Engine Turns But Does Not Start

[2much]

Hi all, been a while since I posted here but have still been lurking around.

My 1994 3.1 Bighorn (4JG2T) refused to start this morning after a year of trouble free motoring. On turning the key the motor will turn over freely but not showing any signs of wanting to fire up.

The day before, motor started and run fine.

The battery seems ok, I have just about ran it flat trying to start the Bighorn (1/2 doz plus of extended start attempts)

I have pumped the primer,checked that there is fuel in the fuel line and tank.

In the downloaded service manual it says 'check engine stop mechanism for a defective fuel cut solenoid valve'. How is this done? has anyone had problems with theirs?

Is there anything else I should look at? ie the glow plug relay and circuit etc, other sensors as the above mentioned may not be the problem.

The weather currently is fine and warm but during winter it runs lumpy sometimes on start up for a minute or two (suspect one glow plug getting tired)

Cheers

[2much]

Darn, I just realised I posted this in the mod section, should have been in engine faults section. Is there anyway for me to move it?

[geeves]

Easiest way to move the post is to copy it then paste into a new thread in the right place. Only Andrew and Francessco can actualy move it. Most people will see it here anyway.
Turning over freely sounds ominous although I suspect this isnt what you mean. Does it sound like it has compression.Normaly the engine speed under cranking goes up and down due to the compression strokes.
There will be a wire on the diesel pump near the fuel inlet that operates the solinoid Check this is live If not look at fuses. If it is loosen one of the injector pipes and crank to see if diesel sprays everywhere. Dont stand too close the diesel is under a fair bit of pressure.
I trust there is diesel in the system If you filled up recently you might of got a tank of water Worth checking. If you have diesel at the injectors and compression is good then your looking at injector timing which might be a bad pump or timing belt
good luck

[caffa]

if it was running one day and then not the next, check electrics first. only once i had a problem with the mu not starting. turned out to be a relay at the back of the bank. swapped it over and it fired up straight away. it is easier to check the engine stop solenoid first before relays.

[2much]

thanks for your suggestions

I wrote the original entry at work in the smallest possible window as not to be noticed hopefully, thus overlooked that I was in the wrong section...

Left things till after work to sort out problem.

After finding the stop solenoid valve. I unplugged its plastic wire connector on the wiring loom end. It came off too easily and was full of oily grime (directly below and inline of dipstick oil droppings!). After a bit of a clean and a little poke around with a small screwdriver to bend the inside female connector a bit for a tighter fit appears to have fixed the problem. There was enough charge left in the battery to start the motor.

One little dirty loose connection can cause so much inconvenience!..well I hope it is only that, will also check relay and other connections this weekend.

[Garth]

At least is wasn't the cut off solenoid itself. I had a mate borrow my truck a few months ago to tow a trailer and it just stopped dead on him in the middle lane of the motorway. Cut off solenoid had completely failed. Had to get it towed home and put in a second hand solenoid the next day. Lots of inconvenience and no way I could see to get around the problem without a new solenoid