60 replies to this topic

[mkelbie]

Long shot but I have 4 hours wait for AA so anyone online who can offer suggestions it would be great.

Came to start my car to go for lunch, it started moved about 3 feet in reverse and it cut out and won't start again.

2007 Focus 1.8 TDCI
89K

Just had a full service 3 days ago and got a full tank of shell diesel.

It has been struggling in the morning, never fires up 1st time but 2nd time after coil goes back out it fires up, splutters a bit then is fine. I do a 60mph journey to work and 60 back no problems.

This morning fired up 1st time got here fine and now it won't start

It's just had a service, battery seems fine as it turns but just won't start. All electrically work and I have thought the glow plugs may be on the way out but it was running fine this morning and its 2 degrees here and engine was still fairly warm when I came to start it.

I am just worried something bad has happened, so if anyone can rule out major problems I will be put at ease and hopefully it's something simple and more importantly cheap.

Thanks

[salsheikh]

i wish i could help you but i'm a novice with these cars still
hopefully someone will come along soon

good luck

[jeebowhite]

Sounds like battery as a potential risk, or diesel gone waxy and clogging the filter to be honest.

When you put headlights on and start the car, do they flicker, and the dash flickers and ticks like mad?

If so, it sounds like the battery has become winters victim...

[mkelbie]

AA man has been and its my injector pump :-/

A pin has snapped and no where local that can do it. I'm snookered here now

[jeebowhite]

aaah, thats not too good...

Does your recovery package not get you to a garage of your choice?

[salsheikh]

bugger mate, i hope its not too expensive to sort out.

[mkelbie]

No only within 15miles. I am still here :-/

Recovery is sorted now and should be here within next 30mins but not sure about the repair now.

Says engine system fault on the dash now. It's definitely something to do with fuel pump as no fuel is getting through, I just hope it's cheap to repair.

[mkelbie]

Anyone got any tips for this? It's outside the garage now and going down with the keys in the morning.

Recovery man suspected airlock and almost started it with a squirt of easy start but didn't want to over do it.

I am worried about the cost of diagnosing the fault before paying to repair it

[stef123]

in the first instance you said the AA man said it was the pump as some pin had snapped? now you dont seem to sure?

if it is the pump, I presume they are coded to the ecu on this model? but unfortunately diesel pumps (high pressure pump) are not cheap im afraid.

at a dealer, expect to pay around £100 for diagnostics.

[mkelbie]

AA man took a clip off opening a pipe and asked me to try and start it and said no diesel is coming through and when he connected his computer he said the fuel pressure or something is 18 and it should be a lot more than that. His diagnosis was the pump wasn't working and a pin had snapped that powers it. Something like the gear turns and the pin turns the pump passing the fuel through and this was no longer working.


RAC man arrives and after few basic tests he investigates the fuel related issues. He tried a new sensor as he believed a sensor was at fault, this time the ecu was giving an engine fault but when he connected his computer everything was fine including the pressure. He hit the fuel rail a few times with a hammer and removed the battery lead to try clear the ecu fault then said it needs to be took to a garage.

3rd party recovery arrives to take me to the garage, he never tried anything but whilst lifting my car and during the journey he asked what the fault was. I explained had a full service 3days ago, did long trip and filled up last nyt and got to work after 60miles this morning no problem, started it at lunch and got a few yards in reverse and it cut out and hasn't started since. He believes its air locked and said it seems odd it's just died. When we got to the garage he asked could he try start it and with a bit of easy start the engine almost started but the battery was drained. He tried again with a booster connected to the battery but it was just turning and wouldn't fire.

It's left there now until I go back in the morning to find out the damage which I hope isn't mega :-/

[stef123]

AA man took a clip off opening a pipe and asked me to try and start it and said no diesel is coming through and when he connected his computer he said the fuel pressure or something is 18 and it should be a lot more than that. His diagnosis was the pump wasn't working and a pin had snapped that powers it. Something like the gear turns and the pin turns the pump passing the fuel through and this was no longer working.


RAC man arrives and after few basic tests he investigates the fuel related issues. He tried a new sensor as he believed a sensor was at fault, this time the ecu was giving an engine fault but when he connected his computer everything was fine including the pressure. He hit the fuel rail a few times with a hammer and removed the battery lead to try clear the ecu fault then said it needs to be took to a garage.

3rd party recovery arrives to take me to the garage, he never tried anything but whilst lifting my car and during the journey he asked what the fault was. I explained had a full service 3days ago, did long trip and filled up last nyt and got to work after 60miles this morning no problem, started it at lunch and got a few yards in reverse and it cut out and hasn't started since. He believes its air locked and said it seems odd it's just died. When we got to the garage he asked could he try start it and with a bit of easy start the engine almost started but the battery was drained. He tried again with a booster connected to the battery but it was just turning and wouldn't fire.

It's left there now until I go back in the morning to find out the damage which I hope isn't mega :-/

was the fuel filter changed? its a possibility for an air leak if its been disturbed but to be honest im not sure this is your problem...

im not too familiar with the tdci pumps but if there is a pin which locates the drive pulley onto the shaft then i guess this is a possibility. if its snapped then the pulley will just spin without driving the pump

[mkelbie]

Yes had all filters changed with the service.

What do you think it is then? It's just weird how it was perfect, got to work started then just died

[stef123]

Yes had all filters changed with the service.

What do you think it is then? It's just weird how it was perfect, got to work started then just died

I would have the fuel filter removed, and the filter and housing inspected. the rubber seal should have been replaced with the filter. then the system will need to be primed with fuel to get it started.
you will want the battery charged up to do this though as it can take a while lol

from what you have said its fuel starvation or lack of fuel pressure?

[mkelbie]

So do you think it's related to this service and the filter then as my dad has said that from the start but hasn't seen it yet

[stef123]

So do you think it's related to this service and the filter then as my dad has said that from the start but hasn't seen it yet

it certainly seems plausible to me as the fuel system has been disturbed.

have the starting issues only started after the service?