Hi,

Today I couldn't start my car a 2005 TDci Fiesta. The engine initially started then died. I phoned the RAC out, he showed me that the fuel pipe going into the engine was empty, he then primed fuel in and the car started, although it ran (very) rough for a while.

By prime the fuel in, I mean near to the fuel pipe going into the engine there is what looks like a rubber small pump/squeeze/stress ball (not sure of its correct name?), repeatly squeezing this fills the pipe with fuel.

After I stopped the car (2 hours later after driving around) I had the same problem again with air in the pipe again.

Is this a known problem? an expensive fix?

Any help is greatly welcome.

Matt

It's a known problem. It's either the injector seals that have gone or the fuel lines on the injector rail. These bake hard due to engine temperatures and perish. Eventually you will probably be able to smell diesel or even see it on the engine under the fuel rail.

Hi,

Thank you very much for your response. I did replace the injector seals about 2 years ago, I remember they were making a 'tapping' noise - I think it cost me £350 at ford to replace all the seals + pipes (I think).

This time around I haven't heard a similar tapping noise, I think this leaves the fuel lines on the injector rail (whatever this means).

Is this an expensive repair? asuuming this is falut.

Thanks again

Matt

Hi,

Thank you very much for your response. I did replace the injector seals about 2 years ago, I remember they were making a 'tapping' noise - I think it cost me £350 at ford to replace all the seals + pipes (I think).

This time around I haven't heard a similar tapping noise, I think this leaves the fuel lines on the injector rail (whatever this means).

Is this an expensive repair? asuuming this is falut.

Thanks again

Matt

Hi Matt, we had this repaired at a diesel specialist (Not Ford) and it cost around £120. Guy who repaired ours used to work at Peugeot and knew the fault straight away from working on these engines. When you squeezed the prime bulb you could see air bubbles in the clear hoses at the back of the engine.

I have tried finding the receipt to see what parts were replaced but no joy at the moment.

As a test, if we parked our car facing downhill it would start. If we parked it facing uphill it wouldn't restart without using the priming bulb.

Hi Tom,

Thanks again for your reply :)

Yes when I squeeze the bulb there is air bubbles in the cear hoses at the back of the engine.

I feel better that at least your bill was only £120, it gives me hope. How long did you leave it before you had it repaired?

Thank you very much.

Matt

Hi Tom,

Thanks again for your reply :)

Yes when I squeeze the bulb there is air bubbles in the cear hoses at the back of the engine.

I feel better that at least your bill was only £120, it gives me hope. How long did you leave it before you had it repaired?

Thank you very much.

Matt

Hi Matt

Wife works in a shopping centre and she found that if she went in the ground floor car park, when she finished work the car would start OK. However if she went up the ramp to the top floor, when she returned to the car it would never start due to the 'airlock'. Called RAC out a couple of times to help reprime and left it no longer than 1 week before fixing. Ours happened exactly this time of year and it was about a couple of years ago on a 2003 car so similar age to yours is now.

As my earlier post try the simple test by parking uphill / downhill. If it's the same problem the car will start if pointed downhill but struggle if pointed uphill.

Hi Matt, did you find anything out with the car problem ?