what is this oval rubber thing?

John Plum · Post by **John Plum** » 06 Oct 2009, 15:06

Hi chaps,

what's exactly is the name and purpose of this oval rubber bulb on a pipe from the fuel filter, that lies just above the radiator on a xantia? (Mine is on its way out).

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 06 Oct 2009, 15:33

The fuel primer bulb?

You can pump/squeeze it and it pumps the fuel through.

Chris.

John Plum · Post by **John Plum** » 06 Oct 2009, 16:10

thanks chris, i thought it might be!...couldn't see it mentioned in haynes..probably mised it.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 06 Oct 2009, 18:38

John wrote
"just above the radiator on a xantia"

most the primming bulbs i have seen on XANTS are at the top of the O/S inner wing beside the top cam belt cover

regards malcolm

John Plum · Post by **John Plum** » 06 Oct 2009, 19:07

Oh. Perhaps because this is a year 2000 TD. It is towards the offside, but nearer the radiator than the cambelt. All pipes seem to be original, have a nice easy curve, and retained by clips.

the_weaver · Post by **the_weaver** » 07 Oct 2009, 00:17

I think you can get those from gsfcarparts.com

They do something called:-

DIESEL PRIMER PUMP (RUBBER BULB)

which sounds like it might be what you're describing.

I was considering getting one for my ZX but never did.

Paul

Chlorate · Post by **Chlorate** » 07 Oct 2009, 01:27

...it should already have one...

the_weaver · Post by **the_weaver** » 07 Oct 2009, 23:53

It has already got one but there's a leak in one of the pipes connected to it so I was thinking of getting a new one. However I don't know whether you get just the bare bulb or whether you get the pipes as well.

Paul

John Plum · Post by **John Plum** » 08 Oct 2009, 00:21

The bulb on this xantia year 2000 appears to be seperate.

Chlorate · Post by **Chlorate** » 08 Oct 2009, 02:05

Well it shouldn't be...
It's not exactly a big problem, just don't run out of fuel.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 08 Oct 2009, 07:39

the pipes dont come with a bulb from a sourse other that from the dealer i belive,

cant you just repair the leaky pipe,

if you have a leak hear you will be geting air in the fuel line,

regards malcolm

the_weaver · Post by **the_weaver** » 09 Oct 2009, 01:07

The leak does let air in. I get a bit of smoke on cold starts in the winter because of it and there's nothing wrong with my glow plugs. It was caused by a garage trapping the pipe and making a hole in it. They put in a new section of pipe but it wasn't a proper connection, just a piece of fuel pipe pushed over the hard plastic heat-shrink type pipe that was there originally. I tried improving things but it's not possible to get a good connection. I think it needs a complete new pipe from the bulb to the next connector along. The original pipe seems to be specially bent into a long U-shape after the bulb. This must be there for a reason. I think I might need to get one from the main dealer otherwise I'll never be able to form the U-shape out of normal pipe. I seem to remember that the bulb appeared to be held to the pipes in a way which looked permanent. Either it was moulded/heatshrunk on or it was fitted with non-reusable clips which I would have to cut off and use new ones. I decided to put up with the leak in the end but I might look at it again now this topic has come up.

Paul

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 09 Oct 2009, 08:19

i belive they are heat shrunk on to the plastic spouts at each end of the bulb,

i would just buy some proper reinforced rubber fuel line and just run that from one point to the other, im sure that will be fine,

to remove the old plastic pipe/s heat/warm them with the likes of a lighter were they are attatched to the spouts, just enough so you can pull them appart

regards malcolm

John Plum · Post by **John Plum** » 09 Oct 2009, 08:44

My bulbs showing serious signs of perishing at 8-9 years old. It may be too close to the radiator.

the_weaver · Post by **the_weaver** » 09 Oct 2009, 20:58

I'll have a look at it when I've got some time. I've got too many other jobs to do on the ZX at the moment. It's in the queue.

Paul