TD 42 trouble starting

Hi All,

I've got a 1994 with a recently rebuilt engine.

with around 6000 ks on the new engine

Just recently I started having issues when starting.

When cold the engine starts more or less as normal. Turn on the ignition, lights on the dash come on including glow plugs lights go out turn the key engine starts on the first or second go.

if I do a few short trips then it struggles to start. led me to thinking Alternator but the charge rate from the alternator is good.

I've also checked the battery and the glow plugs both are good

Once started it runs normally so I don't think fuel starvation is an issue,

leaving the starter motor.

seems to crank normally


Any ideas?

Mine is the same and the mechanic reckons starter

When it doesn't want to start does the engine turnover or nothing at all?


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perhaps air in the fuel line ? when you think it might have trouble starting , first try pumping the fuel primer before trying to start the car .

job one check the compression .. have had a few that run out of compression and only new reco....

Hi AB thanks for your response and sorry for taking so long to respond.
the engine turns over and starts eventually.

Hi Tip 12345

I'm thinking compression may be a contributor its a new engine with around 8000 ks on it. Could it be to much compression combined with tight clearances and a weak starter motor

tried that all good.

Hi GQtdauto.

glad to hear I'm not the only one.

Let me know how you go

On mine it's not fuel related , I thought it might have been the pos battery connection but no difference either , I've tried cranking off the three batteries but makes no difference , but just remembered another vehicle I had that did the same thing and it was starter motor on that .
Something to do with heat and the fact it was old so now I'll check to see if my starter is a normal TD4.2 one or different being an auto , I've heard they are three bolt not two but need to check .

Loose , dirty/corroded connections at the starter motor . i have come across this a few times especially on commodores

my money's on the starter motor. Especially if it's the original item from new. Happened to mine, replaced it with a cheapie off ebay, bit of a pain but managed alright and solved the issue.