Engine not starting, hear clicking of the cold start solenoid?

Tiny
KITMAN148
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 MITSUBISHI L200
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 120,000 MILES
It was running fine on tick over with a very minor hunt, next day was ticking over and stopped just as if had been turned off and then I started straight up with no problem. The following day would not start there was no power to the stop solenoid on the fuel pump when I fed a separate 12v to solenoid it started straight up after some time the start relay in the passenger footwell stopped operating but you can hear clicking of the cold start solenoid in the engine bay that consists of feed from the relay in the footwell that in turn should feed the solenoid that connects the two wires to complete the circuit if I unbolt. The two wires and join them together it would short out I have tried to eliminate components to try and find the issue there are no blown fuses. I am somewhat at a point where it is very annoying and would appreciate any advice towards resolving this issue. I thank you in advance.

Kind regards
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 AT 4:22 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,345 POSTS
It sounds like the ticking noise could be the fuel pump control relay, which is behind the right kick panel, is this where you heard the noise? Can you upload a short video of the noise so I can hear it? The relay makes sense because you said it stalled with no power to the pump, here is the location of the relay so you can swap it out. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, November 14th, 2024 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
KITMAN148
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Hi, thank you for your reply, I'm so grateful. I have checked the pump relay that appears to be in the passenger footwell underneath the ECU and the relay is a 4 pin with 3 wires have 12v and the 4th wire 0 volts and should turn into 12v when the key is turned on and also that would mean the amba check light and squiggle amba heat should come on that currently don't come on. If I take the cover off the relay and manually operate the 4th wire does have 12v and the amba lights come on and also it operates the solenoid in the engine bay and it powers the fuel pump up but it doesn't feed the stop solenoid with 12v, if I was to operate the relay and feed the stop solenoid with 12v the truck will start and run.
I hope that this information helps and thank you in advance.

Kind regards
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Thursday, November 14th, 2024 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like the ECM is not turning the fuel pump on. Let's run the run the codes to see if any are stored which can lead us to the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Also, these trucks need the fuel filter and water separator changed and can shut off when these units are overloaded, did you have any lights on when driving?
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Friday, November 15th, 2024 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
KITMAN148
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hello Ken, thanks for your response to my issue. I have checked with diagnostic Autel maxi and the only thing that comes up is code 22 brake/stop but sometimes you have to enter program with another approach when sometimes vehicles won't let you put vin number to verify vehicles, I had checked the fuel filter but I have checked again all seems okay I took the two wires off the heater plug relay and took wire off buzz bar and checked with 12v and that seems fine but the other wire that should be the feed to the solenoid there appears to be no feed upon operating the key and also with the relay in the passenger footwell not functioning and if I operate manually I still don't get power to the feed wire to the solenoid for heater plugs. I hope this may help, many thanks.
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Saturday, November 16th, 2024 AT 4:49 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It seems like the glow plug control module could be bad or a main control relay. I don't have info on the diesel engine because we don't have this car in the states. I would doble check the fuses and maxi fuses as well.
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Saturday, November 16th, 2024 AT 9:51 AM
Tiny
KITMAN148
  • MEMBER
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Hello Ken thanks for your message, I have checked all fuses and checked again if I could find out where the feed 12v to the control relay in the footwell passenger side comes from I could work back because if I manually operate the relay and then turn key on all lights come on and heater light goes out and then 5 seconds after heater plug solenoid in engine bay clicks out as should and fuel pump powers up but the stop solenoid on the pump doesn't power up with 12v to operate it. Many thanks, Chris.
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Thursday, November 21st, 2024 AT 8:37 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hi Chris, it sounds like you are on the right track. FYI, if the fuel filter/water separator is full it will stop the system from working and shut the system down.
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Thursday, November 21st, 2024 AT 10:52 AM

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