Occasionally Cutting Out After Starting

[B@rnstormer]

Hi all,

 

A few weeks back my wife returned home in our 2.0 TDCI MkIII after a 30 mile drive with no issues. I got in the car to use it 5 minutes later, started the engine no problem, it was idling fine, I was putting my seatbelt on and the engine suddenly cut out. I tried to restart it but it wouldn't. It was cranking absolutely fine so I was certain it was not a battery issue, it just wouldn't start. I called the RAC and they arranged for a guy to come out to me. Whilst I was waiting I tried again and it started, but again it ran for 15 seconds or so and died. In my opinion it's related to the fuel supply. The RAC man thought it might be the battery (it wasn't though, as it was cranking fine) so he used a jump starter on it and it did eventually start, but I think this was a coincidence. Regardless, I purchased and fitted a brand new battery about a week ago and since that time it has been ok, until a couple of days ago when it happened again. A few more tries and we got it started but this morning it happened again and will not restart. I've looked at the fuel filter and I can see that there is no diesel coming through the fuel line after the filter. There is a small quantity of diesel further along the tube but there is more air in there than diesel. So I'm guessing that the fuel pump has failed, or maybe it's not activating because there's some other fault. I've read that a camshaft position sensor can cause this issue, do you think that might be the cause? I've not yet connected an OBD2 reader to it or called the RAC again.

 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, please!

 

Thanks,

 

B@rnstormer

 

[BrianH]

Hi all,

 

A few weeks back my wife returned home in our 2.0 TDCI MkIII after a 30 mile drive with no issues. I got in the car to use it 5 minutes later, started the engine no problem, it was idling fine, I was putting my seatbelt on and the engine suddenly cut out. I tried to restart it but it wouldn't. It was cranking absolutely fine so I was certain it was not a battery issue, it just wouldn't start. I called the RAC and they arranged for a guy to come out to me. Whilst I was waiting I tried again and it started, but again it ran for 15 seconds or so and died. In my opinion it's related to the fuel supply. The RAC man thought it might be the battery (it wasn't though, as it was cranking fine) so he used a jump starter on it and it did eventually start, but I think this was a coincidence. Regardless, I purchased and fitted a brand new battery about a week ago and since that time it has been ok, until a couple of days ago when it happened again. A few more tries and we got it started but this morning it happened again and will not restart. I've looked at the fuel filter and I can see that there is no diesel coming through the fuel line after the filter. There is a small quantity of diesel further along the tube but there is more air in there than diesel. So I'm guessing that the fuel pump has failed, or maybe it's not activating because there's some other fault. I've read that a camshaft position sensor can cause this issue, do you think that might be the cause? I've not yet connected an OBD2 reader to it or called the RAC again.

 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, please!

 

Thanks,

 

B@rnstormer

Blocked filter is a possibility, particularly if its got water inside with the colder weather. Also possible you have an air leak in the pipe further up, in which case it won't suck it though either.

 

Is there a manual pump (looks like a bulb in the line) on the inlet to the filter? I've not seen a mk3 but other diesels have had similar, if so then disconnect the feed into the filter and see if you can pump anything up, then try the same with it connected, that should tell you if its blocked.