Volvo 2020 engine odd starting behaviour

[PWR]

A friends 2005 Bav. 30 has Volvo MD2020 19 hp engine. After leaving the glow plug on for 10 seconds+, it then turns about 12 times, pushing out a belch of water from the exhaust, then turns another 4 or 5 times then starts. The whole process takes up to 10 seconds, and battery power is not the issue. However, he believes that this is over taxing the battery each time the engine is started.

Another friend with the same engine has no problem, engine starts on 2 turns. Has anyone come across this before, and any ideas on what could be done to rectify it?

Ta,

PWR

 

[Plevier]

Mine starts instantly.
Obvious question - are you sure the glowplug is/are working? They, and fuses, do fail.

 

[VicS]

I dont think there is a fuse that would specifically affect the glowplugs but they are controlled by a relay.
That is something to check if the glowplugs are OK but there is no supply to them.

 

[richardbrennan]

I have a 2030 which is basically the same engine. When you turn the engine on the blower starts and when you switch the glowplug on there is a noticable change in the blower speed presumably due to the voltage drop. If your friends are not getting this I would suspect the glowplug is not working.

 

[VicS]

Glowplugs There are two of them in a MD2020. Noting the change in speed of a blower fan , even if fitted, would not be reliable indication that both were working.

Easy to check with a meter on a low ohms range or even with a bulb on a couple of leads. ( thats how I check them in the car) They have a very low resistance.

 

[Stork_III]

Glowplugs There are two of them in a MD2020. Noting the change in speed of a blower fan , even if fitted, would not be reliable indication that both were working.

Easy to check with a meter on a low ohms range or even with a bulb on a couple of leads. ( thats how I check them in the car) They have a very low resistance.

MD2020 has 3 glowplugs, MD2010 has 2.

 

[colvic987]

glowplugs working or not, i think you have got a fuel problem, or air getting into the system, has he changed the filters recently if so you/he needs to recheck fitment and get the fuel system bled again.

The engine shouldnt need to turn that amount on the starter before firing up.

 

[ianat182]

Just my personal old chestnut answer is to check that the stop lever has been re-depressed after stopping the engine.This is the only time I ever have had starting trouble; I use the glowplugs for only about 5 seconds with very slight throttle advanced.
My engine is the VP2010.

ianat182

 

[Mikenda]

2020 cold start

I have found my 2020 ( 150 hrs ) difficult to tick over in cold weather unless run for several minutes. This was awkward last feb when the crane was in a hurry to release me, kept stalling.

 

[bluedragon]

Just for info, our 2020 is the most amazing engine I've come across in terms of starting immediately and ticking-over nicely even in the depths of last winter (run every 2-3 weeks). So, none of these issues is characteristic of the engine itself. There have to be faults or adjustment problems somewhere.

 

[Tranona]

Same with my 2030. Starts at the merest touch of the button and runs perfectly.

 

[PWR]

Thanks all, we will start looking in to the glow plugs. Fuel should be fine, clean supply from a large marina, all filters were changed 8 weeks ago, tank lines were blown out with pressured air about 18 months ago, fuel cleaner added annually for last 2 years. Its very disconcerting to wait that long for the engine, and speed of start definitely improves when warm, so - glowplugs!

Just done 250 miles from Dublin to West Cork in two weekends, now leaving the boat for about three weeks, so this is something that has to be addressed. Thanks again.

 

[bluedragon]

Just a final comment, I haven't tried starting ours cold without the glow plugs, except once or twice by accident when I'd forgotten. It didn't start immediately...

 

[Plevier]

I was doing a course a few years ago on a Bav 37 with a VP engine, I guess either a 2030 or the very similar D1 following model. It was very cold - frosty - and one morning it would NOT start. All the glow plugs had burned out. Presumably they had failed sequentially and we had been starting on just one. When that failed - no start.
Much easier to diagnose than fuel problem so try it first I suggest!

 

[Kantara 337]

I was doing a course a few years ago on a Bav 37 with a VP engine, I guess either a 2030 or the very similar D1 following model. It was very cold - frosty - and one morning it would NOT start. All the glow plugs had burned out. Presumably they had failed sequentially and we had been starting on just one. When that failed - no start.
Much easier to diagnose than fuel problem so try it first I suggest!

I've been having similar problems with an MD2020D on a First 33.7. Engine cranks for quite a while with grey smoke before starting. All the symptoms felt like fuel starvation and when the local Volvo engineer said it shouldn't require the use of glow plugs in the summer it further confirmed,as it turns out incorrectly, that it was a fuel problem.

We changed the filters, diagnosed a small air leak on the primary filter and changed the lift pump but the starting problem persisted.

I then checked that there was a 12v supply at the glow plugs when the switch was activated, which there was. I then removed the two rear glow plugs and using a jump lead connected them to the battery but no glow. I then fitted two new glow plugs and she started instantly. I now need to get some new washers and remove the injector pipes and return pipes so that I can remove the front glow plug. I know this plug is dead as it has zero resistance and I also cannot detect heat with my infra red thermometer.

Main lessons learnt are that it is mis-leading when people say they can start an MD2020 without using glow plugs. They may not be pre-heating with the switch but on my boat when you crank the engine it turns on the glow plugs which clearly gives a lot of start assistance. So after ten seconds cranking it has the same effect as holding up the switch.

Secondly, failed glow plugs have similar symptoms, to an amateur, as fuel starvation when cold starting. If in doubt, check you have 12v at the glow plug supply rail, check you have resistance across the glow plugs and/or check they are generating heat with an infra red thermometer. I have read elsewhere that the relay can also deteriorate and deliver a low current which would have been my next check.

Thirdly, the engine will start on two out of 3 glow plugs although I fully intend to replace the third. I suspect mine have been failing one by one so worth checking occasionally that all 3 are working as you don't want the last one to fail when you desperately need the engine.

Finally, after a lot of deliberation I bought patten replacement lift pump and glow plugs from an online company that specialises in parts for engines. I was very impressed with the quality and the cost saving was very significant. After all, if you had a petrol engine would you buy genuine Volvo sparks plugs?

 

[Kantara 337]

I've been having similar problems with an MD2020D on a First 33.7. Engine cranks for quite a while with grey smoke before starting. All the symptoms felt like fuel starvation and when the local Volvo engineer said it shouldn't require the use of glow plugs in the summer it further confirmed,as it turns out incorrectly, that it was a fuel problem.

We changed the filters, diagnosed a small air leak on the primary filter and changed the lift pump but the starting problem persisted.

I then checked that there was a 12v supply at the glow plugs when the switch was activated, which there was. I then removed the two rear glow plugs and using a jump lead connected them to the battery but no glow. I then fitted two new glow plugs and she started instantly. I now need to get some new washers and remove the injector pipes and return pipes so that I can remove the front glow plug. I know this plug is dead as it has zero resistance and I also cannot detect heat with my infra red thermometer.

Main lessons learnt are that it is mis-leading when people say they can start an MD2020 without using glow plugs. They may not be pre-heating with the switch but on my boat when you crank the engine it turns on the glow plugs which clearly gives a lot of start assistance. So after ten seconds cranking it has the same effect as holding up the switch.

Secondly, failed glow plugs have similar symptoms, to an amateur, as fuel starvation when cold starting. If in doubt, check you have 12v at the glow plug supply rail, check you have resistance across the glow plugs and/or check they are generating heat with an infra red thermometer. I have read elsewhere that the relay can also deteriorate and deliver a low current which would have been my next check.

Thirdly, the engine will start on two out of 3 glow plugs although I fully intend to replace the third. I suspect mine have been failing one by one so worth checking occasionally that all 3 are working as you don't want the last one to fail when you desperately need the engine.

Finally, after a lot of deliberation I bought patten replacement lift pump and glow plugs from an online company that specialises in parts for engines. I was very impressed with the quality and the cost saving was very significant. After all, if you had a petrol engine would you buy genuine Volvo sparks plugs?

There was a 5th lesson learnt.The local Volvo engineer suggested I check the lift pump as the diaphram can get damaged and allow the fuel to drain back into the tank. I stripped down the lift pump and it appeared fine. However, Volvo no longer supply a service kit so other than making my own gaskets and diaphram the only option was to replace the pump.

 

[cpedw]

Can anyone quote a figure for the resistance of a volvo glow plug? Then I can check mine in a 2030 without the need to dismantle.
Also, am I right that having just one working will give good starting so it's only when the last one fails that it's hard to start?
Derek

 

[ithet]

Main lessons learnt are that it is mis-leading when people say they can start an MD2020 without using glow plugs.

VP 20xx series manual says to use glow plugs pre-heat on every start.

OPs issue sounds indicative of glow plugs not working (I have had this on several cars with similar symptoms).

 

[Never Grumble]

Thirdly, the engine will start on two out of 3 glow plugs although I fully intend to replace the third. I suspect mine have been failing one by one so worth checking occasionally that all 3 are working as you don't want the last one to fail when you desperately need the engine.

I have a MD2030A seems to be getting worse when it comes to starting. I was going to change the glow plugs first. Did you ever change the front one? and how difficult was that? I think you have to move the diesel pipe/banjo bolt?

 

[Stemar]

Can anyone quote a figure for the resistance of a volvo glow plug? Then I can check mine in a 2030 without the need to dismantle.
Also, am I right that having just one working will give good starting so it's only when the last one fails that it's hard to start?
Derek

IIRC, it'll either be almost a straight short - fractions of an ohm, or open circuit, so not too hard to diagnose a failed one. Just disconnect the wiring and test between the contact on the plug and the block