CMax in-tank fuel pump (If it has one...)

dr.fuzzenstein

The car:
06 Ford Focus CMax 1.8 TDCI 115 PS.
The problem:
Was driving to work on the motorway when suddenly the car lost power, red light came on and Engine Management error was displayed.
Had the car towed to a mechanic, who advised me that there was some debris and crud in the tank (dirt diesel perhaps), that got sucked into the fuel pump and blocked it.
He drained the tank, cleaned out the pump, replaced the fuel filter and all was well.
Today I started the car up in my drive (no problem), reversed down a few meters and the engine cut out and fault light came on again.
Noodled it for a bit, but no joy.
I opened up the fuel filter housing to find there was next to no fuel inside.
I attached a vacuum to draw fuel into the filter, but can't start it at the moment, because the battery is flat and my charger is puny and will take ages to start it up.
The question:
The fact that the fuel filter was empty would point towards the in-tank fuel pump not being able to pump fuel towards the filter.
Has anyone any experience in removing said pump? Are these pumps a common fault? Is a swap of the pump a feasible job to attempt at home?
I can't really blame the mechanic for the failure of the pump, it could just have burnt out due to the strain placed on it and can't really afford to get my car towed out again, cost me E80 the last time.

George Dalton

They don't have a lift pump in the tank.

dr.fuzzenstein

Where is it then?

George Dalton

There is no lift pump, only the high pressure pump on the engine itself.

dr.fuzzenstein

Let's hope it's only the belt that drives that, it's kind of a bit overdue

Mar4ix

if there is no fuel in filter, most common problem (not sure about ford though) is faulty fuel filter. .... had one diesel german van for service, after changed diesel filter, couldnt start,(it started for a minute or so, then went off) eventually we found out,dry filter .... leaking fuel filter (diesel doesn't stay in pipes, it runs back in tank). After changed filter, everything was fine.

dr.fuzzenstein

Well, the filter is new and it was running fine on the way home from the garage.
Started it on my drive, started, ran for a while and died.
The belt driving the fuel pump up front is a bit overdue, so I'm going to check that next.

dr.fuzzenstein

According to the mechanic the fuel sender unit in the tank is gone.
Checked with Ford and they confirmed the existence of that part. It's on order and now just waiting for it to arrive.
Was quoted 120 yoyo, which doesn't seem bad for Ford OEM part.

George Dalton

In what way is it "gone" ?

What is wrong with it that it is stopping the car from running?

dr.fuzzenstein

Well, it seems that it doesn't pump fuel to the fuel filer, or so I was told.
I will ask to be shown either the old or the new unit, to see what it is or what it does.

George Dalton

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Well, it seems that it doesn't pump fuel to the fuel filer, or so I was told.

There is a very good reason why it doesn't pump fuel to the filter.

dr.fuzzenstein

Well turns out my mechanic got it slightly wrong.
The fuel sender unit indeed does not pump fuel, the trouble must lie somewhere up ahead.
Which is bad, a lot of expensive bits under the bonnet to go wrong that could cause the problem...

dr.fuzzenstein

Right, the mechanic tested everything, including the drive to the fuel pump.
Now have to remove injectors and pump to be tested at a diesel specialist. Good bit of money just to test them and serious money if anything should turn out to be amiss:mad:

MidlandsM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Right, the mechanic tested everything, including the drive to the fuel pump.
Now have to remove injectors and pump to be tested at a diesel specialist. Good bit of money just to test them and serious money if anything should turn out to be amiss:mad:

ohhh bugger......hope you get it sorted soon and for reasonable money too. Let us know how you get on.