ford focus 06 tdci won't start unless full of fuel

[Jo1172confused]

I have a focus tdci 1.8 06 plate done about 178000 miles. 3 jan it felt a bit sluggish coming onto dual carriageway so went home and changed fuel filter. Yes we had the same problem that everyone seems to experience with it being a pig to start afterwards. Towed it to local garage and even he struggled, when he got it started it ran for 20 secs and then died Finally got it going drove it home but next morning it took lots of cranking to get it started. It ran all day being switched on and off (its a driving school car). Next morning wouldn't start first time took about 6 attempts. Finally found pattern that if it was left for more than 2 and half hours it wouldn't start one solution to this seemed to be leave it full of fuel every night and problem kind off solved. Did forget one night and it wouldn't start till we filled it to brim then started straight off. Did have it plugged into the garage computer and code suggested the fuel pressure regulator but the car was driving fine, so not sure!

Now over a month later the car died whilst driving around a roundabout, luckily a mini one. Wouldn't restart so AA plugged it into his computer and no faults showed so towed us to garage who dealt with it in first place. He seemed to think it was lift pump so got on phone to ford and finally got what we thought was one turned out they actually gave us a fuel sender not what i asked for at all Guy in garage can't find lift pump, does it have one or is it part of the high pressure pump? Can anyone shed some light on the problem as we're scratching our heads, could it be the pump or something else.

 

[Peter.N.]

As far as I know the lift pump is in the tank and your symptoms certainly sound as though that could be the problem.

 

[Mursal]

Lift pump in tank and make sure it has a good supply going to it from the battery before you change it. You should have 12Volts going to it when the Ignition is switched on. but leave the pump connected when you check for 12Volts. Don't disconnect the pump.

Be careful because sparks and petrol fumes don't mix.

 

[bedfordkeys]

could be fuel filter leaking did you fit a geniune ford filter could be faulty injector either leaking or porous fuel pipes this engine relies on a high pressure fuel supply any leakages in the system stops it from starting you need to get the fuel pressure checked by a bosch injection specialist,colin

 

[bedfordkeys]

could be fuel filter leaking did you fit a geniune ford filter could be faulty injector either leaking or porous fuel pipes this engine relies on a high pressure fuel supply any leakages in the system stops it from starting you need to get the fuel pressure checked by a bosch injection specialist,colin

 

[Spark123]

When they changed the filter did they fill the new one with diesel and prime the system?
I think the whole system relies on the high pressure diesel pump attached to the engine to pull the diesel through as opposed to having another diesel pump in the tank. Any leaks, as said, will be a big problem as the diesel pump will not create enough vacuum to pull diesel through if there is air in the system.

 

[MrTinker]

Sounds like you've fitted the wrong fuel filter, some have a valve in to stop the fuel, draining back into the tank when the engine is not running, i'm guessing you've fitted one without, and it's got to suck the fuel back up the line, after it's been left for a while.

 

[jetex]

If it's a TDCI, then it will have a pump in the tank. These can fail, and give you poor delivery to the engine. A fuel pressure rail sensor will have the same effect. You need to have the pressure checked. This can be done by an electronic diagnostic tool, but I believe that diesel specialists can physically check the fuel pressure by screwing in a gauge. It's a bit like having a flat tyre, i.e: many possible causes for the same end result.

 

[Jo1172confused]

Sounds like you've fitted the wrong fuel filter, some have a valve in to stop the fuel, draining back into the tank when the engine is not running, i'm guessing you've fitted one without, and it's got to suck the fuel back up the line, after it's been left for a while.

Thanks I'll check with the garage and let you know but that doesn't explain why it would cut out fri on a lessson and then on sat when we finally got it started and had it running for 5 mins. I think I need to get the lift pump if we can find it flow tested.

 

[Jo1172confused]

If it's a TDCI, then it will have a pump in the tank. These can fail, and give you poor delivery to the engine. A fuel pressure rail sensor will have the same effect. You need to have the pressure checked. This can be done by an electronic diagnostic tool, but I believe that diesel specialists can physically check the fuel pressure by screwing in a gauge. It's a bit like having a flat tyre, i.e: many possible causes for the same end result.

Thanks, the garage couldn't find the pump he only found three wires coming from tank none of them large enough to be 12 volt. Would it be visible when you move the rear seat or is it located under tank. I'm a bit confused why when I asked ford for the lift pump/low pressure pump they gave me a fuel sender and I spoke to three ford dealers cos I needed to locate one quick. Is it possible it doesn't have one?

 

[Jo1172confused]

When they changed the filter did they fill the new one with diesel and prime the system?
I think the whole system relies on the high pressure diesel pump attached to the engine to pull the diesel through as opposed to having another diesel pump in the tank. Any leaks, as said, will be a big problem as the diesel pump will not create enough vacuum to pull diesel through if there is air in the system.

Don't think there are any leaks, it had the clutch changed on Saturday by the same garage that's dealing with fuel problem and he didn't mention anything and being diesel it wouldn't have evaporated. Will get it pressure checked again though.

 

[Belle427]

i dont think these engines have a pump in the tank, the last one i saw had a combined one on the engine and it had failed leading to an intermittant non start condition.
It put metal filings through the system and a local diesel specialist said that the pump would need reconditioning and injectors would need changing at a cost of around £700
I dont think you can fit any old second hand pump either as it needs matching to the car. A good diesel specialist is the way to go here, they will pressure test the system and injectors for you

 

[Spark123]

I have a Mondeo TCDI and that doesn't have a fuel lift pump in the tank, I know as I had to make a hand pump from an old peugeot diesel to prime the system after fitting a new (genuine ford) fuel filter.

 

[Jo1172confused]

I have a Mondeo TCDI and that doesn't have a fuel lift pump in the tank, I know as I had to make a hand pump from an old peugeot diesel to prime the system after fitting a new (genuine ford) fuel filter.

Thanks found out today once I talked to someone in ford who actually knew what they were talking about, the guy on front desk insisted that the fuel sender had a pump inside and even though we took it apart at home and found it was empty he still wouldn't have it. Seems there is only the one pump, the expensive one! But we did manage to get one from a breaker today, having it fitted thursday and hope that solves the problem. Does anyone know if the injectors need recalibrating after, the haynes manual doesn't mention it!

 

[Jo1172confused]

i dont think these engines have a pump in the tank, the last one i saw had a combined one on the engine and it had failed leading to an intermittant non start condition.
It put metal filings through the system and a local diesel specialist said that the pump would need reconditioning and injectors would need changing at a cost of around £700
I dont think you can fit any old second hand pump either as it needs matching to the car. A good diesel specialist is the way to go here, they will pressure test the system and injectors for you

Found a used low mileage pump that matched codes etc for £252 inc vat and delivery. I had the injectors changed at the bag of last year and Ford said they found metal in the fuel filter and warned us the pump may be on its way out but I do 50k a year so it's lasted a while. When we changed it in Jan there wasn't much to speak of in the way of metal filings considering the time since last change. The car hasn't had a loss of power since changing the filter just the starting problem so we think its the pump not injectors based on what people have said and the info Ford gave us last year.