75 - 2.0 Diesel Saloon - Power Steering out - cranking but not turning over

[Cmcpress]

Hi Guys,

First post and sad to say it's because of some trouble today. Driving on the motorway - breaking for a roundabout the steering suddenly siezed up and the brakes became unresponsive. After managing to push the car out of the road the car will crank but won't turn over.

Looking at the fuel into the engine - it's got just under a quarter of a tank and yet the fuel doesn't come out in a steady stream.

Any ideas what the problem could be? Any tests we can run as a diagnostic?

[Mark2000cc]

Classic symptoms of a failed in tank fuel pump, if it gets below quarter of a tank they can fail, try putting a gallon or two in and see if it starts.

The pump may also be fine, but the fuel gauge can be unreliable, so you think you have a quarter of a tank when in fact it is completely empty, i had exactly the same symptoms, and filling it with more fuel, started straight up more or less.

[SD1too]

Jez,

to the forum.

Originally Posted by Cmcpress

... the steering suddenly siezed up and the brakes became unresponsive.

It sounds as if the engine stalled so your power steering pump stopped and you lost servo assistance to the brakes.

... the car will crank but won't turn over.

"Cranking" and "turning over" mean the same thing. I think you meant to say that the engine wouldn't "fire".

Simon

[llanmartin]

Sounds just like the tank pump. A new one will cost around £250. There is a peugeot one that will fit and is I believe more reliable and slightly more powerful that is around £90, I got mine off a fellow member for £30 garage fit it for me and that was another £120 so cost £150 all in, however I now know it is a job I can do my self so will take that option next time.

[Rob Bell]

If you turn the ignition on, you should hear the fuel pumps - one is under the rear seat (the low pressure (LP) pump) and the other under the bonnet (the high pressure (HP) pump) on Mk1 cars. Later cars use a single pump.

If you pull the rear seat swab out, it'll make your task easier.

If when the ignition is switched on and there is no noise from the rear pump, then that's your problem: the pump has broken.

Replacement is actually pretty easy DIY. There are guides available on here. I bought a pump motor and replaced this in the existing pump assembly and popped everything back together.

The bad news is that the HP pump failed a year or so later... But again, replacement of this one is not too hard either.

Good luck!

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by Rob Bell

If you turn the ignition on, you should hear the fuel pumps - one is under the rear seat (the low pressure (LP) pump) and the other under the bonnet (the high pressure (HP) pump) on Mk1 cars. Later cars use a single pump.

If you pull the rear seat swab out, it'll make your task easier.

If when the ignition is switched on and there is no noise from the rear pump, then that's your problem: the pump has broken.

Replacement is actually pretty easy DIY. There are guides available on here. I bought a pump motor and replaced this in the existing pump assembly and popped everything back together.

The bad news is that the HP pump failed a year or so later... But again, replacement of this one is not too hard either.

Good luck!

Easier to have a listen by removing the fuel filler cap rather than remove the rear seat though
Brian

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by Rob Bell

If you turn the ignition on, you should hear the fuel pumps - one is under the rear seat (the low pressure (LP) pump) and the other under the bonnet (the high pressure (HP) pump) on Mk1 cars. Later cars use a single pump.

There are 3 fuel pumps on the earlier cars (4 if you have a fuel burning heater).

In tank low pressure pump, under bonnet low pressure pump and engine driven high pressure pump.