Ford Transit won't start: causes, technical condition of the car and tips for solving the problem

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

What to do if Ford Transit won't start? This question often worries the owners of this minibus. The problem of starting his engine is very relevant. Owners of a minibus often face this problem after a long stay on cold nights and even with a well-warmed engine. You can understand such a problem given the characteristic features.

Starting the starter is not accompanied by cranking the power unit

The reason is usually:

• loose or corroded battery contacts;
• discharged or defective battery - in the normal state, the device produces at least 13-14 W, if this figure is less, it needs charging;
• malfunctions, weaknesses or opening of the starter wiring;
• breakdown of the starter switch or traction relay;
• faulty starter itself;
• damage or disconnection of the engine ground - in this case, you should check the performance of the corresponding system;
• breakdown of the starter blocker;
• exitshift lever from P/N position.

Motor turning too slow when starting starter

This problem most often occurs due to the following factors:

• weak battery;
• damage to its ground to the case;
• corrosion or loose battery contacts;
• Internal starter damage;
• starter failure;
• motor ground disconnect;
• loosening the contacts of the traction relay or starter wiring.

If the engine does not crank despite the high speed of the starter, we can talk about its malfunction or loosening.

Ford Transit won't start when cranking engine

Most common reasons:

• banal lack of fuel in the gas tank;
• dead battery;
• weakening of his contacts or rust in them;
• fuel airiness;
• breakdown of the diesel cut-off valve;
• waxing fuel during frost;
• weak compression in diesel cylinders;
• faults in the preheating or fuel system;
• more impressive damage, such as damage to the camshaft.

If after starting the Ford engine immediately stalls, we can talk about the presence of air in the diesel engine or the formation of paraffin in it, as well as damage to the fuel system or violations in the process of pre-start heating.

Difficult to start a cold engine

Due to:

• battery drain;
• fuel airiness;
• breakdowns in the preheating system;
• damage to battery contacts;
• diesel waxing - liquid paraffins in it thicken under the influence of frost, which leads to filter obstruction, as a result, the fuel supply stops;
• air filter blocked;
• reduced compression in power cylinders;
• breakdown in the fuel system.

Why is it hard to start a Ford Transit with a warm engine? There can be several explanations for this phenomenon:

• battery drain;
• rust on its contacts or weakening for other reasons;
• diesel airiness;
• Clogged air filter.

Solving the most common problems

So, "Ford-Transit" on a diesel engine does not start most often due to various breakdowns in the fuel line and electrical system. In addition, the engine may not start well due to a decrease in compression, the appearance of paraffin in the fuel during frost and its airiness.

Probable causes and solutions to problems are best considered using the most common examples. For example, the difficulty lies in the fact that the Ford Transit does not start in the morning, even in the warm season. The problem may be the wear of the brushes, which can lead to poor contact or its complete absence. In such a situation, removestarter, check the condition of all contacts leading to the brushes, and connect those that are broken.

Besides this, particles of worn elements usually accumulate in the collector. As a result, the battery does not provide the necessary voltage to the starter, which leads to difficult starting of the engine.

In this case, the starter needs a thorough diagnosis: the device should be disassembled, washed, cleaned and lubricated. Then you need to polish the commutator and change the damaged brushes.

Often, Ford Transit owners face another problem related to the starter. At the moment the key is turned, a click is heard, and the unit itself does not even work.

How to solve a similar problem? Here are some options:

• inspect and clean if necessary battery contacts;
• charge it;
• dismantle the starter, test the forward and reverse wiring, and then clean all contacts, in particular, on the battery;
• draw the plus of the source to the main terminal of the starter - if it starts to move, then the problem is in the traction relay, in which case the unit will have to be replaced.

Lower compression in power cylinders

With this technical condition, the Ford Transit does not start, although the motor itself rotates. Usually the reason lies in the wear of the cylinders themselves and sealing parts, as well as the lack of tightness in the combustion chamber. The fuel simply does not ignite due to lack of compression temperature.

How to solve the problem? The only way to get rid of such a breakdown is by overhauling the engine. You can temporarily increase the compression by pouring engine oil into all cylinders. But as soon as it ends, the problem will return again.

Glow plug failures

Why doesn't the Ford Transit (2, 2-l or 2, 4 - it doesn't matter) start in the cold? The thing is that the heating of the space in the cylinders is provided by a system of candles. If even one of them is broken, starting the engine will be more difficult as it gets colder.

What to do in such a situation? There are several things to do:

• test the spark plugs with a multimeter for continuity and resistance - if a problem is identified, the part should be replaced;
• check the spark plugs using a battery by connecting them directly - if the element glows from the edge and changes color as it warms up, it needs to be replaced.

Fuel system failures

"Ford-Transit" on a diesel engine does not start well due to clogged fuel injectors. You can identify the problem by the exhaust. If, when you try to start, blue smoke comes out of the pipe, then the fuel enters the cylinders normally. In this case, it can be argued that ignition does not occur due to faulty candles or low compression.

If the engine is chugging inat the moment of starting, it starts hard and immediately stalls, most likely, the nozzles are partially dirty. If the distribution is incorrect, part of the diesel does not have time to ignite and exits through the pipe in the form of black puffs of smoke.

What to do? Unscrew the nozzles and, using the stand, check their contamination. Do the same for the fuel filters. Replace parts as needed.

If the Ford Transit engine won't start and no smoke comes out of the chimney, it means that fuel is not getting into the cylinders at all. The cause may be every part of the fuel system, including the pump and filters. Moreover, damage to the drive belt or its displacement cannot be ruled out.

Airborne

Air in fuel - every third car owner faces such a problem. Deviations in the process of supplying fuel are often associated with the loss of tightness of the line. Through leaks and cracks at the joints, air enters the apparatus, which leads to engine shutdown. Further attempts to start the engine fail. Ford Transit won't start most often after being idle.

What is the solution? The system must be checked for leaks and bled from it:

• should connect a colorless hose to the pump, through which air bubbles will be visible;
• then you need to bleed the system with an air pump;
• need to check fuel line hoses for leaks;
• finally replace the seals,sealing parts, rings, if leaks are detected or they have become inelastic.

Finally, it should be said that the prevention of minor breakdowns and the timely resolution of emerging problems, as well as systematic service maintenance - all this can save the owner of a Ford Transit from expensive and tedious repairs.