Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 21:23
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Jon Wright

This car will get a lump hammer through it very soon

Start car from cold, no problem

30 minute run, nice and hot, switch off, restart after 1 min, no problem

Try and restart after 10 mins, no chance, cars turns over, battery good, but won't start

Try and restart after car has cooled down (1 hour) no problem

Changed high pressure valve, new copper seal in injector 4 (leaking) cannot hear fuel pump make a noise when ignition turned on

Would be grateful for any advice for my next step

Cheers

Jon


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Fri 14 Oct 2016 00:47
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Peter.N.

Hi Jon

I take it this is the 2.0. Hdi 8 valve. I had a similar problem with a C5 with the same engine and it was the pressure regulator on the back of the HP pump, is this the one you have changed?

If it has an in tank pump you should be able to hear it for a few seconds when you turn the ignition on. Do you not hear it at all or only when the car wont start?

Peter

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Fri 14 Oct 2016 09:46
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Railroad.

In-tank fuel pump failures are very common on Peugeot and Citroën HDi models. With the engine cranking you should be able to hear the pump running. Place your hand on the underside of the fuel tank and you should feel the slight vibration from it. If not then whack the tank with your hand while someone else cranks the engine. If the pump immediately starts running and the engine starts then the pump needs replacing.

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Sat 15 Oct 2016 17:16
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Jon Wright

Hi railroad

I can't make the pump make any noise at all, that said the car will start from cold, and after cooling down for an hour, but not after cooling down for 10 minutes

Don't understand this ??

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Sat 15 Oct 2016 20:00
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Railroad.

Double check under the bonnet. If you have a fuel priming bulb then there will be no in-tank fuel pump. Otherwise there will be a pump in the tank which runs on cranking and engine running. Lift the rear seat to access it.

Edited by Railroad. on 15/10/2016 at 20:01

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Sun 16 Oct 2016 22:09
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Jon Wright

There is a priming bulb, and it has got an internal tank pump, tommorrow I am going to power the pump directly from a second battery, if I can't hear the pump spinning I will assume the pump has had it, if I can hear it, the wiring between fuse box and pump must be corroded, or there is a relay that isn't working as it should

Your comments are much apreciated

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Sat 15 Oct 2016 17:13
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Jon Wright

Hi Peter

Yes we have changed the high pressure regulator

But no matter how much I listen to the in tank fuel pump, there is no noise when turned on, or when trying to start the car

Am I right in saying the pump only comes on to put the system under pressure, or is it constantly on?

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Sun 16 Oct 2016 10:44
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Peter.N.

Maybe it doesn't have one, if not it should have a primer under the bonnet as mentioned by previous poster, have a look for a rubber bulb like the one the doctor uses to test your blood pressure. I think it depends on whether you have a Bosch or Siemens injection system.

The pump maintains the fuel pressure, it should come on as soon as you switch the ignition on, it will run for a few seconds to reach the required pressure and then come on again when the pressure drops but its unlikely that you will hear this with the engine running.

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Sun 16 Oct 2016 22:13
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Jon Wright

I appear to have the bulb, and an in tank pump, as I've said to railroad, tommorrow I'm going to bypass the wiring with another battery to see if the pump actually works

Thank you for your comments, much apreciated

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Mon 17 Oct 2016 19:50
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Jon Wright

Ok, I'm an idiot, yes it does have the rubber bulb under the bonnet, and no it doesn't have a fuel pump under the rear seat, just a sender unit and a filter

I have no idea what to try next

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Wed 19 Oct 2016 21:26
Citroen xsara 2L Diesel - Non starter - Avant

Thread closed. He's started another one on the same subject, for no obvious reason.

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