Browse over 9,000 car reviews

My Mazda BT-50 has been having trouble starting

Mazda Mazda Advice Mazda BT-50 Mazda BT-50 Advice
...

My Mazda BT-50 wouldn't start. It had plenty of diesel. I cracked open the first injector, turned it over and diesel was coming through. I tightened it back up but it still wouldn't start. So I then sprayed engine start into the throttle body and then it starts. Would it be possibly be a faulty injector or glow-plug?

The rule of thumb states that if the engine fires on starting fluid sprayed down the intake, but won’t run on the fuel in its tank, the first thing to check is the fuel pump. Just because there was some fuel present when you cracked the seal on the fuel injector, does not necessarily mean that there’s enough of it or the fuel pressure is sufficient to start the engine.

Modern common-rail diesel engines use very sophisticated fuel systems which use super-high pressure. Without a pump to build up to this pressure, the injector won’t deliver the right amount of fuel for successful running. But you should also check the operation of the glow-plugs as well as the condition of the fuel filters. An electronic scan is also a good idea at this point, before you start replacing expensive bits and pieces.

Be extra careful fiddling with engines like this one, especially if you’re messing about with the injectors and fuel system. The inherent pressures are so high, that a leak can act like a water-jet cutter; sufficiently powerful to remove a finger.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Comments

Have a new question for the CarsGuide team?
More than 9,000 questions asked and answered.
Complete guide to Mazda BT-50
Complete guide to Mazda BT-50 CarsGuide Logo
Reviews, price, specs and more