Mk 2 1.9 TDi Fuel Starvation

[MrDaveH]

Hi
    Please can anybody help?  I have a 2005 Mk 2  1.9 TDi  150.  About six months ago whilst driving my Galaxy around my local area at low speeds, it  gave the impression it run out of fuel, it was three quarter full at the time.  I cranked the engine over about six to seven times, each time for about 5 secs when it finally spluttered into life.

All was well for about two months when it happened again on the Motorway, it happened twice in quick succession. Again all was well till about a week ago when this problem started on a regular basis.

What I have noticed and has done for a while is that when the car starts from cold it starts instantly. After the Car has been driven  for a bit and the engine is warm, it takes two to three seconds to start.

I have been using various Diesel additives on a regular basis.  Turbo cleaner, Redex system cleaner Etc.  I changed the fuel filter yesterday hoping it was a easy fix, The car run perfectly this morning with a fast Motorway run, about 15 miles, but on the way home today I crawled along in heavy traffic when ran out of fuel again. Again the usual cranking over got it started, this happened four bloody times on the way home.  Can anybody tell me where to look next please.

                   

[johnnyroper]

If you are sure it is a lack of fuel causing it I would check the pick up in tank and the operation of lift pump.

Another thing to check/change is cam sensor as these can cause similar issues once engine is warm.

Finally the common relay problem that affects these galaxyââ,¬â,,¢s relay 109 I think it is? The solder joints on PCB break down.

[MrDaveH]

Hello again
                Thank for your prompt reply, I`ll start with the fuel tank over weekend, is the lift pump contained in the device that sits in the fuel tank or is it elsewhere?  I had the same problem this morning, drove carefully to work, plenty of coasting in gear, engine braking Etc and almost made the 15 miles to  work. On the the way home I gave it the beans where possible and it conked out after three miles. Rather than trying to start it immediately I let the car sit for half hour turning the ignition on and off, it still didn`t start.  I had to crank it over the usual way to start it.

Could you tell me what sort of symptoms a failing cam sensor would  throw up, The car has been on a diagnostic machine recently with no faults present.

Is there any filters on the in tank pump that could be cleaned while I`m at it.
                                                                                                                 Regard
                                                                                                                             Dave

[johnnyroper]

The lift pump is under the carpet just behind drivers seat,need to lift the carpet,undo inspection plate and then you can access it. Yes there is a gauge filter type thing on it.

Failing cam sensor can cause symptoms you have as ECU can not determine cam position to energise the required injector,typically fails when warm.
Relay 109 also tends to give issues when warm also I think?

[Chrispb]

you could test the output from the pump by removing the outlet pipe from the filter can extend it into a jam jar.
Get someone to turn the ignition on and off a few times, you should get a good squirt off fuel every time you turn the ignition on.

[MrDaveH]

          SUCCESS
                            Decided to go straight to the lift pump in the tank, surprisingly easy to remove if you take your time. only took a Philips and 13mm socket. eventually decide to dismantle the bottom half of the pump for access to screen filter.

So glad I did, the complete surface of the screen filter was caked in crap, literally 1-2mm thick, no wonder the bloody car didn`t want to run. I went a good 30-40 mile drive on the motorway, absolutely perfect, even starts instantly.

So glad there are websites like this, I didn`t even know there was pump in the tank, and Thank you Mr johnnyroper for your help.

[MrDaveH]

P.s
       Getting the bloody carpet back in to position  almost took longer than cleaning the filter. and also found one of my wife`s diamond earings she lost about seven years ago.

[christiant]

Had the same problem with mine, but also even though the tandem pump wasn't leaking, it wasn't producing enough pressure. I also cleaned the lines while I had them disconnected at the sender at the back and applied compressed air at the front. There was a lot of soot at the screen at the lift pump and also the lines, so I suspect that somehow damaged the tandem pump... Unnecessarily while trying to track down the problem I replaced injector seals and bolts, MAF, and fuel filter.