Hi,

Felicia 1.9D 2000

I have just changed to fuel filter and reattached the fuel lines, I thought that I'd refilled the filter enough, however when i started the car it ran for a few seconds and then died.

Now it just cranks over, I have checked the fuel line from the filter to the injector and it is empty.

1. Is there a pump that should be pushing fuel to the filter or is there just a draw pump in the system.

2. Should the filter be full of fuel before restarting?

3. Does the whole system just need priming properly? (how is this done)

I'm not a novice to cars; I restore old MG's and Austin-Healeys but this is my first Diesel.

Thanks in advance Tim.

When changing the fuel filter , i always fill it right up,then put it on the car and top it up before fitting the pipes , it always works , have you forgotten to fit the rubber 'O' ring ? ,try filling it up again.

crack of the injector pipes at the injectors, spin it over until fuel comes out , tighten pipes and then it should start

Diesels need lots (and lots) of cranking to bleed the air out of the fuel system, once you've let it get in. I've had a few.They're all like that. Just keep cranking (and cranking ).

dont do the cranking and cranking thing unless you want to f--k the starter

Do the felicias diesel's not have a primer pump for bleeding the fuel through.

My citroen zx diesel had a little rubber squeezy hand pump that you pump until it became firm and it pumped the fuel through the system and bled it without having to bleed at injectors etc....

iirc they dont on the felly

Hi guys, just to say thanks for the advice it worked a treat. filled every part of the system and after a few cranks it spluttered to life, within 2 mins it was running as smoothly as usual.

philje123: no the Felicia doesn't have that hand pump you describe, however a friend of a friend does have one that he cut off a citreon in a scrapyard. we fitted it in the fuel line before the filter and simply handpumped fuel all the way up to the bleed nipple by the injector pump. Next time i'm in a scrap yard i'll be after one myself, its a great device.

I don't know if its possible to upload pictures but I took one of the hand pump in use.

I've a few other issues i'll need advice on but for now everything is great. Thanks

Tim

200+K miles in Vaux+Citroen+Volks diesels , and not a single Knackered starter, but lots ( and lots) of CRANKING to (single handed) bleed the bleeding air out of the bleeding system, and half the year it was bleeding cold out there.

I'm Back on petrol now

Mind you, thinking back, I'm sure I did read somewhere that you shouldn't crank starters unduly, but it never, ever, knackered a starter on me, but of course you never know, it might do.

And of course it was always my own,not someone else's starter motors.

And next time I will certainly try cracking.

Glad you fixed it .