is getting to the injectors. Although if it starts, sounds as though it is anyway.

Have sent the manual codes to see if they can use them.

Unless they have the right scan tool set up it might not be much use. These aren't generic, they use some proprietary system afaik. Though if it hasn't got the ecm warning light on when it is or was running (?) it doesn't sound like a problem that is throwing a code.

Could 2 pumps fail?

Always possible. Though it would usually throw a warning light code while running.

It does turn over and start sometimes but stops pretty quickly now.

Wonder if the injector pump timing could be out?

 

[CarlJT]

Hi all,
Thanks for the tips...
Yes it is a zd30 motor.
The primer is firm but when it starts or cranks over it gets just a slight bit less firm. Will follow up your tip there about the air sucking but it is still quite firm.
Earths are cleaned and good connections.
Will try loosening the injector line as mentioned.
Battery has been checked and auto electrician connected to his power pack also and no difference.
2 different scanning tools have been tried now - Snap On and the one the auto electrician had.
It was suggested we need the Consult2 that Navara has but we can't get it to a centre to try.
Still no errors showing.
Have sent the manual codes to see if they can use them.

We had another diesel mechanic come and troubleshoot again and he said maybe it was the computer part on the top of the pump that was not working.
Could 2 pumps fail? A new pump is a ridiculous price these days and we are not even sure it is this part that is malfunctioning.
The last pump came from a working car that was rolled. They do both have high kms on them but hopefully 1 should work.

It does turn over and start sometimes but stops pretty quickly now.

Cheers

After replacing the injector pump on mine there was a very slight air leak causing fuel to drain into tank over night and same issue. Need to prime bulb and give it a good rev to start and if lucky it would go, I fitted a non return valve and a cheap electric fuel pump right at fuel tank (tried a non return valve in engine bay on fuel line from tank which didn't work So best to be right at tank). Hooked up electric pump to oil pressure light sensor so it will prime fuel system as ignition is on, hasn't missed a beat since. Also makes fuel filter changes much more of a breeze.