booster pump on Primastar van

Milsey

I've a big problem starting my 05 nissan primastar van. My question is is there a lift pump or booster pump in all 05 primastars in the fuel tank. I don't hear it when I turn on the ignition. Also when I take the pipe of the top of the fuel filter and turn on the ignition no diesel is pumped. Just before the filter is a priming ball. I don't know if I read or heard that if there is a priming ball that there is no booster pump. If anyone can shed some light on a definative answer i'd really appreciate it.

mercservices

pump is in the tank, should run for a couple of sec after ya knock the ignition on.

Milsey

mercservices wrote: »

pump is in the tank, should run for a couple of sec after ya knock the ignition on.

When I turn ignition on it doesn't run at all. The van is very hard to start but when I do get it started it runs like a dream. I wonder if the lift pump is the problem so. It must be.??

mercservices

Milsey wrote: »

When I turn ignition on it doesn't run at all. The van is very hard to start but when I do get it started it runs like a dream. I wonder if the lift pump is the problem so. It must be.??

id say so, if the pipe is off at the filter housing and you turn it on its def the tank unit not running.

crosshair1

If you have the priming bulb you dont have a pump in tank, prime this with the bulb when you're trying to start, theres not much else you can test on these without a diagnostic interface or diesel leakage equipment.

mercservices

crosshair1 wrote: »

If you have the priming bulb you dont have a pump in tank, prime this with the bulb when you're trying to start, theres not much else you can test on these without a diagnostic interface or diesel leakage equipment.

ya wrong there pal, it has a lift pump.

crosshair1

I stand corrected, but as far as I have seen on these vans (vivaro/primastar/trafic) with the F9Q engine, there are 2 different delphi fuels systems fitted, one has in tank pump to deliver fuel to high pressure pump on the engine.

The second has a gear pump mounted on back of the high pressure pump to draw the fuel up from the tank and this is the only one I've seen to have the priming bulb.
Easiest check is to lift off engine cover and look at back of hp pump
You learn something everyday!!

Edit: just saw that it does run fine once started, which means its not the in tank pump if fitted
Really need to get it on diagnostic, common faults such as cam sensor or excessive injector leakage spring to mind
both will give this symptom but without a fault code & live data its really a guessing game.

Milsey

Hi all, just to give more info. The van is very very hard to start in the mornings. I have to turn it over for a minute or two to get it to fire. When it does start its ticks over fine but when you go to drive it nearly cuts out but when you get 10 yards or so it's fine with plenty of power. It will give no trouble starting for the rest of the day but the next morning is the same. It's not as bad now in the warmer weather and if I leave it and start it inthe afternoon it will start that bit easier but is still a mule.
I have replaced all 4 injectors. I've had on with renault garages computer and it brings up no faults. There are no lights lit on the dash. Got compression tested and was within tolerence. I've had it on another computer and no faults. I've cleaned the egr valve today. The heater plugs are fine and working correctly to the best of my knowlege. I've put a new battery in it also because the old one was nackered with all the starting. I'm at a loss to know what it is. Id be better of if it just would't start at all because once it does start it's fine for the day. Drives with great power and I only get to check it in morning. I've also put a one way valve in the fuel line to stop it flowing back. Any advise or help would be great. I've a jeep to get around at the moment so the van is just sitting there. I've had this problem since January.

Guy:Incognito

I assume your leaving it in the mornings for the glow plugs to do their job and the light goes out and not just jumping straight in and starting it?

Milsey

Stekelly wrote: »

I assume your leaving it in the mornings for the glow plugs to do their job and the light goes out and not just jumping straight in and starting it?

I actually let it heat 4 or 5 times and no difference. I've put a meter on the heater lead and it gets 12 volts when ignition is turned on for about 12 seconds then drops to about 4 volts. I've taken all glow plugs out and touched them of a battery and they glow evenly in about 3 seconds. I've also linked a wire across all 4 plugs and connected it straight to the battery to heat them and still would't start. Lately when I go to start it in the afternoon the engine catches and dies, catches and dies for 7 or 8 times then fires up and idles fine. Seems like a fuel problem of some sort but what?

crosshair1

Ok good to get the full picture.
I am surprised that renault were not able to get to the bottom of this, I understand there were no stored fault codes but this doesnt mean the fault can't be observed in live data.
What was the reasoning behind replacing the injectors?
Did you bring it to renault just to "put it on the computer" or for them to fix the problem.
There are a few basics to be checked when its on the computer while problem is occurring
Crank rpm
Cam Crank syncronisation
Fuel rail pressure, it wont fire injectors until approx 200bar is reached
If the injectors are being triggered??
Forget about the glow plugs, this is direct injection common rail, they wont be required for starting until into the minuses.

Milsey

A friend of mine is a machanic and he thought that the prolem was the injectors so we wanted to take them out to get them tested but they were stuck hard and they actually broke after a day of trying to get them out so I had to replace them then. I just brought it to renault and asked them to check it out on their computer and then to let me know what they thought the problem was. I didn't want them to go replacing everything until they found the problem. Thats what the garages seem to do at times rather than using experience to solve the problem. I don't have a hole load of money just to through at it to tell you the truth. renault told me that there was water in the engine and gear box and they would have to strip down the engine and rebuild it but the van has been sitting in the driveway since january and I can't see how water would be in it. If there was water in it surely it wouldn't run like a dream when it does start. I checked the oil and it's fine. My friend has a proper computer also and nothing shows up when looking at the engine while running

crosshair1

pm sent