B1700 Starting Problems

nick95rs · Mar 1, 2012

Have a 1996 B1700 with about 530 hours on it. I bought it used a couple of years ago. I have been having an intermittent starting problem with it. The engine turns over fine just does not start. I have been doing a little reading to try and figure out what is going on. When it will not start it does have smoke coming from the exhaust, so I would say that it is not a fuel problem. It did it to me yesterday. I ended up taking the air filter out and it cranked. The filter doesn't look that dirty, but I am going to order a new one. I have also checked the glow plugs. They are working. The only other thing that I know of to check is the compression. What should it be? Any other input on what to check would be great. I enjoy reading all the great post from everyone.

Thomas · Mar 1, 2012

Fresh fuel?
New fuel filter?
Junk in fuel tank/line.
Has this been happening during warm temps...gelling?

nick95rs · Mar 1, 2012

I guess I should have mentioned what I did to it last year. I replaced all of the fuel lines, drained all the fuel and put a new fuel filter on it. That was about a year ago. I replaced the fuel filter again around the first of this year. The temperature was in the 70's down here yesterday when I had problems cranking it. Once it fires off it always runs like a champ.

dex3361 · Mar 1, 2012

I would test the glow plugs. This is the classic symptom for them not working. You could have intermittent issues with your glow plug relay. :thumbsup:

Egon · Mar 1, 2012

Try leaving the glow pugs on longer??

nick95rs · Mar 1, 2012

I did a little more checking tonight since I had a little time. I checked the voltage to make sure the glow plugs were getting power. I checked the battery and it had 12.6V. Then I put the meter on one of the glow plugs and turned the key. I had 10.4V. Not sure if I should have a full 12V there or not. Maybe someone can tell me that. Would low voltage cause them to not heat up properly? Thanks for replys so far.

I usually let the glow plugs warm between 5 and 10 seconds. Depending on temp.

dex3361 · Mar 1, 2012

nick95rs said:
I did a little more checking tonight since I had a little time. I checked the voltage to make sure the glow plugs were getting power. I checked the battery and it had 12.6V. Then I put the meter on one of the glow plugs and turned the key. I had 10.4V. Not sure if I should have a full 12V there or not. Maybe someone can tell me that. Would low voltage cause them to not heat up properly? Thanks for replys so far.

I usually let the glow plugs warm between 5 and 10 seconds. Depending on temp.

Did you disconnect the wire off of the glow plug before you tested? You should have between 12V-13.8V with the wire disconnected and the glow plugs on.
If you have the correct voltage you may have a bad glow plug. :thumbsup:

KubotaSam · Mar 3, 2012

nick95rs said:
I did a little more checking tonight since I had a little time. I checked the voltage to make sure the glow plugs were getting power. I checked the battery and it had 12.6V. Then I put the meter on one of the glow plugs and turned the key. I had 10.4V. Not sure if I should have a full 12V there or not. Maybe someone can tell me that. Would low voltage cause them to not heat up properly? Thanks for replys so far.

I usually let the glow plugs warm between 5 and 10 seconds. Depending on temp.

Does the B1700 have the resistor style glow plug indicator (small hole in dash with a curly resistor wire down inside) like a B7100? If it does, you voltage reading at the glow plug sounds correct. If it does have the resistor, the glow plugs are not designed to have a full 12volts.

I also agree with Egon. Try heating the glow plugs longer.