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[Vamps]

its common fault on the 2.5di and its all down to cranking voltage, if you want to fix it properly, then get yourself another battery and run two, this give the di the cranking speed it needs to fire up in the coldest weather

I did this to a Mark1 GT Cortina, cold starting problems, typical of the period, fitted a second battery and no more problems.....

[tidla]

its common fault on the 2.5di and its all down to cranking voltage, if you want to fix it properly, then get yourself another battery and run two, this give the di the cranking speed it needs to fire up in the coldest weather

I did this to a Mark1 GT Cortina, cold starting problems, typical of the period, fitted a second battery and no more problems.....

on the ldvs with the same engine the batteries go side by side, on the fords though i think the space for the second battery os on the opposite side.

[Brikhead]

A fully charged battery and a full-set of functioning glow-plugs should be all that`s needed to start any diesel.

As said, no glowplugs on the 8 valve, 2.5 trannies although they do have a cold start device...something on the pump connected to a thermostat type thing which works by melting wax (can you tell I know a lot about these!!

May also be a problem with the fuel system... I'd slightly loosen the fuel feed to the injector furthest from the pump before you try and start it tomorrow morning.
Get someone to crank it over while you check for fuel at the loosened pipe, it should pump out instantly.

[mrgreen]

my di smily was fitted with two batteries and never had a problem, well just once when the starter motor packed up but high voltage is crucial so keep clean leads and terminals e.t.c
join these guys they'll keep your van going till it drops into a big pile of ferous oxide!
http://www.fordtransit.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

[Vamps]

its common fault on the 2.5di and its all down to cranking voltage, if you want to fix it properly, then get yourself another battery and run two, this give the di the cranking speed it needs to fire up in the coldest weather

I did this to a Mark1 GT Cortina, cold starting problems, typical of the period, fitted a second battery and no more problems.....

on the ldvs with the same engine the batteries go side by side, on the fords though i think the space for the second battery os on the opposite side.

Indeed, I remember making a new battery box from an old metal tool box...

[Brikhead]

A fully charged battery and a full-set of functioning glow-plugs should be all that`s needed to start any diesel.

Not 'picking' on you Deb's, but you also need good compression...
 

[tidla]

A fully charged battery and a full-set of functioning glow-plugs should be all that`s needed to start any diesel.

Not 'picking' on you Deb's, but you also need good compression...
 

a decent starter motor and cables free of the crusty green stuff.

[Vamps]

Accepting all this, in 1979 I got a new mk2 Transit Van, one of the first of the Mk 2, petrol 1.6, brand new out of the box and was a bugger to start, again I fitted a second battery which sorted the problem   guess batteries were pretty naf in those days...... :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

I have stripped quite a few diesel engines which have been exposed to the bloody awful stuff that is easy start. These range from small Listers and Petters to larger Case and Ford tractor engines.

On every one at least one of the conrods had a very slight bend in it and hence yes, THEY DO GET ADDICTED TO IT!

That slight bend has a big impact on compression so fix the fault, dont work round it with a can of 'I am the ultimate bodge merchant' easy start.

[Omegatoy]

Ok here is the problem in a nutshell, the di has no glowplugs and needs the cranking power of 2 batteries in the cold weather to alow the injection pump to turn fast enough to atomise the fuel at the injectors, and raise the compression in the cylinders enough to ignite the fuel, on a single battery with thick fuel and slow enugh turning it wont happen, having said that you may not notice the engine is turning any slower but believe me it isnt enough to start it,some are worse than others but must have done 4 or 5 now with the same problem and all have never had another non start,
Yes you are correct the other battery needs to go on the opposite side of the engine bay so a little jiggery pokery with cables is in order but it will cure the probem

[Debs.]

A fully charged battery and a full-set of functioning glow-plugs should be all that`s needed to start any diesel.

Not 'picking' on you Deb's, but you also need good compression...
 

......and air and fuel!

[Marks DTM Calib]

and fuel which combusts at the correct point on the cycle for the engine design....not early like easy start does!

[bigegg]

Thanks everybody.
After spending the last 2 1/2 hours (I should have been on the road at 8am!) trying to get the bluddy thing started, I've now got to work, and am going to fix it. (or scrap it)

The cable from the battery to the starter has been bodged together from the remains of three other cables, and was red hot after trying to start - the starter wouldn't even turn over with a known working, fully charged battery.

My last van had a dual battery, and I kept the cables when I scrapped it, so will be fitting a dual battery system today - and binning the easy start.

Its already had a new(er) alternator and starter - so there's not that much left to change.

[Bent valve]

I have stripped quite a few diesel engines which have been exposed to the bloody awful stuff that is easy start. These range from small Listers and Petters to larger Case and Ford tractor engines.

On every one at least one of the conrods had a very slight bend in it and hence yes, THEY DO GET ADDICTED TO IT!

That slight bend has a big impact on compression so fix the fault, dont work round it with a can of 'I am the ultimate bodge merchant' easy start.

Perhaps because the rods were slightly bent, was the  reason the engine needed easy start. Did you examine the rods before easy start was used? No, I suspect not. your diagnosis would never stand up in court

[Marks DTM Calib]

I have stripped quite a few diesel engines which have been exposed to the bloody awful stuff that is easy start. These range from small Listers and Petters to larger Case and Ford tractor engines.

On every one at least one of the conrods had a very slight bend in it and hence yes, THEY DO GET ADDICTED TO IT!

That slight bend has a big impact on compression so fix the fault, dont work round it with a can of 'I am the ultimate bodge merchant' easy start.

Perhaps because the rods were slightly bent, was the  reason they needed easy start. Did you examine the rods before easy start was used? No, I suspect not. your diagnosis would never stand up in court

Quite the contary, on to of the engines we had done a re-build when frst purchased and all was well. We have some complete Morons who, when its cold, use Easy start.

The result is bent rods.

And when you apply logic to what it does its no surprise becasue it ignites WAY before TDC and applies a very sudden downward force  and hence distorts the rods.

Simples 

It is the tool of the ultimate bodge merchant