Diesel won't start

[GeoffWillis]

Having trouble with a 2.5 n/a diesel that until today ran like a clock. I've had the rover about 8 months and it starts first time every time. Today however it started, ran REAL rough for about 10 seconds, died and belched white smoke out the tail pipe. I did have a problem a few weeks ago when my son filled it with gas vice diesel, but I've its been running great once drained and refilled. I'm not sure how to trouble shoot a diesel, petrol is easy, gas, air and spark. I've noticed a little weeping of diesel around the fuel filter, not a major leak, but damp. The fuel lines there are hard plastic and I've considered putting a banjo clamp on them, but they don't seem that loose. Since the diesel is "Simpler" i.e. no spark to worry about, how do I test for fuel? I know that the pressures can be high so I want to be careful. No problem with air, so I'm going on the assumption that its fuel related. Short of taking the injectors out, is there an easy way to see if I'm getting fuel to the injector pump? What about the glow plugs? 12volts?, They appear to be wired in series so I guess if one is bad, none would work? Since its been over 100 degrees all June, not too sure how much the plugs are needed... Sorry for such a long post, but trying to provide as much detail as possible. I charged the battery and tried again but it just doesn't want to catch, kinda like no fuel. Thanks for any help.
Geoff

[KevinNY]

First check to see if you hear the fuel stop solenoid click open when someone turns the key to the on position for you.

[Moose]

As mentioned above, make sure you fuel stop solenoid is functioning correctly. That's the most likely culprit for a no start on these diesels. Next, if you want to make sure you are getting fuel through the injector pump, just crack the line at one of the injectors while some one cranks the engine. Actually, a better idea is to pull the fuel line after the fuel pump, but before the injector pump. Put the end into a container and crank the engine over. You should get a healthy flow. If not, your fuel pump is shot. On my Tdi engine, the fuel pump went, but the injector pump was able to draw enough fuel to sort of almost run the engine.

If all of the above checks out OK, you could have a blockage in the fuel tank. I've had similar symptoms to yours and what I had to do was pull a line back at the fuel tank and blow a bit of air into the tank, clearing the pick-up tube (remove the fuel cap first). I've had to do this twice now in the last year and a half. Runs fine afterwards.

Hope this helps.

Brett

[GeoffWillis]

Thanks folks, I'll give that a try first thing in the morning (Still too hot outside!). I guess the fuel solenoid is easy to find, gotta put the shop manual CD in the computer and track it down. Does sound like a solenoid issue as just quit working.
Geoff

[KevinNY]

It will be right on the injection pump and will click audibly when the ignition is switched to the on position.

[GeoffWillis]

Ok, I can hear the solenoid clicking, and I've got voltage on the lead when the key is turned. I found what I believe is the fuel pump and tried the manual priming, but the lever doesn't appear to do anything. There is absolutely no resistance when the lever is pressed. I can't find anything is the shop manual about testing the fuel pump. Guess I can follow Moose's advice and crack the line out of the fuel pump prior to the injection pump and crank the engine over. Thanks to all, let you know how it goes, just gotta get someone to crank it over while I'm under the hood.

[Moose]

Geoff, if the arm of the fuel pump on the engine side of the pump in resting on the high part of the cam lobe, the hand lever will have no resistance. Try cranking the engine over about a 1/4 turn at a time, if you can, and retry the hand lever. When the pump arm comes off the lobe you should feel the resistance and be able to pump fuel, providing the pump is working.

Brett

[Le Shed]

Sorry to hear of your troubles it is not an uncommon occurence. The British rover sites are dotted with similar happenings. However this is not something that you can take liightly. Diesel injector pumps are self lubricating and only have the diesel oil to lubricate all the internal parts. The general consensus is that if you have put gas in a diesel then don't even start it. Get it towed and then drain everything and get all the gas out. Once you have diesel at the input to the pump you might be lucky and get away with it, However if the gas has gone tthrough the pump then it will have removed any lubrication in the pump and so caused damage. Your only solution is to have the pump completely stripped down and rebuilt. This is also the case with water in diesel. It will destroy your pump so make sure your filters are checked regularly and use a diesel treatment at every fill up.
Good luck andhope all goes well.
Bill B