Cutting Out & Intermittent Non-Starting

[JamesAndHayley]

Couple of odd issues but is preventing us using the van, these have got progressively worse over the course of a week.
The coil light began flashing
Started the van Tuesday, got it going for about 30 seconds then it cut out. Couldn't start it again despite trying occasionally for 2 days. The coil light did not go out and would flash on and off every time we attempted to start the engine.

Cutting Out
4 days later, got in to try it and started straight away. Took it for a drive and as we were coming down a hill, very little if any acceleration, it cut out. There was electrical power, but no fuel delivery.

We sat for 20 minutes, randomly tried it again and managed to get it back home.
Any suggestions what's going on?
Van is Mk6 2.4 diesel duratorq 2001

TIA, James

[andypdq]

Odds are, electronic injection pump failure. You need to get the fault codes read.

[JamesAndHayley]

Thanks for the reply. Could be, it dies randomly, under load or at idle. Also it takes about 30 seconds with the ignition on before the lift pump starts to prime itself. My gut tells me this little electric pump is the source of the problem.

[bambi mk 1]

Unless its a 125 it wont have an electric lift pump.As Andy says get codes read but in my experience once a pump dies once its pretty much terminal.I think you may have a crank sensor problem but read the codes first.

[JamesAndHayley]

Thanks for the speedy reply. Do you mean 125hp? Couldn't say. There is What seems to be a small pump attached to the fuel filter housing in the engine bay. I have a diagnostic tool on order. Where Abouts is the crank position sensor located?

[andypdq]

Put yor reg no, or vin in here: https://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSel ... 9.fcvas504

It will tell you the spec of your van.

Crank sensor is on the right hand side of the bell housing, behind the exhaust manifold, on the 2.4.

[JamesAndHayley]

Ok, so it's been diagnosed by a Ford garage. They say is the fuel infection pump and want 2000 euro to fit a new one. I'm not convinced with A. That ridiculous price and B. Their diagnosis. I still think it's an electrical fault.

I've had a second opinion who tells me that when a fip goes it's dead, it won't run intintermittently, it just won't pump.

I've done some research and cleaned the earth strap under the drivers seat, no change. Tried a different key, no change.

I am however starting to believe it's the immobiliser. The little red light on the clock starts flaflashing whenever the ignition is on and I understand this indicates the immobiliser is engaged. This would also throw up a fuel pump fault code.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Punto443]

Check the wiring loom that goes to the fip, there been a few cases where the loom chaffs on the starter and can cause intermittent faults,

Rare, but worth a try before condemning a pump

[ake]

What were the recorded fault codes?

[JamesAndHayley]

Couldn't get my diagnostic tool to connect to the van. I don't know what codes the garage had, they just told me fuel pump.

This afternoon I cracked of the injectors and cranked it over. There is diesel at every one. Would it still pump to the injectors of it was knackered?

[andypdq]

If you loosen the injector pipes from the top of the injectors, it should spray diesel everywhere when you crank it, if your pump is healthy, if you have a feeble dribble, then odds are, it's the pump.