AAZ Start and stall...I'm at an impass.........

[DB28704]

Hello everyone, I am really stuck here, hopefully someone has some input....


A few weeks ago I replaced the pivot bushing on the cold start lever on my 98 AAZ engine. After doing this, I didn't have my dial gauge handy to reset the timing. Luckily, it still ran fine but was much more sensitive to cold starting, and I needed to have the engine heated if the temperature was going to drop below even 40-50f.
Last night I dug in to reset the timing and I haven't been able to get it started, since.
I've set the ip at .85, .80 being the factory setting and 1.01 being the upper range for operation, as per the Bentley and the procedure at Vincewaldon.com.
So, it also got VERY cold last night (<10f) but, I had a heater on the engine, and in the garage.
After the first no start, I was concerned that I possibly hadn't set the timing right, so I started over, just to be sure.
I am POSITIVE the timing is set dead on at .85, now.
After not being able to start, again, I let it sit and heat to make sure the engine was thoroughly heated, all the way.
I just tried to start it and it popped off, like it was going to be fine, and I cut it off immediately, to open my garage door. I went back to start it and it started, and immediately died. I tried again, same thing.....ran for literally about a second, and died.
(I'm letting the glow plugs warm up, and don't try to start until the light goes out)
I considered that maybe my fuel gelled but it's warmer in the garage now, and the engine is definitely warmed up.
I found this unhooked, but I am pretty sure it was always like that, as I can't find a wire that was supposed to go to it. Not sure if that's related.
Bentley calls it the "Injection start positioner" 23a-5, fig 3.
the description doesn't seem to fit my issue, just reaching for a solution....
I'm running 100% diesel, no bio blends or anything, new fuel filter not long ago, tank never run low, currently 3/4 tank....any ideas?

[dontdoemyourself]

I had ad issue similar to this and a moderator suggested maybe I had air in my lines.. Sounds like the same issue I was having though, hard starts.. Long cranking time.. Would start and idle but as soon as I rev it would die.. Try cracking your injectors as your cranking or using a vacuum pump to bleed the system?

[DB28704]

Hey, thanks for the reply.
I am pretty convinced it's gelled fuel at the moment, as everything was pretty much fine the day before, and the only time I began to see starting issues was after messing with the cold start lever/timing. Now that the timing is perfect, dead perfect, and it really sounded fine when it began to start yesterday, I want to completely eliminate the possibility of gelled fuel before I start digging into other things that could potentially exacerbate things and go into further uncharted areas for me! lol

I managed to track down the only remaining bottle of diesel 911, buddy's going to get it, hopefully that works!!

[DB28704]

Well, that did not work (Diesel 911, 4gal of Kerosene, ip dead on .85) so I suppose the next possible thing I can check is air somewhere.

Thanks for giving me SOME direction to proceed to! 

[nissannx]

Are you able to feel the glow plugs. See if they heat up. Or take an amp reading?