Mk5 wont fire and now pats 32

[Sirius]

Hi all, new member here.. and I’m hoping for some advice on an issue my transit has. Currently it will not turn over and the PATS led blinks code 32. There is no engine light. I have two keys, each with red ‘chips’ in them.

It‘s a year 2000 minibus, manual transmission, it has a turbo and a lucas epic pump. It has two batteries, both under the bonnet. I have noticed that the auxiliary is being drained by something. It was running about 2 years ago, the owner sadly passed away and it has never been started since. I have now bought the bus.

I have installed 2 new batteries and with a bit of encouragement (a pole and a hammer) i managed to get the starter motor to engage and turn the engine over. It would not fire. I used some easystart and it was just about firing on that, but I’m sure it was just from the easystart. I have now replaced the start motor, again it turned over but did not fire. I started to think maybe a faulty fuel stop solenoid was stuck or something, or the pump needed priming maybe? So i went digging around the engine bay to find it has the lucas epic pump, i unplugged the connector, plugged it back in again (i couldn’t figure out where that solenoid was located). I also unplugged a few of the sensors, including what i believe is an egr valve sensor and one of the wires came out. Iv ‘roughly’ connected it again for the wire to make contact with the pins, but i will repair this properly when I have a new connector. After plugging everything back in again, the engine will not turn over and the PATS led is showing a code of 32.

I checked the fuse and the brown relay on the left side of the engine bay and it appears to be ok (a little corroded) so i cleaned it up. I even replaced the relay with another from the inside fuse box, same part number, but i still have error code 32. I have checked all other fuses that i can find any they appear ok. I have noticed a 3 pin connector that looks like it is part of the starter wiring loom and it is not connected to anything, im not sure if that is supposed to be plugged into something?

Would it help to find out if the ecu is getting any power? Or is there an obvious solution that im missing here? It was turning over but now its not. Sorry this turned out to be a lengthly post and i hope i didn’t miss any details. I really appreciate any advice you may have, many thanks!

[twin wheel camper]

Did you remove the big plug on the pump?? If you did remove it again and look for either bent pins broken pins or corroded pins……. This is most likely what is your issue.
They are troublesome for all sorts of issues especially when not used like your van.

[Sirius]

A really good suggestion, i did remove it and i will check exactly this in the morning. Thanks!!

[Sirius]

Yesterday it didn’t stop raining, so iv taken a look today. There was a small amount of rain water sitting on the plug, it doesn’t look like it had gotten into the connector, but i would like to try to inspect the plug end of the connector if i can. I removed the housing to get a good look at the pins and surprisingly no corrosion or bent pins. I gave each pin a gentle sanding. Still showing code 32! Il keep looking..

[Altransit]

Is this thread any help?

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=215990&p=1772185

[Sirius]

Thanks for the link, it helped as it made me revisit the fuse, i probed the voltage on it to find 12v on one end of the fuse and 2.5v on the other end, it had corroded and with a bit of cleaning the error has gone away and the engine light is back!! It turns over now but is still not firing.

I disconnected the fuel return line from the filter and when i turn the engine over fuel is coming out. So i think the fuel is pumping through, I’m not sure how to further diagnose without some research and hopefully with some advice.

Many thanks for your help so far, i’m relieved that error code is gone!

[Sirius]

Im still wondering what this 3 pin connector is doing unplugged, im not sure if its for testing purposes or if it should be connected somewhere? I cant seem to find a place for it.

[V184]

have you checked the fuel filter ? remove it and get someone to turn it over on the key it should p15s everywhere if ! i presume you have checked the timing belt ?

[Sirius]

I came close to doing those things, so i will try again. I previously took the fuel filter off and there was a lot of fuel in there, however at the time i didn’t turn it over. I also attempted to take the timing belt cover off but the torx bolt started to round, so i left it. However i will remove that as my next job and try what you say. Thank for your help!

[Altransit]

the torx bolt started to round

Every one of those started to round out when I changed the belt on my MK5. I had to loosen every one, with the combination of mole grips on the outside plus a Torx wrench on the centre.
They all came out eventually without rounding any out

[Sirius]

Il next have chance to work on the van Friday, so il have a go at taking the cambelt cover off for inspection. Thanks for the suggestion of mole grips, i may have to cut away some of the plastic cover to get my mole grips to bite that bolt, but i think your right, its probably the best way.

If the belt is all good, im considering loosening the diesel injector supply pipe nut (hopefully it wont snap!!) and see if any diesel comes out, to eliminate the pump being faulty. Curiously though, i have noticed that the pump quietly makes a high pitched sound with the ignition on, I’m not sure if that is normal?

[dermo7]

If you continuously douse the timing belt cover bolts in wd40 for a few days and then buzz them with an impact driver they should come loose.

I did mine today

There is a bolt behind the viscious fan also, mine wouldnt budge so I cut off the head and scrapped the lower cover
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have a very similar issue with pump not firing letting fuel through to injectors, no high pitched sound though, but will be following for progress updates

[V184]

If you continuously douse the timing belt cover bolts in wd40 for a few days and then buzz them with an impact driver they should come loose.

I did mine today

There is a bolt behind the viscious fan also, mine wouldnt budge so I cut off the head and scrapped the lower cover
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have a very similar issue with pump not firing letting fuel through to injectors, no high pitched sound though, but will be following for progress updates

Did you remove the viscous fan ?

[MinorMatt]

If you continuously douse the timing belt cover bolts in wd40 for a few days and then buzz them with an impact driver they should come loose.

I did mine today

There is a bolt behind the viscious fan also, mine wouldnt budge so I cut off the head and scrapped the lower cover
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have a very similar issue with pump not firing letting fuel through to injectors, no high pitched sound though, but will be following for progress updates

Did you remove the viscous fan ?

It wasn't that one that he had an issue with - it was the lower cover one

[V184]

If you continuously douse the timing belt cover bolts in wd40 for a few days and then buzz them with an impact driver they should come loose.

I did mine today

There is a bolt behind the viscious fan also, mine wouldnt budge so I cut off the head and scrapped the lower cover
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have a very similar issue with pump not firing letting fuel through to injectors, no high pitched sound though, but will be following for progress updates

Did you remove the viscous fan ?

It wasn't that one that he had an issue with - it was the lower cover one

Which ever one it was it sounds a mess