Hey everyone.

Went out to go to work this morning. Turned the key on my Focus 1.8 diesel 57 plate.

Car started but cut out within a couple of seconds.

Tried turning it over again and again. but it just wasn't interested in starting. left it about 10 minutes and tried again. still the same, car just wasn't interested.

Gave it another half hour or so as I had to phone the work to let them know I would be late.

At one point after this it did nearly start but it was very brief.

I tried giving it 2 0r 3 heats also as I was beginning to clutch at straws as it was -5. never made a difference.

Kept going out maybe every hour or so to try it. thinking maybe the cold weather does have something to do with it

Ended up the battery got low. so I put the battery on charge.

Was only on charge for about 30 minutes when my mate came. He was taking the micky saying I was only wanting a day off and the car would probably start straight away. sure as anything it burst into life, but again it was only for a few seconds.

I ended up having to try jumping it off the ST but it still wont start.

The car was turning over at first no probs till the battery startrd going down, once it was getting a jump it was turning over fine again but just wont start.

Took the top off the fuel filter housing and it was only half full. thought I will top it up with diesel into the fuel filter housing but that didn't make a difference.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have looked through a few posts but cant seem to see anything relating to mine.

Car has plenty fuel in it, just over half a tank. plus it had a service about 3 weeks ago which included a fuel filter.

Thanks

Dales

Dont you have the inside fuel tank filter rather than the engine based one?

No. There is one under the bonnet on mine James. Dosnt seem to have a primer on it though so I take it it must be electronic or something.

if you have easy start try that to get it fired up and get someone to floor the pedal until it feels like the injectors have taken over the easystart fluid

Tried that James. car seems to be getting fuel to the injectors. Tried code reader also and no codes showing.

Tried starting it again about half an hour ago. Just kept turning over then at one point it did start for a couple of seconds. but it is literally a couple of seconds.

Its got me stumped.

Why do things like this never happen on nice warm days lol.

Once the fuel filter housings have been taken apart on the 1.8 they can be a nightmare to get started again. I normally use a syringe to push as much fuel as possible into them.

How you doing Stef

The fuel filter was more probably half full, maybe a bit more than half full but managed to fill it up with fuel. still no difference though.

Fuel filter was changed a good few weeks ago and the car ran fine. There was one occasion it cut out as I was driving away. but that was probably down to me stalling the car.

Went out in the car yesterday afternoon and it started no problem as it usually does.

Might give it a tow later on to see if it starts that way although I doubt it will.

Have to get the car out the driveway later anyway so I can get the ST out the garage for work tomorrow so might as well give it a try..

I'm wondering if it was installed correctly though as it's very easy to install them wrong, one seal can make all the difference as the slightest leak of air will stop it working.

I'm wondering if it was installed correctly though as it's very easy to install them wrong, one seal can make all the difference as the slightest leak of air will stop it working.

It was fitted about 3 or 4 weeks ago James.

About 400 miles ago. Guy that fitted it is my mate. Fixes cars all the time. very good at what he does.

Iv actually thought of changing the fuel filter housing just incase. but when we cracked the injectors it was getting fuel.

Even thought of changing heater plugs. but temp did go up a bit this afternoon so I doubt they are the cause.

Especially when it did actually start. even though it was only a couple of seconds.

Its got me stumped mate.

this may not be related but have you checked all the earthing cables. my previous car did this and it was down to 1 cable being slightly loose that stopped it from starting.

my uncles got a bora and his tdi wouldn't start so he called the rac and they struggled until the guy remembered something about an air flap that sticks shut and stops air getting into the engine and stopping it from firing up.

I hope this helps in some way.

Anything is worth a try Sal.

Just as you say about earths. similar thing happened to my pals 206. but her car had no electricals. lights wipers etc.

Tryed giving it a tow but it wasnt interested in starting that way either.

Just wondering if its maybe the imobiliser.

Is there any way of checking the imobilser ?

I have given up for the night as its -4 outside and I am frozen lol.

Thanks once again for all the replies. They are all appreciated.

Any more suggestions will be tryed.

Thanks again guys

Dales

If it's immobiliser, it would be a red light top centre of the instrument cluster flashing like a looney...

If it's immobiliser, it would be a red light top centre of the instrument cluster flashing like a looney.

Cheers James.

That rules that out then as no lights flashing.

I'd put money on it creating enough fuel pressure to start but once started the fuel pressure is dropping causing it to stall. This used to be a problem on the 75/ZT with the BMW lump which was usually down to a failed in tank pump or underbonnet pump on those and was a common recurring thread starter.

If you say the fuel filter was only half full then there is certainly not enough fuel being delivered to the filter so would suggest to me a possible tank pump problem.

You would be best getting it on some diagnostics and see what codes it is throwing up but really needs to be IDS or similar or Forscan to be sure, a cheap OBD reader if that is what you used won't necessarily show all codes produced, i also know this from experience.

Yes it was just a cheap reader I was using Simon.

My mate is bringing his laptop down on Wednesday to see if that finds any faults. I didn't know that they had a pump in the tank.

Fuel is getting to the injectors though as we cracked the injectors to se if it was getting fuel.

Yes it was just a cheap reader I was using Simon.

My mate is bringing his laptop down on Wednesday to see if that finds any faults. I didn't know that they had a pump in the tank.

Fuel is getting to the injectors though as we cracked the injectors to se if it was getting fuel.

Most diesels have a pump in the tank, then a diesel pump in the engine bay. Cracking injectors is not a good idea on common rail diesels, the system runs at tens thousands of PSI, a jet of diesel can seriously injure you. On diesels before common rail cracking injectors to bleed air in the system was common place but not on a modern common rail diesel.

Vauxhall Vivaros were prone to the fuel pump in the tank disintegrating and causing a bill of thousands to fix as the whole entire fuel system had to be replaced including all lines and the ank and fuel rail etc.

I'm not saying it is the tank pump as it could be many things causing the low pressure but once a code is given it hopefully will start to narrow down the problem. Something is causing it to have low fuel pressure I would put money on it.

I think you may be right with this not having an in tank pump but does sound like there is not enough fuel pressure to me.

As far as I know the 1.8 doesn't have a lift pump which probably explains why they can be a pain to get started again.

I'm still convinced you have a fuel/fuel filter issue.

Yes it was just a cheap reader I was using Simon.

My mate is bringing his laptop down on Wednesday to see if that finds any faults. I didn't know that they had a pump in the tank.

Fuel is getting to the injectors though as we cracked the injectors to se if it was getting fuel.

there's one thing getting fuel to the injectors when they're cracked off but when you seal them back on and add a bit of back pressure that can be enough for a weak pump.

I had this on a digger of ours, it would run on easy start and the injectors were squirting fuel and turned out to be a weak pump. it had us stumped for a while as well

trac

Well got the car on the laptop tonight.

Came up with 3 different codes.

Fuel rail system pressure too low = code P0089

Fuel pressure regulator performance = code P0089

Glow plug heater system A = P0830

Obviously a fuel pressure problem as already suggested.

I am hoping its not the fuel pump its self. Been suggested there is a fuel pump in the fuel tank. Could this maybe be the problem ?

In all honesty I didn't think my car had one in the tank. As I say I am hoping I don't have to buy a fuel pump as I dread to think of the cost of a fuel pump ( fuel pump on engine )

Could the the fuel pressure sensor on the fuel rail its self cause this fault ?

Again any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Seems like a wiring issue potentially given the glowies too are affected

There no pump in tank 100% that why u have to prime with hand primer cause no pump in tank think u need replace the rail don't think can buy sensor separate did u prime it an check live data see wat pressure is u need minimum of 350 bar to start car

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Apologies for not replying to posts earlier than this.

My car has not got a hand primer for the fuel. called a breaker and they seem to have a pump for in the tank. But he only had them for the 1.6 and 2.0 litre diesels. One of my mates inlaws works for Ford and according to him there is one in the tank. he said that the 2.0 litre one is the same as the 1.8 litre.

So might just try getting the one out of the breakers and give it a try.

I personaly didn't think there was one in the tank. Just hoping they are not getting mixed up with an in tank pump and sender unit. but I will get mine out first anyway. then that way I can compare them when I go to the breakers.

Once again thanks for the replies.

Dales

I ment on most diesel fords no pump in tank that why have connect a hand primer an prime it Urself if there was a pump in tank u wouldn need prime when changing a fuel filter I think they must think there pump in sender unit but I can assure u there not u have connect up primer cause suction valve on back of injection pump can't suck fuel all way from tank if had electric pump in tank u would just flick ignition on off to prime it like on vw's

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Yes defo no pump in the tank. Pulled tank out earlier to check. process of elimination I suppose lol.

I think the next step is try the fuel rail sensor. not unless anyone can suggest anything else.

Fuel filter housing all seems ok. good tight seal on it and the fuel filter was replaced not long ago.