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Hey guys, I wonder if you can help? I use my car for my self-employed courier job ( 2.1 td estate ), and today I pulled up outside a customer's place to collect something, and when i came back to the car ( I was inside for less than a minute) I went to start it up and it just wouldn't go. I tried and tried for about 5 min's, I pumped the primer bulb a few times, ignition on until the glowplug light went out and still nothing. I'd almost killed the battery and it suddenly kicked into life, I was amazed, I had my phone in my hand ready to call the breakdown guys. This has happened before a few times but has always fired up after 3 or 4 goes. Any ideas fella's? Thanks in advance.

I'll be intrigued to find the problem. My 2.1 does this, and at the moment it's getting worse. If the lucas had a normal stop solenoid I'd guess it was that sticking. It's always started eventually, albeit with jump leads the last few times. It runs fine once going. I'm now looking (blindly) down the immob route. Mine doesn't have the key pad so I can't disconnect it while running to take it out the equation and I only have one key! I did get it plugged in and it came up with 13 'unknown trouble codes' which were erased. Sometimes the rev counter has a wobble on lower revs. Could this be connected? There are so many sensors talking to the epic! All I know is that it's not battery or glow plugs, I'm ruling out air getting in, although if I drain and purge the fuel filter it does start afterwards. Coincidence or not?
It can go 8mths or more fine then be a nightmare for a week.
I'm sorry I can't help more but if we both post what we find it may get sorted sooner rather than later.

WOW!! I started to think that no-one liked me on here I did some digging around and it's quite a common problem with most diesels it would appear. I read a bit on a Landrover site and there were a few owners on there that are having this exact same problem, and their fix was to rig the glowpugs to come on each time ignition was switched, because they don't come on when the temp sender is up to temp and this was causing hot start problems. I went over all the cables that go to and from the ecu and pump the other day, cleaned them up and re-seated them, we'll see if it's had any positive effect. I also found a weeping joint coming from the hand primer which I sorted out. So, watch this space I suppose.

mine used to not start when hot on a rainy day, the wetter the day was the worse my problem would be, she would start on the second attempt thought. I haven't had this problem since putting new leak off pipes on.

Interesting! I've been meaning to replace the leak off pipes for a while now, I think I'll order some tonight. Poddack, I notice you're in Bristol, as am I. Where about's?

I can't see the glow plug fudge making any difference if you've only left it a minute. When mine does it, if you turn the key quickly from on to off without waiting it tries to fire on the first revolution and then just turns over. Then eventually it will start as if nothing is wrong. My accident cut off switch is missing, so I'm wondering if this is an old problem that has been fudged by a previous owner! Hope not.
If the spill pipes are leaking then I thought that continual cranking normally will start it, once fuel has got through. I've tried continual cranking with jump leads to no avail. And then for no reasons a couple of turns later it will fire up fine. There are no obvious leaks anywhere. This is why I'm thinking sensor or immob problem. With diesels, give them fuel, heat and compression and they start. I put 400k on a BX XUD9 engine. All it ever had was glow plugs and one recon done on the pump.
I may be wrong about the plug fudge or spill pipes and am open to all ideas because the cars great once started and pulls like a train with good mpg, not to mention the comfort given by the exec grade.

my 2.1 has done this a few times but its always been when parked on hill and when the tank is low so i think air gets in somehow.

I'm in Briz

Leak off pipes normally need it to stand over night to let in enough air to not start, I used to let my plug lights go out twice and she'd start fairly easily in the morning, had to leave it for a fair few hours to need to do it tho.

After the new HG it was leaking air from the priming bulb connection, that let much more air in a lot faster but you could hear the air bubbling in when you pumped the bulb. Nipped the jubilee clips up and the problem went away.

The bulbs do perish so it might be worth swapping it, not sure of the cost but I doubt they're a great deal.

Mine used to do it. Very occasionally. I always thought it was to do with immobiliser being "sticky". I had to take the key out, wait about 30 seconds and try again.

There was an odd tell-tale symptom of it turning over but felt like it wasn't pumping fuel through... Difficult to describe but the car was juddering oddly during turnover.

I agree, spill pipes takes hours not minutes to cause a problem. Also if it's these, prime the bulb and crank, it'll go.
Changed my fuel filter last night after only 10k miles. It looked like an egg timer shape, so I then checked the strainer. Clean as. Also it's been fine today. Lets see tomorrow? I seem to remember that the last time this happened I did an oil and filters change and the problem went away. It shouldn't need a fuel filter for another 8K though.The problem always seem to start in hot weather. I live in France and it's been around 30 deg for the last 6 weeks. Maybe the heat makes a seal or joint relaxed? Still not convinced it's not the immob stopping fuel though.

Keep us posted on yours

Well, since I repaired the leaky joint and cleaned up a few electrical connections the problem appears to have gone..........................for now. I will be keeping my eye on the situation, and although I'm not 100% confident that I've sortedt his little problem, I feel a little better about it anyway. Have a nice long weekend fella's.