Volvo penta d3 crank but no start

[Lastcast]

Please can some one help? I have a volvo penta d3 5 yearly service completed and during 1st use broke down. The fault i have is that she cranks but does not start. Things checked so far are air leaks/seals fuel pump, injectors have been reconditioned and cleaned out and pressure tested. And earths have all been cleaned and checked. I found my batteries to be dead this week so today i put two new batts on, gave a tiny squirt of easy start and she fired running and sounding sweet like a new engine. So my fault is that when engine is running its perfect no knocks or bangs, if i turn off the ignition and turn back on engine starts straight away no issues. If i leave it 5 mins after turning off then she will start but struggle a little. If i leave it 10mins she will start but struggle a lot. Any longer leaving it then i have no idea if she will start again with out using easy start to get her going. Please some one help this fault is causing head ache now.

 

[Portofino]

Air leak in the fuel system. It’s draining down , more so with time . From something that’s been changed Eg a poorly fitting filter housing or fuel connection . The repeated cranking trying to fire it up after a few mins purges the air .

There might be a one way valve that’s faulty as well allowing a drain down

 

[Lastcast]

Air leak in the fuel system. It’s draining down , more so with time . From something that’s been changed Eg a poorly fitting filter housing or fuel connection . The repeated cranking trying to fire it up after a few mins purges the air .

There might be a one way valve that’s faulty as well allowing a drain down

Thanks, air leaks have been checked for. Possibly a fuel run back so will check for that. Thank you.

 

[DavidJ]

How were the air leaks checked?

 

[Lastcast]

Yes had a full bleed through no air leak in system

 

[Lastcast]

How were the air leaks checked?

Not sure how the engineer checked for the leak but said system had been bled through and had no signs of leaks

 

[Mr Googler]

Doesn’t have to leak fuel out for air to get in….could be draining back to the fuel tank depending on where / how primary fuel filters are mounted.

 

[Lastcast]

Doesn’t have to leak fuel out for air to get in….could be draining back to the fuel tank depending on where / how primary fuel filters are mounted.

Is there away to tell if air is getting in? Does not seem to be a fuel return valve on her but did remove fuel return hose turned of engine and found fuel trying to go back to tank.

 

[Portofino]

Is there away to tell if air is getting in?

Yeh , they are hard to start , crank too long and rumble at bit before it’s all bled out .
Pretty much how you describe it in post #1 .

re visit the O rings on the primary and secondary filters first .Then check talcum powder up all the disturbed fuel connections.
Await 30 mins and examine for damp .

 

[Mr Googler]

Is there away to tell if air is getting in? Does not seem to be a fuel return valve on her but did remove fuel return hose turned of engine and found fuel trying to go back to tank.

What sort / make of pre filters are they and where are they located in relation to the tank. High up or low down?

it’s happening pretty fast so if it’s a racor style with a T handle….take the top off and see if the filter is covered in fuel up to the top. If the filter area is empty….there’s your problem

 

[Lastcast]

What sort / make of pre filters are they and where are they located in relation to the tank. High up or low down?

it’s happening pretty fast so if it’s a racor style with a T handle….take the top off and see if the filter is covered in fuel up to the top. If the filter area is empty….there’s your problem

Not sure of make but they are the volvo factory fuel filter and it is higher than the tank. It is full of fuel when eemoved.

 

[Seastoke]

You could feed with a gallon can close to engine it will give youan answer.

 

[Mr Googler]

Not sure of make but they are the volvo factory fuel filter and it is higher than the tank. It is full of fuel when eemoved.

if they are higher than the tank….a likely source of air getting in. Was it removed before or after the issues

 

[Lastcast]

Fuel filter was replaced during service the glass water separator was not removed to my knowledge

 

[Mr Googler]

And have you had these issues since then? This is like pulling teeth! ?
look like that?

 

[Lastcast]

Yes so order of events, service carried out, air filter, oil filter and fuel filter replaced, timing belt replaced. A few days later took her out for a trip started fine got out no issues. When to move engine struggled to start when it finally started it was a bag of spanners in with no throttle on, when throttle applied and moving it was fine. Stopped for few hours as thought issue resolved. Took 20mins to start started like a bag of spanners. Applied throttle engine raved but did not move 20seconds later we started to move still like a bag of spanners. Moored up for a week when back to boat, engine would not start after several attempts managed to get it going ( using easy start ) once started and ignition turned off if tried to start straight away she would fire no issues. If left 5 mins she would fire but struggle to start. After leaving 10mins she took ages to fire. After half hour had to use easy start again one squirt and it would fire. Took for spin around bay came back running sweet the entire time. Left for another 10mins could not get to fire. The main fuel line from tank to filter been replaced, fuel filter been replaced again. System has been bled, pump been checked. Injectors have been reconditioned and cleaned came back ok. Have put 2 new batts on yesterday and one squirt of easy start she fired ( prev batts became drained ) the. We had exactly same thing. She fire ran sweet if turned off and fired instantly after no issue left 5 mins she would fire but take a bit longer left 10mins she would fire but after a good 10 seconds of ignition. Volvo engineer adamant no air leak and wants to do a compression test.

 

[Mr Googler]

Can’t believe I’m going to say this but do what brixham bound said….run a separate fuel supply. Won’t need much fuel for testing.

get it running….turn it off. Leave 15mins. If it starts easy you know where the issue is.

 

[Lastcast]

And have you had these issues since then? This is like pulling teeth! ?View attachment 144223
look like that?

No other type glass bottom and sealed top

 

[Seastoke]

Can’t believe I’m going to say this but do what brixham bound said….run a separate fuel supply. Won’t need much fuel for testing.

get it running….turn it off. Leave 15mins. If it starts easy you know where the issue is.

Now where are my scissors for that vinyl.

 

[Portofino]

“ Timing belt “
Rings alarm bells if the fuel has no air leaks proved out by the gallon can hook up mentioned ^^^ .

Not familiar with the D3 specifically , but wonder if it’s slipped after that first run out , or some other semi show stopper related to timing the fuel pump not sync d now .Was initially but not now .Somethings come loose and moved its out of time .