Hi guys,

I have got some tunnel vision going on with this car hopefully someone can help give me some direction for tomorrow.

Vehicle was hard starting before the customer went on holiday to near plymouth from Sheffield. They rang me before they went a good few months ago but there was not much I could do in 3 hours before they set off.

While away the vehicle got worse so they took it to a local garage.

One thing led to another an the Cam sensor was replaced.

The customer took the car back because it still was not quite right, the bloke said he didn't work saturday or sunday so he could not help them.

The customer had the old sensor and told me specifically that the mechanic said he didn't need to take the timing belt off to change the part.

The car has been starting for the last two months (not properly) so the customer has put off the repair, as it is now getting worse they have brought it in.

I scanned it yesterday and noticed it did take about 5/6 seconds to start
The above code was the only stored code.
Cam speed was half the Crank speed.

I cleared the code in case it was old and organised it coming in today.

The same code was back
She had drove 16 miles (I checked milage yesterday)

I have cleared the code again today and it hasn't come back during testing.

It is still hard/rough to start today but drives perfect otherwise.

this capture is
BLUE = cam sig @ ECU
RED = Crank sig @ ECU
GREEN = cyl 1 injector current
GOLD = FRPS @ ECU



Cranking speed averages around 200rpm, 250rpm with booster,
is this in spec?

3 injection events are missing just before it starts, 5 seem to be missing altogether.

Cam and Crank signals are present and correct and are staying in sync (correct or not).

I am assuming the sync is correct due to the timing being correct,
Has anybody got a known good?

Fuel pressure seems to be efficient throughout all my captures.

The car took 6 seconds to start in this capture.

I have checked leak off which, the fuel took about 35 seconds to reach my bottles down about a foot of pipe from idle to 2500rpm during the test. Compared to my usual results from other cars this seems very respectable to me.

Also there is no apparent problems with fuel pressure being generated or controlled in the captures.

I have physically checked the engine timing with the crank pulley timing tool and the cam timing marks as I didn't believe the Cam sensor could be fitted without disturbing the belt.

There were some big dirty paint marks all over the pulleys so I thought I was on to a winner but the timing was bang on

I dont want to over look anything,
so,
The timing tool I borrowed was not in a labelled box, but the tech knew it was for vaux CDTi diesel, according to Franklin brocure lists the same tool for 8v and 16v?

I am thinking I may have a dodgy starter motor problem, I have had problems like this before, where the engine has appeared to turn over quick enough but struggle to start, but it has always (for me) been accompanied with some 'noises' from the starter.
In heindsight I should have took some data

This is the capture from the battery and starter during a rough start,

It took 4 seconds for the car to start in this capture.





I am not sure how clear it will be in the picture, but I am concerned with the starter solenoid curren drawing 85amps before the motor current kicks in.

What do you think?

Could I be overlooking anythink simple in my end of week 'blindness', other than the glow plugs

I know the starter scienario does not really tie in with the P0340 but is it possible I have got two problems and the cam signal is dropping out under different conditions and throwing me a red herring?

Here is the Cam and Crank sync.




Any advice is welcomed and appreciated

Cheers
James