Diesel help required please.
Discussion
Hi all, wondering if someone could help as my knowledge of diesel engines is limited.
I brought a 1988 Pug 205 1.8 diesel a few days ago, when I picked it up, the car was already running and the guy said it'd ran out of diesel earlier and he'd had to bleed it (which I know you have to do)
It drove home fine, no probs at all, stopped on the way home to put some more diesel in (tenners worth) as he'd only put a cans worth in, and it started fine at the petrol station, and ran the rest of the way home fine.
I went to start it today, I'd hadn't used it since I brought it (around 3 days ago) and it failed to start, wanted to go, would catch and then die, then battery goes flat.
I connected my boost pack, and then noticed some air in the clear fuel tube that runs from the fuel filter to the pump.
While turning the ignition, and pumping the pumpy thing on the fuel filter, the engine fired and ran sweet as a nut again.
While it's running you can see air bubbles going along the clear tube, is this normal or does it need further bleeding??
Any ideas?, much apprieciated.
Sorry for the long post.
I brought a 1988 Pug 205 1.8 diesel a few days ago, when I picked it up, the car was already running and the guy said it'd ran out of diesel earlier and he'd had to bleed it (which I know you have to do)
It drove home fine, no probs at all, stopped on the way home to put some more diesel in (tenners worth) as he'd only put a cans worth in, and it started fine at the petrol station, and ran the rest of the way home fine.
I went to start it today, I'd hadn't used it since I brought it (around 3 days ago) and it failed to start, wanted to go, would catch and then die, then battery goes flat.
I connected my boost pack, and then noticed some air in the clear fuel tube that runs from the fuel filter to the pump.
While turning the ignition, and pumping the pumpy thing on the fuel filter, the engine fired and ran sweet as a nut again.
While it's running you can see air bubbles going along the clear tube, is this normal or does it need further bleeding??
Any ideas?, much apprieciated.
Sorry for the long post.
Two immediate possibilities spring to mind:
1) He didn't bleed it properly and there was still some air left behind to catch you out at an inopportune moment.
2) There's an air leak somewhere in the fuel line between the tank and the pump.
Your comment about air bubbles visible when it's running make me suspect it might be 2. Check all the joints between the tank and the pump, the sealing ring on the fuel filter and any other seal type things, bleed it thoroughly by the book and see if there's still air.
1) He didn't bleed it properly and there was still some air left behind to catch you out at an inopportune moment.
2) There's an air leak somewhere in the fuel line between the tank and the pump.
Your comment about air bubbles visible when it's running make me suspect it might be 2. Check all the joints between the tank and the pump, the sealing ring on the fuel filter and any other seal type things, bleed it thoroughly by the book and see if there's still air.
Gringo2006 said:
I brought a 1988 Pug 205 1.8 diesel a few days ago, when I picked it up, the car was already running and the guy said it'd ran out of diesel earlier and he'd had to bleed it (which I know you have to do).
Did he change the fuel filter? Running the tank dry could have blocked up the filter (with the car being this age there can be a lot of crap in the tank).
There may be a leak in the return pipe (back to the tank). I beleive most diesels have them, and when mine failed (not a pug, but TD non the less), it would start O.K. unless it had been left overnight. It would start but took 60+ seconds of cranking.
I would check, and replace all fuel lines.
HTH
Sparks
I would check, and replace all fuel lines.
HTH
Sparks
Yep, Pugs do this often.
My diesel 405 had the same affliction, leave it sat pointing up-hill and air would slowly leak in. Not sure where as we tried all the pipes for leaks and cracks, but none were found.
In the end we put it down to the vaccum generated at the pump end as air in as the fuel line withdrew along the pipe to the tank. This *shouldn't* happen, but them dodgy all in one priming pump/one way valve squidgy things wear as well.
My brother tried twice to cure it, but ultimately the problem lies with the worn pump seals around the throttle arm, which lets air in. Costs about £150 to get those seals and that end of the pump re-conditioned, or just keep the tank fullish and prime it once or twice now and again. That seemed to work for mine, as well as parking it pointing flat or downhill.
Good old Pugs eh
Dave
My diesel 405 had the same affliction, leave it sat pointing up-hill and air would slowly leak in. Not sure where as we tried all the pipes for leaks and cracks, but none were found.
In the end we put it down to the vaccum generated at the pump end as air in as the fuel line withdrew along the pipe to the tank. This *shouldn't* happen, but them dodgy all in one priming pump/one way valve squidgy things wear as well.
My brother tried twice to cure it, but ultimately the problem lies with the worn pump seals around the throttle arm, which lets air in. Costs about £150 to get those seals and that end of the pump re-conditioned, or just keep the tank fullish and prime it once or twice now and again. That seemed to work for mine, as well as parking it pointing flat or downhill.
Good old Pugs eh
Dave
I had the same problem on a fiat diesel. Pissed around with glow plugs - no luck. I then changed the lucas hand primer (£10) 5 minute job started everytime after that. The hand primers often leak air into the sustem, not bad if the car is warm, or if you floor it and get it to catch. But if it doesnt catch when clod the same situation occurs that you had. Change this bit first, its real easy.
tivh
tivh
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