What's this called and where can I get one?

[tony boadle]

I have a motorhome based on a 2004 125 T350. I lifted the bonnet yesterday to disconnect the Winter battery charger, and saw that it had slipped back and sheared off the small glass-like primer pump ( Is it called a primer or a sensor?) on top of the fuel filter. I've hopefully attached pics of the part. Anyway, I did a temporary fix with a good collar of epoxy, and re-fitted the part. Engine wouldn't start, so I inserted a small rod through the hole in the rubber cap, and pumped it up and down for a minute. Still no start. So here are my questions:
1) What's it called?
2) Can I buy one, new or s/h, in the UK? (I'm in rural West Cork,Ireland,the Ford dealer is miles away, and I rang they said I'd have to buy the whole filter unit!!!)
3) Should I have primed for longer, is there a bleed screw, and if so, where is it?
4) One local mechanic suggested I fit a blanking bolt in place of the part, as a short or even long-term fix. Stupid idea or not?
5) Finally, assuming that my problem is similar to running out of fuel and re-filling, surely the primer should be sufficient to enable a re-start?
Thanks in advance for advice/suggestions/offers of replacement part!

[motorman116]

That's not a primer, Its an indicator of when the Fuel filter requires changing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-TRANSIT- ... SwmRFaafl9

2004 fuel filter housing.jpg

[tony boadle]

How stupid am I ? It's so obvious now, thankfully no-one saw me relentlessly pumping the plunger up and down, waiting for the diesel fuel to appear!
OK, let's never talk of this again.
This would explain why a mechanic told me I could blank the hole temporarily....until I can source a cheap enough replacement.
My next question then is, bearing in mind I turned the engine a few times before I saw the damaged sensor, what's the best way now to purge the air and get it running?
(once the blanking bolt is fitted)
Thanks so much for your assistance, and please don't tell my wife. She already thinks I'm an idiot.

[knobby1]

...and please don't tell my wife. She already thinks I'm an idiot.

Welcome to my world..!

Lord Knobrot

[andz327]

Idiot .....hehehe

[knobby1]

Idiot .....hehehe

Oi...I resemble that remark..

Lord Knobrot

[grogan197]

2) Can I buy one, new or s/h, in the UK? (I'm in rural West Cork,Ireland,the Ford dealer is miles away, and I rang they said I'd have to buy the whole filter unit!!!)
3) Should I have primed for longer, is there a bleed screw, and if so, where is it?
4) One local mechanic suggested I fit a blanking bolt in place of the part, as a short or even long-term fix. Stupid idea or not?
5) Finally, assuming that my problem is similar to running out of fuel and re-filling, surely the primer should be sufficient to enable a re-start?

I'd just stick a bolt in the hole as you don't need the sensor anyway. I've only seen the housing for sale as a full unit on ebay and you'd be looking at £40ish there or £120+ from ford

You can slacken the nuts off the top of each injector and then turn over the engine to bleed the air out the system. Your not meant to do it this way as the fuel is at a high pressure but I've done it this way when changing injectors and had no issue, the fuel just dribbles out round the top of each nut then you can tighten them back up then. Do be aware that the fuel reaches dangerously high pressure levels in normal operation but the fact the fuel has somewhere to leak to stops the pressure building to such high levels.

[tony boadle]

Thanks for all the replies, finally sorted today. A two man job!
PS: And I stuck a bolt in the hole. (That's not a euphemism relating to my wife BTW)