Problem starting

MalteseMarc · 18th September 2020, 18:26

Hi,

I have another problem with my car that I really could do with your help with. I'll give a little background history of the problem. So, about 6 years ago I noticed that my car,2004 cdti, would very occasional have problems starting, with this excellent forum I realised that it was the under bonnet fuel pump, which sometimes taping it sprung it into life. I also read that running it on a low fuel tank (which I used to do) puts extra strain on it. So since that time I always run it on a full take and top up when it uses about £20 of fuel, since that time the pump carried on working until early last year where it played up again, so I fitted a new one that I had bought and intended to fit a few years earlier.
Problem solved, well so I thought, about 9 months later the same problem, the car would crank over but not start, it would be intermittent, so sometimes it would work fine, turn the car off and on, no problem, other times I would have to wait a couple of hours before it would start again. So I put this down to another under bonnet fuel pump as in all cases of it not starting their would be no noise from the pump. So I bought another one from a member here who sells after market ones that are supposed to be an improvement on the original, but after about 3 months the same problem and even when sent back for a replacement which yet again I have fitted, this time after about 3 weeks I've just noticed that the same problem with the same symptoms are surfacing again. Please don't tell me it would be dodgy fuel pumps, I surely couldn't have 3 of them. Could this be a crank or Cam sensor problem.?
I've owned this car 13 years and it's been my best car by far, but with my recent problems I'm starting to lose faith in it, especially as I need it for my work here in rural France.
Any ideas what it could be, I'm really hoping it is a simple fix.

Kind regards,

Marc

COLVERT · 18th September 2020, 18:52

You say that in all cases when it doesn't start there is no noise from the fuel pump.---Then in each case when you fit another pump the engine starts.

Either you have been very unlucky and have had several dud fuel pumps OR when you fit a pump you have disturbed a poor connection which works for a while and after a short time stops working again.

Maybe if you disconnect the electrical supply to the pump then take a lead direct from the battery positive terminal to the terminal on the pump. If this makes it work then it's possible your problem is in the cable that you have temporarily disconnected.---

Mike Noc · 18th September 2020, 19:43

Have you checked that your plenum chamber drains aren't blocked? When it fails to start does the oil pressure warning lamp come on with key to position II as it should?

Worth checking that you actually have power to the fuel pumps - that would at least eliminate your new pump from being the cause if it isn't getting a supply voltage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalteseMarc

I also read that running it on a low fuel tank (which I used to do) puts extra strain on it.

Don't believe everything you read - that is nonsense.

.

COLVERT · 18th September 2020, 19:48

Hey, Mike.---Have you noticed we're running neck to neck on forum join dates and posts ??---I'm just a whisker ahead as I joined just before you did.

To the OP. If you solve the problem do come back and tell us what it was.--

PS. MalteseMark, whereabouts are you in FRANCE. ?? I'm in 79.

Mike Noc · 18th September 2020, 20:03

Must admit I don't usually notice the stats Jon, but looks like you are right.

Yorkshire GOC · 19th September 2020, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalteseMarc

Hi,

I have another problem with my car that I really could do with your help with. I'll give a little background history of the problem. So, about 6 years ago I noticed that my car,2004 cdti, would very occasional have problems starting, with this excellent forum I realised that it was the under bonnet fuel pump, which sometimes taping it sprung it into life. I also read that running it on a low fuel tank (which I used to do) puts extra strain on it. So since that time I always run it on a full take and top up when it uses about £20 of fuel, since that time the pump carried on working until early last year where it played up again, so I fitted a new one that I had bought and intended to fit a few years earlier.
Problem solved, well so I thought, about 9 months later the same problem, the car would crank over but not start, it would be intermittent, so sometimes it would work fine, turn the car off and on, no problem, other times I would have to wait a couple of hours before it would start again. So I put this down to another under bonnet fuel pump as in all cases of it not starting their would be no noise from the pump. So I bought another one from a member here who sells after market ones that are supposed to be an improvement on the original, but after about 3 months the same problem and even when sent back for a replacement which yet again I have fitted, this time after about 3 weeks I've just noticed that the same problem with the same symptoms are surfacing again. Please don't tell me it would be dodgy fuel pumps, I surely couldn't have 3 of them. Could this be a crank or Cam sensor problem.?
I've owned this car 13 years and it's been my best car by far, but with my recent problems I'm starting to lose faith in it, especially as I need it for my work here in rural France.
Any ideas what it could be, I'm really hoping it is a simple fix.

Kind regards,

Marc

Hello -as you report only non starting as opposed to cut outs/stalling as well it may be worth swopping out the CAM SENSOR ( a failing Crank sensor can cause both non starts and stalling -a Cam sensor failing only causes non starts) -worth changing the cam sensor to start with.

MalteseMarc · 19th September 2020, 17:40

Thank you guys for your suggestions, will have to investigate further, perhaps the wiring route or the cam sensor. Just another thought in regards to this fault, when the engine is cold, so first thing in the morning it has always started, I don't know if that is any relevance to the specific problem

MalteseMarc · 19th September 2020, 17:44

To the OP. If you solve the problem do come back and tell us what it was.--

PS. MalteseMark, whereabouts are you in FRANCE. ?? I'm in 79.[/QUOTE]

Hi Colvert,

I'm not a million miles away from you l, I'm over in dept 87, about half an hour South of limoges

COLVERT · 19th September 2020, 18:37

Post 6 maybe.

When cam sensors start to fail they will usually start a cold engine but not a hot one.

ZedTeeT · 19th September 2020, 19:13

18th September 2020, 18:26	#1
MalteseMarc Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDTI connoisseur SE auto, 2004 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: France Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 138 Thanked 70 Times in 52 Posts	Problem starting Hi, I have another problem with my car that I really could do with your help with. I'll give a little background history of the problem. So, about 6 years ago I noticed that my car,2004 cdti, would very occasional have problems starting, with this excellent forum I realised that it was the under bonnet fuel pump, which sometimes taping it sprung it into life. I also read that running it on a low fuel tank (which I used to do) puts extra strain on it. So since that time I always run it on a full take and top up when it uses about £20 of fuel, since that time the pump carried on working until early last year where it played up again, so I fitted a new one that I had bought and intended to fit a few years earlier. Problem solved, well so I thought, about 9 months later the same problem, the car would crank over but not start, it would be intermittent, so sometimes it would work fine, turn the car off and on, no problem, other times I would have to wait a couple of hours before it would start again. So I put this down to another under bonnet fuel pump as in all cases of it not starting their would be no noise from the pump. So I bought another one from a member here who sells after market ones that are supposed to be an improvement on the original, but after about 3 months the same problem and even when sent back for a replacement which yet again I have fitted, this time after about 3 weeks I've just noticed that the same problem with the same symptoms are surfacing again. Please don't tell me it would be dodgy fuel pumps, I surely couldn't have 3 of them. Could this be a crank or Cam sensor problem.? I've owned this car 13 years and it's been my best car by far, but with my recent problems I'm starting to lose faith in it, especially as I need it for my work here in rural France. Any ideas what it could be, I'm really hoping it is a simple fix. Kind regards, Marc __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

19th September 2020, 17:40	#7
MalteseMarc Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDTI connoisseur SE auto, 2004 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: France Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 138 Thanked 70 Times in 52 Posts	Thank you guys for your suggestions, will have to investigate further, perhaps the wiring route or the cam sensor. Just another thought in regards to this fault, when the engine is cold, so first thing in the morning it has always started, I don't know if that is any relevance to the specific problem __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

19th September 2020, 17:44	#8
MalteseMarc Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDTI connoisseur SE auto, 2004 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: France Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 138 Thanked 70 Times in 52 Posts	To the OP. If you solve the problem do come back and tell us what it was.-- PS. MalteseMark, whereabouts are you in FRANCE. ?? I'm in 79.[/QUOTE] Hi Colvert, I'm not a million miles away from you l, I'm over in dept 87, about half an hour South of limoges __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

19th September 2020, 19:13	#10
ZedTeeT Gets stuck in MG ZT-T Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Horsham Posts: 874 Thanks: 197 Thanked 239 Times in 207 Posts	__________________ My garage. 03/53 MG ZT-T+ CDTi auto in XPG. 232k and much to do! 21/21 MG ZS ev. Daily. 85/C Capri 2.8i Special. Mine 29+ years. 82/X Talbot Tagora SX V6. Restoration project. 11/11 Hyundai I Load CRDi. Van....... nuff said.

18th September 2020, 18:52	#2
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	You say that in all cases when it doesn't start there is no noise from the fuel pump.---Then in each case when you fit another pump the engine starts. Either you have been very unlucky and have had several dud fuel pumps OR when you fit a pump you have disturbed a poor connection which works for a while and after a short time stops working again. Maybe if you disconnect the electrical supply to the pump then take a lead direct from the battery positive terminal to the terminal on the pump. If this makes it work then it's possible your problem is in the cable that you have temporarily disconnected.---

18th September 2020, 19:48	#4
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	Hey, Mike.---Have you noticed we're running neck to neck on forum join dates and posts ??---I'm just a whisker ahead as I joined just before you did. To the OP. If you solve the problem do come back and tell us what it was.-- PS. MalteseMark, whereabouts are you in FRANCE. ?? I'm in 79.

18th September 2020, 20:03	#5
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,551 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Must admit I don't usually notice the stats Jon, but looks like you are right.

19th September 2020, 18:37	#9
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	Post 6 maybe. When cam sensors start to fail they will usually start a cold engine but not a hot one.