1HD-FTE Intake Heater not turning on

[Moridinbg]

I have a HDJ100 that blows smoke on cold starts since I got it. White-ish, smells of unburnt diesel. Clears up 7-8-10 seconds after starting. Isn't visible at all above 18C (~65F) and gets pretty thick below 0C (32F).
Just got the injectors tested - perfect spray and pressures.

Seems to be a problem with the intake heater.
Never had the heater light come up on the dashboar before, but after the recent servicing (intake assembly clean up, injectors tested, other minor things) it appears very briefly (about a second). It's cold enough - single digits C, so it should come up. Heater was tested with direct 12V - heats. Would have checked resistance, but the FSM does not give an expected value. Heater relay seems to work as expected.

What should I check next? Which temperature sensor does it use to determine if it should be on or off?

Can it also be the pump? I couldn't get it checked, as none of the diesel specialist I have contacted in the entire country (!) wants to touch the FTE pump.
I don't have any other complaints. Runs smooth, no atypical noises or knocks, no smoke once started, no noticeable fuel drips.

 

[KiwiDingo]

Not sure what the temps get down to where you live but I have a FT and I threw away my heater screen years ago and have zero issues with starting during winter. Although the coldest I get would be about -3 degrees Celsius and starts within half a crank and zero smoke/warm up issues.

 

[roscoFJ73]

but after the recent servicing (intake assembly clean up, injectors tested, other minor things) it appears very briefly (about a second)

Is it possible a wire has been accidentally disconnected?

 

[wedgetail]

I’ve got a good element I could test for ohms if you like? Apart from that though - it’s probably a good thing if it doesn’t work as it gives your alternator and batteries a better life. I’ve removed mine, even people in Norway have reported removing theirs and they still start ok. I little white smoke isn’t a problem if it clears up as quick as you say. Might as well remove it entirely to improve airflow...

 

[Moridinbg]

I will compare mine to another one at my mechanic after New Year. If it doesn't help with the smoke at all, will just leave it alone.
Smoke clears up quickly (10 seconds), yes, but it's not a little. It's embarrassing when it engulfs cars and people around on cold mornings...

 

[mudgudgeon]

Does it fire up instantly, or take a bit of cranking?

Should fire on the first compression stroke.

If it's not firing up straight away, you may have air getting into the fuel system

 

[Moridinbg]

When it's warm outside (~10C and more) it fires up instantly. When cold it takes a bit of cranking.
Here is a video of starting this morning when it was -3C (26F). Took some cranking and was smoky for about 30 seconds after that, then cleared up.



I have tried to manually pump diesel via the hand pump on top of the diesel filter, but that doesn't help. Also, injectors were taken off for testing and then installed with new seals, washers and seats. So I do not think it's air in the system.
I am also suspecting valve seals and burning of the oil collected in the cylinders overnight.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Looks like fuel smoke too me, not oil.

Un-burnt fuel smoke is typically white, if there's oil being burnt it will look blue.

The amount of smoke in your video on start up at -3°C doesn't look excessive to me. If it clears up in 30 second to a minute I don't think I'd be too worried.
It takes time to get enough heat in the pistons and head etc to get complete ignition/combustion.

 

[mudgudgeon]

There is a couple of tests/observations you can do to see if valve seals are leaking.

Find somewhere where you can coast down a long hill at idle.
At the bottom of the hill, have someone look out the back window.
Step on the gas and accelerate.
If you see a puff of blue-ish oil smoke on acceleration after coasting, it's typically from leaking valve stem seals.

A puff of blue-ish smoke on acceleration after sitting idling at traffic lights etc can also be an indicator.

The problem with a diesel is observing the difference between oily blue-ish smoke, and a normal puff of black diesel smoke you may normally see on acceleration from idle

 

[Moridinbg]

Good info. Seems like it's not the valve seals then.

The heater is definitely not working. Tried to bypass the relay and connect it directly, but still no warming up. Looking at the electric diagram, it seems that it doesn't use a fuse, but a fusible link. Will check that next.

Some people chimed in that they have completely disconnected the heater on their HDJ100 and still have smoke-free starts even around 0C.
What else could it be? Pump?

 

[motobarn]

Hi
Ryszard here,
Mono,Ontario,Canada
I am a proud owner of 3 x hdj 100 ( 1999,2001,2001)all with the 1hd fte motor ant automatic transmission.What I see on your video clip is not something that would make me worried.
Start up at - 3 C the cranking time seems to be right and the white exhaust gases is nothing else than condensation vapors mixed with combustion gases.
Mu suggestion is to ad a fair amount of good diesel injector cleaner like Marvel mystery oil ,Stynadyne injector cleaner and lubricator and give it a good higway run .
What I have noticed on my LC is that the combustion fumes are dependant on what kind of engine oil I'm using and quality of the diesel fuel.
Also,what is important to know what is your driving pattern ,do you drive short distances or longer hauls which give the engine chance to work harder at higher /proper combustion temperatures
Questions:
What kind of milage do you have on your odometer ?
Did you do a valve clearance adjustment in the last 60,000 km?
Do you have a catalytic converter in your exhaust ( Mine was plugged up on 1 of fhe 2001s)
Plugged catalytic converter can cause a lot of bad exhaust issues as odor,less power) poor turbo charger performace) ,smoke).Over all they all smoke a bit on a cold start and as the temperatures will clime up the cranking process and exhaust smell will improve to be a bit less.You can not eliminate those smelly cold start ups unless you live in a hot climate and then still there always be a bit of smell.My Regards
Ps : all of my LC are imports from Europe

 

[Moridinbg]

400k km with blocked EGR and cleaned intake. Did valve clearance - no change. Cat was there and was not clogged.
The smoke was not water vapours, as it smelled of unburnt diesel.
It was very consistently visibly smoking when below 15C ambient. When above - no smoke and very little smell.

In the last few months I took the body off, galvanised the frame and took the engine apart. I reconditioned the pump and turbo and replaced the exhaust with 3" no cat. Haven't started the engine yet, but I am putting the body back on tomorrow, so will do that very soon. Hopefully this issue will be gone. It was a wild ride that you can see here - HDJ100 - Body off renovation, now with a hot dip galvanised frame *Picture Heavy* - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/hdj100-body-off-renovation-now-with-a-hot-dip-galvanised-frame-picture-heavy.1220814/

There was a bent con rod on one cylinder, so it might have been that. Engine was running very smooth before I opened it with no signs of this.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

The bent Conrod wouldn't be helping - massive compression drop on that cylinder.