Mk1 Focus 1.8 diesel stalled and won't restart

[mredowns]

Hi.

Sorry if this is posted already but  I couldn't see anything (tho am unsure what I'm looking for):
My 2000 Mk1  stalled pulling away from traffic lights. OK that happens but then it wouldn't restart. Recovery brought it home and suggested a faulty fuel pump or sender. That may be the problem but before the tank comes off to do that I wondered if the stalling and restart may be linked and perhaps it's not the fuel pump and I have more problems.
Any thoughts would be very welcome.
Cheers. Ed

[mredowns]

A slight change - just realised there is no fuel pump on the tank of diesels, its part of the injector unit.  So I guess expensive, probably too expensive to sort.
Still looking for good ideas !

[isetta]

Did the recovery/breakdown service do any checking of anything?

the high pressure diesel pump on the engine has to suck the disesel all the way up from the tank. The slightest leak in the pipes means that the diesel in the pipes flows all the way back into the tank whilst air is being sucked in the leak. So if there is a leak you tend not to see any diesel there leaking out as the pipe is under vaccuum not pressure.

Also, fuel filter blocked? when was it last changed?

Does this engine have a priming bulb ( to squeeze) to pump the diesel from the tank up to the high pressure pump.   These high pressure pumps can not themselves suck the diesel up from the tank if there is air in the pipes. They need priming.

[mredowns]

Thanks Isetta.The breakdown didn't do a full check so this is all a bit tentative. Sadly, there is no (visible) priming bulb.
I'll do the leak / air in the pipes check and live in hope .
Again thanks for the advice