Starting & Power (Hill) problems, some tips.

[Aquanaut]

Well, I think I finally fixed her.(':D'), (':D')

After weeks of mindless and expensive repairs I traced the fuel starvation problems.



A vacuum was being formed in the Fuel Tank, although I went to this option first and ignored it then.(':evil:')



It seems that the Fuel Tank Vent unit (Top of Tank Rear) was clogged (But working somewhat when perfectly horizontal) and also the Fuel Cap Rubber seal was in wrong place, blocking the small hole (Cleaned this also).



The van wouldn't start when left overnight (Always parked on a slope) as it seems the fuel it was being sucked back to the tank.



I first ran the engine straight from a 2 litre drum (milk Drum) to the Injector pump inlet and the return also into the clean drum, it got me thinking, the problem is in the fuel tank or lines.(':idea:')



I replaced the tube from the Fuel Filter to the Injector Pump with a clear 5mm (ID) polyurethene tubing and reused the end fittings of original tube.



This was real helpful to see if it was sucking air through the system, its staying there now and would recommend anyone that has starting problems to do it .

Its a handy tell-tale to see if the fuel is draining back overnight to the tank or air in system.

I think that some VW/Audi TDI engines fit this as standard.



Just a warning, if you suspect that the injectors need replacing, do it asap and go to ebay.

As I was in a serious bind, I paid a Ford garage 400 pounds (160 euro, 00 pounds for each injector) .(':x')



You can get them on Ebay for 25 quid and takes 1 hr to fit.

I won't make that mistake again, or go near a Ford Garage for a while.

(':evil:')



I found some great tips on this website and also here:

http://experts.about.com/q/UK-Autos-3179/index.htm

[bortaf]

Anoying when it such a simple thin int it
i've been caught out buy the blocked breather thing on more than one occassion

[MrMPuk]

I had a 2000 smiley from new and it did this because the breather was blocked, it went to 3 Ford dealers before I fixed it myself.

[Aquanaut]

Right on MrmPuk,
The Ford Mechanic hadn't a clue, just done a process of elimination like I was doing, but didn't find it even though he had it upon the lift.
He was confident new injectors would solve it, It did for a few hours, until I parked up on the slope.

He even showed me the old injectors and said they can't be overhauled or serviced and that they looked sooty. He gor me at a moment of weakness and desperation. Jaysus, is that how they're trained.

Its Fecking hard lines when I have to learn about diesel engines the real hard way.
thankfully it didn't bring me to tears, ':x'
At 65 euro /hr, It will be a long time before a garage sees me again.

[MrMPuk]

Mine was an odd one, i'd be going along the motorway at 70-80 and it would just lose power and sit flatout at 20mph. If I took the fuel cap off you could hear the rush of air I even called the RAC out as it was still within the first year and he said the same thing but the delaers don't listen to the customer because they think they know best.

On another note I think it must have been at about 80000 and it was due a service, I told them it needed new pads and disks and an off side front wheel bearing when I was booking it in. A week later I took it in and they hadn't ordered the spares as yet again they don't listen to the customer so when I went back to pick it up it hadn't been done as they didn't have the parts in stock!

[Aquanaut]

Its bad when you have to advise the garage what to replace at a service, what a sickener.
It is worth doing it yourself with aftermarket parts from a motor factor.
My mates is an honest mechanic but takes forever, his shop should be 10 times bigger than it is, money isn't his god thakfully.
I done the rear brake shoes myself in about 90 minutes the other day, front couldn't be much more.