Partner 1.6HDI - Odd Fuel? Problem

[rupertbear]

I parked my '56 Partner 1.6HDI on Friday and returned to it after three days. It started straight off, as usual, but after about 30 seconds of normal running it just stopped and would not restart although turning OK.

The man from the garage came out with his diagnostics machine and found a report which indicated lack of fuel. I didn't get the exact wording unfortunately. He opened up the air supply pipe and squirted in a slug of brake cleaner while turning it over. The expectation was that it would run for a couple of seconds if fuel supply was the problem or still not run if this was a red herring.

What actually happened was that the engine started on the brake cleaner but then continued to run normally. It then started several more times with no assistance and no problem.

Now it's great that it's apparently now OK, but it's also near to useless since I don't know if or when it will happen again.

Can anyone suggest what's going on?

(I had a friend years ago who carried a lemonade bottle full of petrol in his aged Capri - in order to get it to start he had to open the bonnet and pour petrol directly into the carburettor. I don't want to become a version of him only with an aerosol of brake cleaner!)

[brodfather11]

You may have a small air leak in the fuel system . Over time it allows air into the fuel supply pipe so the fuel runs back into the tank. Until the engine runs and sucks out the fuel back up it wont start .
It started at first because of the fuel in the h/p pump but there wasn't enough to let it run.

Park with the front pointing downhill. or find and cure the leak.

[rupertbear]

You may have a small air leak in the fuel system . Over time it allows air into the fuel supply pipe so the fuel runs back into the tank. Until the engine runs and sucks out the fuel back up it wont start .
It started at first because of the fuel in the  h/p pump but there wasn't enough to let it run.

Park with the front pointing downhill. or find and cure the leak.

Now that does sound possible. Not only was it parked up for three days, it was facing uphill.

If there is a leak which lets air in, would it not also let fuel out? I'm thinking of how to trace it.

Many thanks for your suggestion.

[brodfather11]

It will not be a great big leak , there may be a trace of fuel round near the leak. If your lift fuel pump is in the tank it will show a leak easily as the fuel is pumped from the tank.

If you have the earlier engine the fuel is sucked from the tank by the High Pressure pump, so if a leak develops then it sucks in air/fuel mixture from the tank, enough to keep it running. If it sits then the fuel runs back into the tank

Find the fuel primer button , (near the fuel filter) and pump that until the pressure builds then try to start it.

The fuel filter lid and the fuel primer button are the normal culprits on the DW8 engines , not sure if that's your engine

[rupertbear]

There has been no recurrence of the issue, but it has not been parked for as long nor facing downhill. I would like to trace the cause, if possible, for future peace of mind.

I cannot find a priming bulb or button. Is it me, do all varieties of the 1.6HDI have one? Also, I would like to know whether there is a fuel pump at the tank. Are these two issues linked? If I put the car up and crawl underneath, will I be able to determine whether there's a pump?

I have spent some considerable time online with my V5 and VIN trying to discover the engine type but have received conflicting results. I would appreciate advice as to how to determine this.

[saskak]

There has been no recurrence of the issue, but it has not been parked for as long nor facing downhill. I would like to trace the cause, if possible, for future peace of mind.

I cannot find a priming bulb or button. Is it me, do all varieties of the 1.6HDI have one? Also, I would like to know whether there is a fuel pump at the tank. Are these two issues linked? If I put the car up and crawl underneath, will I be able to determine whether there's a pump?

I have spent some considerable time online with my V5 and VIN trying to discover the engine type but have received conflicting results. I would appreciate advice as to how to determine this.

If it is the M59 as per the original post 56plate 1.6HDi, there is a manual priming fuel pump. Here is where it is located: https://youtu.be/TomdeC7Tcbs?t=2175

As per broadfather, pump it quite a few times until it becomes hard and difficult to squeeze additionally. I normally find that when I hear only clear liquid passing through I know the air has been purged from the fuel filter. The bulb is much slower at expanding. At the beginning of pumping it will be quick to get back to shape once squeezed, but towards the end is much slower as there is no air.

The V5 should have the bhp written somewhere there, so for example 75, 92, 110. The VIN will give you the engine code, on mine VF3GJ9HXC, the 9HX is the engine code. The 75 and the 92 differ only in the mapping and have the fixed geometry mitsubishi turbo, the 110 is the VNT turbo. Some V5s do not have the bhp, but I think you can kind of guess it from the CO2, mine 92bhp, 1.6HDi 2007, it is 140g/km. Or from the kW, mine is 66kW (the 75 should be less and the 110 should be more).

[rupertbear]

Thank you for your reply, but that is not the layout of my engine and I can find no equivalent component.

I may be wrong, but what I believe to be the main fuel line comes directly up and forwards before turning downward towards what I am assuming is the high pressure pump, which is situated directly above the alternator.

V5 says:
Variant: G9HX* Version G9HXC 66kW

Which would seem to be the same as yours, adding to my confusion.

I have just looked at a lot more Youtube videos and, from memory, this appears to be the layout I have:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-QJg9aC6vs

I will try to take some photographs of mine in daylight.

[saskak]

Thank you for your reply, but that is not the layout of my engine and I can find no equivalent component.

I may be wrong, but what I believe to be the main fuel line comes directly up and forwards before turning downward towards what I am assuming is the high pressure pump, which is situated directly above the alternator.

V5 says:
Variant: G9HX* Version G9HXC 66kW

Which would seem to be the same as yours, adding to my confusion.

I have just looked at a lot more Youtube videos and, from memory, this appears to be the layout I have:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-QJg9aC6vs

I will try to take some photographs of mine in daylight.

The video shows exactly 9HX engine with the fuel priming bulb seen at ~1m:45s. Here is a screenshot with an arrow pointing to the fuel priming bulb.
The 9HX should have a priming bulb, unless someone has removed it, for example it was ruptured.

Yes, photographs would help, as your engine should be exactly the same as mine.
   

[ffrenchie]

A friend of mine had the problem of his van only starting on easy start first thing in the morning and it was eventually diagnosed as the crank position sensor causing the problem. Once replaced it was fine.

[rupertbear]

Thank you for your reply, but that is not the layout of my engine and I can find no equivalent component.

I may be wrong, but what I believe to be the main fuel line comes directly up and forwards before turning downward towards what I am assuming is the high pressure pump, which is situated directly above the alternator.

V5 says:
Variant: G9HX* Version G9HXC 66kW

Which would seem to be the same as yours, adding to my confusion.

I have just looked at a lot more Youtube videos and, from memory, this appears to be the layout I have:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-QJg9aC6vs

I will try to take some photographs of mine in daylight.

The video shows exactly 9HX engine with the fuel priming bulb seen at ~1m:45s. Here is a screenshot with an arrow pointing to the fuel priming bulb.
The 9HX should have a priming bulb, unless someone has removed it, for example it was ruptured.

Yes, photographs would help, as your engine should be exactly the same as mine.

My apologies, the priming bulb is where you stated. I was misinterpreting the photo, I thought that it showed the bulb to be behind the engine cover. As soon as I went back to the car it was obvious that the bulb was under the cover.

I would still like to know whether, if I lift the car, will I be able to see from below whether there is a pump in the tank? Can anyone help with this?

Thanks