Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Tue 5 Nov 2013 21:17

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Titan500

I'm hoping we have some GM experts out there...

I have a 99 1.7 turbo diesel Astra. (Vauxhall engine). The car came to me about 200 miles ago with a receipt for a fuel pump for over £700 ! just a few months before I got it.

The car has run exceptionally well until it started missing the odd beat....this became more frequent until it stopped altogether, and now wont go at all. There appears to be no fuel reaching the pump, but it seems unlikely to be a pump issue in light of the money recently spent. I read on-line of a bod with similar symptoms, who said it was a dry joint in the ecu, and advised me to pop it open and check for some burning inside.

At a glance, I can't see an ecu......any thoughts guys?

All help much appreciated.

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Wed 6 Nov 2013 09:40

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Peter.N.

Is this a common rail engine or does it have an injection pump?

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Wed 6 Nov 2013 16:02

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Titan500

Thanks for your response........this model has a Bosch pump.

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Wed 6 Nov 2013 22:36

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - elekie&a/c doctor

This is probably an X17dt engine which is normal direct injection (non common rail)diesel system.There is a pump control module on top of the bosch pump and an engine control unit under the plastic scuttle panel by the wipers.This system is not the later type that suffer with poor solder joints on the diesel pump ecu.Really need to get some diagnostic equipt hooked up to see what is going on.Is there any fuel at the filter?

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Thu 7 Nov 2013 20:25

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Titan500

There was pretty much no fuel in the filter at all......but I don't think this model has a primer pump in the tank.

You are right......guessing will get me nowhere, I need someone with diagnostic kit.

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Fri 8 Nov 2013 15:07

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - dieselnut

It sounds like you have an air leak into the fuel line.

If it hasn't got an in-tank pump there should be a hand primer in the engine bay. Prime the fuel so it fills the pump & then try starting. Once you can get it started you will have to insert some clear tube at various points in the line to find where the air is getting in. Mightg be at the fuel filter, hand primer or some perished fuel line.

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Fri 8 Nov 2013 21:29

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Titan500

Thanks dieselnut....your input is appreciated. I have a fella with some Vauxhall fault finding software coming to plug into it on monday evening. I guess if all electrics prove to be good, the air leak may be a possibility. Fingers crossed, a clear fault is revealed.

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Wed 13 Nov 2013 20:49

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Titan500

The fella came along with the diagnostic software, which showed that the fuel cut off solenoid in the pump is working ok.....he thought that was most likely the problem, but his screen came up with "catastrophic system failure", and he is currently trying to determine what that means. The pump is not turning when we crank the engine, I think if push comes to shove, I may take the ecu/edu, whatever it's called......off the pump and send it for a refurb. Peeps on ebay offering the service for £40 or so, so no big gamble there.

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Thu 14 Nov 2013 20:51

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - mfarrow

Having done an eBay search, I think you're looking at refubishments for the Y17DT/Y17DTL engines which are Isuzu DOHC and have an ECU with two connectors on the top, and another for the pump with one connector at the back of the engine.

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Thu 14 Nov 2013 21:31

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - MrEckerslikefromRamsbottom

"I read on-line of a bod with similar symptoms, who said it was a dry joint in the ecu, and advised me to pop it open and check for some burning inside."

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Having read the forum thread about the 'dry joints in the pump ecu', and having discussed the reported discovery of solder dust and failed joints on the circuit boards with a knowledgeable friend, I agree with his diagnosis that the reported dry joints are due to the use of 'lead-free solder', a most unfortunate Health-and-Safety ruling which has led to the use of a type of solder which, simply put, doesn't work. Lead-free solder doesn't flow well and sets in grainy and brittle lumps which are prone to breaking up when subjected to the temperature changes and vibration when fastened to a vehicle engine.

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Sat 16 Nov 2013 17:17

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - Titan500

Thanks for all the input guys......can anyone recommend a reasonable company for the testing and possible repair of my pump EDU?

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Sat 16 Nov 2013 18:07

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel 1999 - Astra diesel wont run.......... - elekie&a/c doctor

"the pump is not turning when we crank the engine",is the comment from your previous post.Are you sure the cambelt is not broken?

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