Intermitent starting problem 306 td - Part Deux

Following on from my original topic posted a week or so ago, please see
below.

I have a 1998 306 turbo diesel and not had any problems with it until
now. The problem occurs upon starting the vehicle. I wait for the glow
plug warming lights to go off, turn the ignition key, the engine turns
over but nothing else happens.

This doesn't occur every time and I have already taken it to one garage

that could not find the problem, their solution was to go to a peugeot
garage and I don't really like the £££ sound of that.


Starter motor is fairly new but I assume the car would not turn over at

all if this was fault.

I would be much obliged if anyone has any suggestions before I start
writing a blank cheque to the french nation!

Part Deux

I took my car to the Peugeot garage as the previous garage said they
could not find out what was wrong, although I think they just didn't
want the work!

The peugeot garage said that my 306 failed on a compression test and
they wanted to take the head gasket apart for an inspection. This they
told me would take 4.7 hrs work to take off, then if replacement was
required that cost as well and then another 4.7 hrs labour to put any
new one back on, total cost of about £990.

Obviously I told them to do one and try and rob a blind man instead.
After speaking to some other people they feel that the head gasket
could not cause this intermittent problem.

Do any of you have any thoughts on my continual saga?

 

Have you checked the valve clearances, they could affect a compression test
and starting.

 

Another possibilty is air entering the fuel system. I had a very similar
problem with a 1.9D Clio - erratic starting, OK once started and after
revving a bit.

I eventually noticed fuel weeping from the manual priming pump. On
dismantling I found a perforated diaphragm. Evidently this also let air in
when the engine was not running. A new diaphragm fixed the problem.

Peter

 

You will have the black plastic fuel filter housing on the top of the
thermostat housing on that engine. Had a 405 with similar problem, and it
turned out to be air being sucked onto the fuel filter. At the bottom of the
housing, rear LH as you look at it from the front of the car, there is a
blanking plug. This was leaking and allowing air in. New filter housing and
all was much better.
But as has been said already, tight valve clearances will cause problems,
and correcting this will make a world of difference to starting.

 

IF the engine turns over with the usual speed you can be sure the starter
motor is OK
Mike
Following on from my original topic posted a week or so ago, please see
below.

I have a 1998 306 turbo diesel and not had any problems with it until
now. The problem occurs upon starting the vehicle. I wait for the glow
plug warming lights to go off, turn the ignition key, the engine turns
over but nothing else happens.

This doesn't occur every time and I have already taken it to one garage

that could not find the problem, their solution was to go to a peugeot
garage and I don't really like the £££ sound of that.


Starter motor is fairly new but I assume the car would not turn over at

all if this was fault.

I would be much obliged if anyone has any suggestions before I start
writing a blank cheque to the french nation!

Part Deux

I took my car to the Peugeot garage as the previous garage said they
could not find out what was wrong, although I think they just didn't
want the work!

The peugeot garage said that my 306 failed on a compression test and
they wanted to take the head gasket apart for an inspection. This they
told me would take 4.7 hrs work to take off, then if replacement was
required that cost as well and then another 4.7 hrs labour to put any
new one back on, total cost of about £990.

Obviously I told them to do one and try and rob a blind man instead.
After speaking to some other people they feel that the head gasket
could not cause this intermittent problem.

Do any of you have any thoughts on my continual saga?

 

I think you should give Watson Diesels a ring and ask them as i think it
is the pump timing out .tel number 02088793584-02088793861 or you could
check air filter dirty or clogged.stop solenoid faulty.air in fuel
system.wax formed in fuel. this just a few things that is said in the
haynes,
so good luck.

 

If the pump timing was out, you would either get white smoke (retarded) or
you would hear the engine knocking with pre-ignition (advanced). Either way
it would not be intermittant.
Have you established that the heater plugs are actually coming on? Yes, low
compression would cause difficult starting, especially on a cold morning,
but it would always be like that.
Otherwise you could have air getting into the system, or a fuel shortage for
some reason.
Try slackening off one of the high pressure pipes to an injector, and see if
you get fuel seeping out when you spin the engine.. Only slacken it a
little.m If no fuel comes out, or you get bubbles, then this will tell you
quite a lot.
Are you sure that the shut-off solenoid is OK. If the wire to this has a bad
connection, it won't open, so no fuel to engine. They can also stick closed.