53 reg conny 1.8 petrol, won't start.

[Tatts]

Originally Posted by BBCATZ

Just about to dismantle car & have a look.

Best put the thermals on as it is a bit parky here !

Will let you know how I get on .

Thanks again.

When mine seperated & I got it out of the tank I was expecting to see it almost in two halves. It wasn't. I pushed it together & it barely moved 2mm, but thats all it took for it to fail.

Tip for you - have LOTS of kitchen roll handy to absorb spilt fuel.

Good luck!

[BBCATZ]

Well........

What a palarver that was!

First of all managed to remove back seat with a makeshift prodder to release the rear springs.

Many thanks to T-cut for his advice in his how to.

Then pulled back the insulation & undid the four nuts on the access panel.

Amazed to see a sticker that showed the exact day & time it was manufactured!

I then pulled the pipe off by squeezing the green clip & then unscrewed the metal ring & carefully lifted the filter up from it's recess.

The filter did seem to be slighlty apart but not by much.
I squeezed it together & resat it back & refitted everything up to the metal ring.

The car ( & me much to SWMBO's disgust ) now reek of Shell unleaded - 100.9, A59 ,Lydiate .

I have not yet tried to restart the car as I want to let as much spilt petrol evaporate before I set myself on fire.

Three questions :

1. If the car starts what is the likelyhood of this happening again & stranding me.

2. Should I fit the orange clip while I still have relative access to the filter to definately stop it happening again.

3. Where can I order the orange clip?

P.S If anyone is here just after midnight ( & I expect that there will be quite a few ) then I may risk going outside to start it up to see if it works to let you know.

Once again thanks for the help & advice.

[Tatts]

Originally Posted by BBCATZ

1. If the car starts what is the likelyhood of this happening again & stranding me.

2. Should I fit the orange clip while I still have relative access to the filter to definately stop it happening again.

3. Where can I order the orange clip?

P.S If anyone is here just after midnight ( & I expect that there will be quite a few ) then I may risk going outside to start it up to see if it works to let you know.

Once again thanks for the help & advice.

Horrible job isn't it.

1. I did 10,000 miles before I got the clip fitted, after fixing it.

2. Your choice. But now you know what to do, it'll be easier next time you need to access it.

3. Xpart & Rimmers - just under a fiver IIRC

[BBCATZ]

Well......

Went to start it this morning (-0.5 degrees ) but the same happened.

It was cranking over but not firing up.
I will try & have another look at the filter when it warms up a bit this afternoon but if that does not cure it a visit to my local garage will be the next step.
I am also in danger of draining the battery if I keep on trying.

BTW - the yellow abs light was flashing away when the engine was cranking over , I,ve never seen that before.

PS the car has changed colour overnight from White Gold to "Frost White"

[BBCATZ]

Update.......

Rang up an xpart approved garage to see if they could solve the problem by hooking up on their t4.
Service manager said yes no probs,can fit you in this afternoon.

Took the car on a flatbed to the garage as I had had enough with this freezing cold weather & seemingly getting nowhere.

Cost of flatbed transport £94 for 17 miles. Wallet Stinger !

Got to garage only to be informed by receptionist that testbook was away in Italy ! However the mechanic said he would have a look anyway.

Three hours later......

Your car is ready now sir

The job sheet read :

Found low fuel pressure . Check & found fuel filter housing collapsed in fuel tank.Removed,Rebuilt,Retest. Now OK

Cost of this adventure: Labour £136 Part £4.99 VAT £24.67 Total Cost £165.66

Wallet Stinger number two!!

I presume the part fitted would be the orange clip.

This just shows that the wealth of advice & experience that the members possess is accurate & invaluble to novices like myself.

Many thanks & gratitutes for the help provided - Keep up the good work!!

Anyway....All's well that ends well I suppose. Here's to the next one.

P.S. The engine management light has just on as I was about two miles from home.
Don't know if this is in some way connected or just a coincidence but will ring them back tomorrow.

[BBCATZ]

Update...

Drove to work & back today with engine management light on.

Went to pick up smallest from school later & the light did not come on.

Had a few short trips afterwards & the light has stayed off. !

Hope this is the end.

BBCATZ

[Phil]

Originally Posted by BBCATZ

Update...

Drove to work & back today with engine management light on.

Went to pick up smallest from school later & the light did not come on.

Had a few short trips afterwards & the light has stayed off. !

Hope this is the end.

BBCATZ

If the car detects a fault, the eml will come on, if after about 3 or 4 drive cycles, ie heat up, cool down, heat up etc the car doesn't see a fault, it will just asume it was drunk and forget about it.

[kevin]

Originally Posted by Phil

If the car detects a fault, the eml will come on, if after about 3 or 4 drive cycles, ie heat up, cool down, heat up etc the car doesn't see a fault, it will just asume it was drunk and forget about it.

is that the fault or being drunk

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by BBCATZ

Check & found fuel filter housing collapsed in fuel tank.Removed,Rebuilt,Retest. Now OK

It's interesting that the filter had completely detached from the cap and apparently dropped into the tank, or at least dropped as far as it can go. I believe there's a plastic plate below the unit which limits its fall. It shows that the torque induced by the pipework can be quite considerable. From my own observations, the insertion of the filter module into its mounting creates anticlockwise thrust as viewed from the top. This is due to the stiffness of the fuel feed pipe attached to the bottom of the case and its positioning. Since the case will only fit in one place in the mounting, the thrust cannot be reduced by altering the postion. I've also read of a case where the plastic plate was actually cracked. Whether this be the result of internal stress or a ham-fisted fitting wasn't clear. Thank Goodness MGR came up with the organge clip gizmo before they went under.

TC