Difficulty Starting - Poss. Fuel System?

[jonnyb]

Hello all. Have read quite a lot of the forum and found the postings very helpful - thank you.

I am the proud owner of a'96 Xantia hatch VSX. Till now has run beautifully. About six weeks ago it started to 'cough' just once or twice on starting accompanied with a puff of smoke out the back. This has got worse until i can't get her started under her own power (have got a jump from another car and once stopped coughing and smoking (10-20 secs) runs fine). This seems to be a cold starting problem as last week she would start fine once warm.

 

On pumping the priming pump it goes reasonabley firm but very quickly (10 seconds later) goes soft.

I followed the Haines manual procedure for bleeding the system. Not sure where the outlet union valve was though (think i worked it out). The picture in the manual is of the 2.1 diesel. Does anyone know where this is - it's a bosch pump. Also I noticed that when I pumped the primer fuel was moving in the seam between the fuel filter lid and casing - i've changed the filter and bolted it fimly now.

 

Does this sound typical (baring in mind the smoke and coughing) of a leak in the fuel system and if so any clue to where i might look? If not any other ideas? I'd be very grateful and will give feedback if and when you help me cure her! Thanks.

[timjm]

Had a similar problem myselfwhich turned out to be the injector leak off pipes leaking air.

They are the small rubber pipes linking all the injectors, & there is a blanking plug on the last one.

Change them all , but get a genuine blank from citroen cos the aftermarket ones only last 5 mins.

Try priming the hand primer befor starting , if this improves it its almost certainly an air leak in the fuel system, if not check all the heater plugs , just one down will make it poor starting.

Hope this helps

[jonnyb]

Had a similar problem myselfwhich turned out to be the injector leak off pipes leaking air.

They are the small rubber pipes linking all the injectors, & there is a blanking plug on the last one.

Change them all , but get a genuine blank from citroen cos the aftermarket ones only last 5 mins.

Try priming the hand primer befor starting , if this improves it its almost certainly an air leak in the fuel system, if not check all the heater plugs , just one down will make it poor starting.

Hope this helps

[jonnyb]

Thanks Timjim. I'll let you know how i get on.

[jonnyb]

Thanks Timjim. I'll let you know how i get on.

 

Feel a bit of a fool. Had managed to convince myself it was more complicated than it was. Glow plugs! changed all four and she's back to starting as sweet as a nut. Thanks Tim Jim and all those who viewed.