Car keeps cutting out - airlock??

P.K.M.

After about 30 cars and 20 years, I bought my first diesel about 3 months ago. Monday night I may have let the car run too low (I was only told afterward I shouldn't do that). I was driving around a town I don't know looking for a garage that was open. By the time I found one, the car was running on fumes I reckon. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I got home ok and then yesterday as I was driving out of the estate, the car conked out. I turned it over a few times and it wouldn't fire. After about 5 minutes, I turned the key and it fired up grand. I went about 100 feet and it conked out again. Again I waited 5 minutes and it fired up, and again travelled about 100 feet and it conked out again. I rang a mate and he reckons it's airlocked. Anyone any advice on if it IS actually airlocked, and if so, how do I get rid of it?

It's a 2002 Nissan Primera 2.2 dci.

Thanks all.

mickdw

New fuel filters would be my first action if you are convinced the issue relates to running low on diesel.

jayok

I'm not familiar with the DCi but if it ran fine for sometime, I would imagine the air in the system has been removed, although it is possible, you can generally bleed air out from around the fuel filter. In addition when it stalls, did you attempt to use the priming bulb (hand pumped) to force fuel in?

BUT havins said all of the above, you let it run low, it's possible your fuel filter is clogged with dirt now and simply restricting flow into the HP pump, giving you a stalling effect. When was the filter done last?

jayok

mickdw wrote: »

New fuel filters would be my first action if you are convinced the issue relates to running low on diesel.

Snap! Quicker on the keyboard than me

P.K.M.

jayok wrote: »

...In addition when it stalls, did you attempt to use the priming bulb (hand pumped) to force fuel in?

Yeah, when it cuts out, I prime it straight away. About 10 pumps and it goes hard, starts first time then.

jayok wrote: »

BUT havins said all of the above, you let it run low, it's possible your fuel filter is clogged with dirt now and simply restricting flow into the HP pump, giving you a stalling effect. When was the filter done last?

Filters were done when the car was serviced in April.

jayok

P.K.M. wrote: »

Yeah, when it cuts out, I prime it straight away. About 10 pumps and it goes hard, starts first time then.

Sounds like filters then restricting flow.

P.K.M.

jayok wrote: »

Sounds like filters then restricting flow.

Cool, God I hope it's that simple and not something serious like a fuel pump or something....

jayok

P.K.M. wrote: »

Cool, God I hope it's that simple and not something serious like a fuel pump or something....

Given it ran low, I'd suspect a clogged filter. If you have to prime the system by hand it means the transfer pump can't get enough fuel into the HPP.

However, on the top of most filters there's a bleed screw that you can undo and pump out any air trapped in the filter. If the filter's readily accessible it's a quick thing you can try.

These are just general diesel things, I'm sure there's a dCi expert on there somewhere

P.K.M.

jayok wrote: »

Given it ran low, I'd suspect a clogged filter. If you have to prime the system by hand it means the transfer pump can't get enough fuel into the HPP.

However, on the top of most filters there's a bleed screw that you can undo and pump out any air trapped in the filter. If the filter's readily accessible it's a quick thing you can try.

These are just general diesel things, I'm sure there's a dCi expert on there somewhere

Thanks a million, you've been more than helpful.

jayok

P.K.M. wrote: »

Thanks a million, you've been more than helpful.

No problem, one final thing. Here's how you do it:

http://www.npoc.co.uk/forum/nissan-primera-p12-se-22-td-fuel-filter_topic29502.html

P.K.M.

jayok wrote: »

No problem, one final thing. Here's how you do it:

http://www.npoc.co.uk/forum/nissan-primera-p12-se-22-td-fuel-filter_topic29502.html

Fair play, actually came across them on my search. Cheers.

enumbers

no chance of mis fuel petrol instead of diesel?

P.K.M.

enumbers wrote: »

no chance of mis fuel petrol instead of diesel?

No, definitely not. Would have been my first thought, but no.

P.K.M.

Turns out it was the fuel filter, thank feck!! :pac: Filter replaced, car flying again. Thanks lads.

mickdw

P.K.M. wrote: »

Turns out it was the fuel filter, thank feck!! :pac: Filter replaced, car flying again. Thanks lads.

Good stuff. Was always the likely cause.