Engine Had Cut Out, Won't Start

[toodlepip]

Was out in the Synergie last week. Drove it about thirty miles at a good speed in heavy rain, stopped it outside daughters house, came back out after ten minutes, turned the key and it wouldn't start.

 

Cranked over ok, wanted to go, but just wouldn't. Coughed occasionally as if it wanted to but would not go. Sounded like a fuel problem.

 

Breakdown service thought it was the glowplugs not heating but as I had had no previous hints they weren't I don't think that is a possibility, and the weather was quite mild anyway.

 

Got towed to a garage, who after three days are still scratching their heads over it. Their fault tracing device throws up a number of options apparently (but not the glowplugs) and they are struggling. The latest offering is that it might be the fuel pump.

 

Anybody had a similar problem, and if so, what was the culprit.

 

The van has been performing faultlessly up to this minute and mucked up a days shopping to France, so not very pleased at the moment.

[paul.h]

It could be something simple such as a crankshaft sensor which is unlikely to give a fault code.

[toodlepip]

No, it has been isolated down to the fuel pump. Lots of faults shown on the garage diagnostics which all checked out ok, and left the fuel pump as the only possible culprit.

 

Can't quite get over the suddenness of it all. Operating perfectly one minute, won't run the next. Cranking happily away, but not pumping the fuel. I didn't realize they give way that quickly, absolutely no previous indications at all.

 

Getting fixed now, but it is going to be expensive.

[paul.h]

Which engine do you have - petrol or diesel and bhp power since so far it is not in any of your posts ? If it has an electric pump in the fuel tank these can fail without warning when the car is next needed to start - I had it on a petrol Saab and the RAC checked it by starting the car on easy start and then checking for a 12 volt supply at the pump.

[toodlepip]

Sorry for the long delay in replying. It is a 2.1 diesel. I am told it doesn't have a pump in the tank, but there is wiring for one, but I think it is part of the generic wiring they fit to these vehicles.

 

The van is still at the garage, they can't find fault it, but can't explain it either. Last resort the ECU is coming out and being tested.

 

To me is it s a fuel problem but as a new fuel injector has been fitted (luckily easy to get to on the top of the engine), and fuel has been pumped up to it is still won't go.

 

The garage have run out of ideas.

[paul.h]

I am not sure but I think the immobliser works on the fuel pump. If so it could be your car is not recognising the ignition key. To check it properly may need to be done at a Citroen dealer, which I suspect your garage is not. If your garage is not a Citroen dealer then enquire as to the cost of getting it to one since it may turn out lower cost than replacing things like the ecu which may not be at fault.

[toodlepip]

Thanks, we only had one key with it, and the chip was missing. He has until the end of the week to come up with a result or it is going elsewhere.

It has got expensive already and I am reluctant to move it on as the next place will carry out the same checks again.

 

Our nearest Citroen dealer is twenty miles away!

 

Fingers crossed.

[coastline taxis]

have they put it on a scanner and went to live data to see whats stopping it. also any codes

[toodlepip]

Yes, it threw up a series of things, all of which proved false in that they cleared when checked.

 

The only consistent thing on theirs and the breakdown mechanics scanner was a failure of pre heaters, which was a bit odd as the car had been driven for thirty five miles immediately before failing. It had always started on first turn of the key, and since it failed it has been indoors so a preheater would not really be needed. It indicated all some had failed, which I had never come across before, they were tested and were ok.

 

Tomorrow is crunch day, it is either fixed or it goes elsewhere.

[coastline taxis]

can they put there live data sheet on here. they need to be looking at the following

 

cam/crank syncronisation

fuel rail pressure

engine speed

air flow

And a few others and one of them will point them in the right direction

[toodlepip]

It was fixed, faulty fuel pump in the tank.

 

Drove it about twenty miles and the engine cut out with the management light on again. Restarted shortly after on a turn of the key stopped again after a few yards. Start / stopping for varying distances down the road to home, diagnostic tool shows a fault on the pump that feeds the injectors in that something is closing stopping the fuel supply. Going back in today.

 

Losing all confidence with this now. It has been a month getting this far, and cost me a bomb into the bargain. Probably more than the van is worth but other than this problem it is a good vehicle!

[toodlepip]

At last, at last, all ok, the new pump was faulty (!). Another one put in and it is ok - for now!

[paul.h]

I am pleased it is now fixed. It has taken some time so I guess you must have been in the verge of wanting to replace the car.