New Owner Big Problem

[carpel21]

Hello there, shame my first post is a negative experience but here goes.

Picked up a 2002 TDCi on friday in excellent condition with full and comprehensive service history but it cut out on me coming down the M5 with the glowplug light flashing. I pulled over and managed to get it going again but only got as far as Gloucester before it died again and no joy re-starting. Had it towed to a small garage and we spent saturday morning trying to find the fault. Their snap-on diag tool read a GENERAL RELAY FAULT and LOW/HIGH FUEL PRESSURE. It would turn over and nearly start but just not quite fire up. We took the fuel filter off and inspected it for debris incase the pump had gone but all looked good there. Hooked up some clear tubing to the fuel line and there seemed to be a lot of air bubbles being drawn through. They gave up on it and it's now round at a ford dealers awaiting a full diagnostic report tomorrow. I'll be calling the guy that sold it to me as soon as I have a bit more ammo about what's wrong but i'm preparing myself for the worst tbh. Anyone have any idea's about what else I can do? I really can't afford to plow £1k into a car after 1 day but just don't really think I'll have a choice as the alternative is to just scrap it and write off £2500 leaving me carless and flat broke. Looking around on the internet it seems like fuel system faults often end up with people having to drop £££'s on 'possible' fix's and maybe still not getting anywhere. Am I better of finding a diesel specialist if the dealer isn't 100% sure they know what's wrong, or maybe back to a small garage if it's a case of 'trial and error' parts replacement? I'm not paying £100p/h for a dealer to guesstimate what needs replacing when a backstreet garage can do the same at £40p/h. I'm really worried i'm in the proverbial here so any help with what the fault might be from someone who's experienced the same symptoms and solved the problem, or a recommendation on an expert to take it to in the Bristol and surrounding area would be a godsend.

[laiimis]

hi,maybe you find whats wrong,am have same problem.

[aomega001]

Hello there, shame my first post is a negative experience but here goes.

Picked up a 2002 TDCi on friday in excellent condition with full and comprehensive service history but it cut out on me coming down the M5 with the glowplug light flashing. I pulled over and managed to get it going again but only got as far as Gloucester before it died again and no joy re-starting. Had it towed to a small garage and we spent saturday morning trying to find the fault. Their snap-on diag tool read a GENERAL RELAY FAULT and LOW/HIGH FUEL PRESSURE. It would turn over and nearly start but just not quite fire up. We took the fuel filter off and inspected it for debris incase the pump had gone but all looked good there. Hooked up some clear tubing to the fuel line and there seemed to be a lot of air bubbles being drawn through. They gave up on it and it's now round at a ford dealers awaiting a full diagnostic report tomorrow. I'll be calling the guy that sold it to me as soon as I have a bit more ammo about what's wrong but i'm preparing myself for the worst tbh. Anyone have any idea's about what else I can do? I really can't afford to plow £1k into a car after 1 day but just don't really think I'll have a choice as the alternative is to just scrap it and write off £2500 leaving me carless and flat broke. Looking around on the internet it seems like fuel system faults often end up with people having to drop £££'s on 'possible' fix's and maybe still not getting anywhere. Am I better of finding a diesel specialist if the dealer isn't 100% sure they know what's wrong, or maybe back to a small garage if it's a case of 'trial and error' parts replacement? I'm not paying £100p/h for a dealer to guesstimate what needs replacing when a backstreet garage can do the same at £40p/h. I'm really worried i'm in the proverbial here so any help with what the fault might be from someone who's experienced the same symptoms and solved the problem, or a recommendation on an expert to take it to in the Bristol and surrounding area would be a godsend.

Hi you mentioned that there was a lot of air in the tubing? I am not that familiar with the TDCI engines but I had the air problem with my MK1 I bought a seal kit for the fuel filter assembly and the fuel filter primer pump, it cleared the air problem. I would look down that line, if there is a lot of air in the fuel lines that is most likely to be the problem and it will also cause a low pressure warning as the pump is designed to pump liquid not air.HTH