ITP, I presume ...?

[andymc]

Had a lot of driving to do last night and no time to stop for fuel before any stations on my way home had closed, so the fuel light came on about 15 miles from home. I then had a bit of trouble starting it this morning, although it coughed into life when I pressed the accelerator a bit. Couldn't hear anything when I switched off again, then turned on the electrics and listened at the fuel filler, but it's been blowing a gale all day here so I couldn't swear it was making no noise at all. However as the last full service was just three months ago, there shouldn't be any clogged filters so this seems to me like the ITP has probably failed, or is on the way out at least. Sound about right?

I didn't want to risk trying to start it again until I got some fuel in it, which I got done this evening so I'll see how it behaves tomorrow.

[henocsr]

I would say so, if you cannot here the pump. Is your car a facelift or preface lift? Most facelift cars have a single in tank LP (low pressure) pump. All pre facelift cars have an intank and an underbonnet LP pumps.

If you have one with 2 LP pumps if you fill the tank with about 1/4 to 1/2 should start with a bit of cranking. If yours is the single LP pump then new pump is the only option.

[andymc]

Yeah it's a Mk1 so two pumps. Ordered one anyway just in case. I'll be ordering an UBP tomorrow as well, seeing as the guidance appears to be that once one goes, the other won't be far behind.

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by andymc

Had a lot of driving to do last night and no time to stop for fuel before any stations on my way home had closed, so the fuel light came on about 15 miles from home. I then had a bit of trouble starting it this morning, although it coughed into life when I pressed the accelerator a bit. Couldn't hear anything when I switched off again, then turned on the electrics and listened at the fuel filler, but it's been blowing a gale all day here so I couldn't swear it was making no noise at all. However as the last full service was just three months ago, there shouldn't be any clogged filters so this seems to me like the ITP has probably failed, or is on the way out at least. Sound about right?

I didn't want to risk trying to start it again until I got some fuel in it, which I got done this evening so I'll see how it behaves tomorrow.

Assuming your gauge and light were correct, probably not the ITP. Were it the ITP, it would have run out of fuel at around the 1/4 full mark.

I am also not convinced that most of the MKII's had a single pump, the single pump MKII was I think quite rare.

The starting issue was more likely injector leak back or similar issue, which cleared itself after a bit of cranking.

[steve-45]

Think the "single pump" models started around 05 reg.

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by andymc

I didn't want to risk trying to start it again until I got some fuel in it, which I got done this evening so I'll see how it behaves tomorrow.

There isn't any risk associated with trying to start it with no fuel. Damage to the pumps can occur if they left running too long without fuel due to overheating, but an attempt to start isn't anywhere near long enough.

Worth putting 10 litres of fuel in and seeing if it then starts.

If you unplug the outlet pipe from the UBP where it enters the fuel filter and place it in a jar (just in case) then with key to position II, if there is no fuel coming out and you hear a noise like a kid sucking on an empty McDonalds' milk shake cup with a straw, then suspect the ITP or that the gauge is wrong and you have actually run out of fuel.









.

[bl52krz]

Before spending any money, take the electrical plug off the top of the ubp and put some Vaseline, not grease, on the two contacts in the top of the pump. Work the plug up and down on the contacts, and then put it on properly. Try starting now. Cost nowt.

[COLVERT]

Just one little thing Mr 4 car man.------It would have been nice if in your OP you had mentioned what car you were having trouble with.------

[andymc]

Thanks for the replies folks - haven't had much time to post (or do much else!) over the past couple of days as I've been absolutely flat out. Apologies for not specifying the engine - all my cars are CDTs and the one which had difficulty starting is the black saloon I drive as a daily. It certainly won't be for lack of maintenance, as the last full service was just over 3000 miles ago and included a change of all filters including PCV.

Anyway, this morning I poured in nearly 20 litres of diesel, which was enough to bring the gauge up above one-third full and (for the first time since the incident) tried turning the key - it started first time. Switched it off and left it for 5-10 minutes, then turned the electrics on fully without starting the engine (i.e. so that the glowplug light etc came on), and listened at the fuel filler again. It's not as blustery today but I still couldn't hear anything, so I think it's probably safe to say the ITP is either dead or quite sick.

I see I've more food for thought re injectors etc - if it turns out that there is (also) an issue with leakback, does that necessitate a set of new injectors or just replacing an individual faulty one? Would it be as simple as chucking in a dose of injector cleaner? Been several months since I did that.

Even if it turns out that the fault is solely due to injectors and not the ITP, I'm happy enough to have ordered both the pumps anyway as I like to have spares to hand in case of a breakdown. It was quite inconvenient when the ITP failed on another of my cars late last year and I had to put off the repair until the after the pump was delivered, which took a few days.

[COLVERT]

Probably best not to go looking for problems. ( Injectors. )

Low fuel and non working in-tank pump are possibly the only things to cause you trouble.

Avoid low fuel ( Below a quarter. ). Fit the pump and just drive it.---