Hi all, I have a 1996 fiesta 1.8 diesel

it starts straight up fine from cold, will idle fine for about 30 seconds then begin to surge and eventually cut out, if I leave it a few minutes it’ll start back up. doesn’t seem to be starved of fuel which was my first thought, as fuel lines still have fuel in them after engine has cut out. I have replaced fuel filter.

any help would be very much appreciated. 
 

I also have an escort van on the exact same year with same engine but pump looks slightly different, seems to be more wires going to the one on the fiesta. maybe if I knew what they done would help.

thanks 

Check compression when cold vs when hot

Just to show you we are alive on here...
I think some pictures would help as, due to the age, I'm unsure how the control system works on those models or if it is even common rail?
I'd say use Forscan and look for codes/live data but, again, I don't know how much functionality there is but I do believe you need some more data/information taken during the process you describe if that is possible...
@DaveT70 has just replied so ...

IIRC a '96 should be pre common rail and non turbo in a Fiesta

It'll be pre-OBD too

My guess is that this will be a Bosch VP mechanical pump with semi-electronic control.  If you follow the extra wires you may find a temperature sensor which could be faulty.

If it's not a sensor fault then it'll likely be the electronic module itself.  They never were particularly reliable.  Nowadays they can be sent away to an electronics specialist for repair.  Often semi-electronic pumps have an immobiliser, so you can't just fit a used one from another car.

Thanks for all the replies, yes it’s not common rail but does have an obd2 port although very basic. I have changed the fuel temperature sensor which hasn’t made any difference, 

this is the pump, has one positive and one ground, although these go and join to some smaller wires on the pump, I haven’t had the car long, but thinking it may have had a second hand pump fitted by the looks of it, does anyone know anything about this pump? And what I could try do to fix the issue thanks 

Oh, that's not what I was expecting.  This is a Mk3 rather than a Mk4 Fiesta?

That pump is fully mechanical (not semi-electronic) and I think that's a Lucas pump.

If you can get a mirror in behind or underneath you should hopefully find the spec plate still on it with the brand and model number.  Just have to hope it hasn't been painted bright red like the rest of the pump!

The wiring looks about of a mess tbh.  Either the pump has been changed or the wiring has.  The throttle cable is also losing a few strands and will need replacing before or snaps.

Unfortunately I can't see anything there that would be causing your issue, but I'm not that familiar with this type of pump.

This is the shape fiesta it is. 
 

so if it’s a completely mechanical pump it’s just got a 12v supply for the shut off I’m guessing? 
it has a fuel temp sensor though, but how would this make any difference to the running of the engine when it cannot make a difference to the pump? Thanks 

1 hour ago, Tommyw99 said:

This is the shape fiesta it is. 
 

so if it’s a completely mechanical pump it’s just got a 12v supply for the shut off I’m guessing? 
it has a fuel temp sensor though, but how would this make any difference to the running of the engine when it cannot make a difference to the pump? Thanks 

Hmm, that is a Mk4 Fiesta.  I'm not sure that car ever came with that pump.

Yes, the 2 wires at the back right of the pump should be the stop solenoid.

I don't know why any mechanical pump would need a fuel temp sensor.  Are you sure it's not a coolant temp sensor for the dashboard?

If I had to make a semi-educated guess I would think that small arm on the back right is connected to some sort of thermostat to add more fuel for cold running.  (Either a wax stat or bi-metal coil or similar).  But as I said before I'm just not familiar enough with this particular pump.

Sadly most of the knowledge if these pumps will be lost by now.  If you could find someone who specialises in mechanical diesel pumps that would be ideal.  Doesn't have to be Ford specific as there were only a small number of pump manufacturers (Lucas and Bosch being most common in the 90s).

Fuel pump details:

http://www.catcar.info/ford/?lang=en&l=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