TD fuel pump leaking.

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 11 Mar 2010, 16:38

Hello.
I've finally got the relay up and running and its been fine for a week or so but today its decided to develop a leak from the fuel pump.
As far as I can make out its leaking from the bit that goes into the pump body (throttle cable goes on one end and it goes into the body at the other).
Does anyone know how hard it is to sort this - is it just a seal and if so how does it come apart to get at it?
Thanks in advance - I always get good info from you guys.

Post by **KennyW** » 11 Mar 2010, 18:04

Hi there Siraff,

Can you be a bit more specfic ie Bosch or Lucas pump or take a pic and add it to the posting.

If you go to the Blogs and galleries section you will see Bosch diesel pump posting have a look at the pic's on there.

I'm sure we will be able tohelp on the forum.

Kenny

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 11 Mar 2010, 18:59

I don't know which pump it is so I just took the best pics I could (Its quite tight in there).
I also noticed the pipes to the fuel filter are damp - not wet but moist with diesel. I tried pressing the lift pump button but its solid. Its not done that before so do I presume there may be a blockage? Just incase its different from other models I think I should mention that there is a mechanical lift pump on the engine which feeds the fuel filter which then feeds the injector pump.
That's probably as clear as mud because I'm struggling to explain it as I understand it.
So does that help at all? I'm just getting more confused as I type (its not hard to confuse me at the best of times).

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 11 Mar 2010, 19:02

While I think of it please excuse the copper pipe in the radiator return hose.
That was there when I got it so I'll have to get round to swapping it when time and funds allow. For the moment it doesn't leak so its a working bodge.

Post by **KennyW** » 11 Mar 2010, 19:41

Hi Siraff,

One of the most knowledgeable persons re fuel pumps is Citrojim and he will speak to you soon.

I think your pump is an earlier Bosch model.

Can you confirm your vehicle and this will assist others who view your topic and problem.

Kenny

Post by **KennyW** » 11 Mar 2010, 19:49

Siraff,

Worth looking at the handy hints and tips of the forum where a bosch pump is stripped and rebuilt.

Kenny

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 11 Mar 2010, 19:53

Thanks, Kenny - Citrojim has helped me before too - he seems very knowlegable.
The vehicle is a citroen relay 2.5tdi - a 1999 T plate.
I don't know if its bosch or not but I know it takes the smaller of two diesel filters as I had to return one when I did the service last week - this one is a cartrige where the other one was a canister.
If anyone needs any help on these vans I'd be more than happy to share anything I know as I've done a fair bit of work on this one over the last few weeks.
This fuel issue will just be the next thing in a long line of things that its had.
Its becoming a very nice van now.

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 11 Mar 2010, 19:57

KennyW wrote:Siraff,

Worth looking at the handy hints and tips of the forum where a bosch pump is stripped and rebuilt.

Kenny

I looked at them but I can't see a pump that has that round piece of alloy on the throttle lever thingy.
I don't know what the difference is but with that in the way its awkward to see how it comes apart.
Also - because of where it sits - if I have to take the pump off I also have to take off the radiator, intercooler and top front panel. It would probably be easier with the bumper off too.
All good fun though as it was all off last week anyway and I clean and copper grease everything I move so it wouldn't be a bad job to do it again if need be.

Post by **KennyW** » 12 Mar 2010, 09:45

Hi Siraff,

Is your Relay mark 1 , 2 or 3, as I can access the citroen site.

Kenny

Post by **CitroJim** » 12 Mar 2010, 09:53

Hi Siraff,

Yes, that's a Bosch pump.

It appears to be unarmoured and the leak can be fixed by replacing the seals. They're not very expensive for a set. I can advise a supplier when I'm at home.

Downside is that the pump must be removed from the engine to do the job. The job cannot be done in-situ unfortunately.

Before that, give the pump a really good clean and establish exactly where it is leaking from.

I have a guide on my website that shows how to strip and replace the seals. Follow the link to Bosch Diesel Pump rebuild.

I can offer advice on removal of the pump if necessary.

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 12 Mar 2010, 11:52

Thanks guys.
Kenny - I think its a mk2. Its a 1999 T reg.
Jim - Thanks for the info and I'll be having a cleaning session later on as long as the rain gives up (can't fit the big lump in the garage).
I've been quoted £60 to sort the leak by a diesel place up the road - does that seem fair or too cheap/expensive?
I think I can get the pump off/on as needed - I already swapped the cambelt as part of the service last week and the pump seems a very similar design to the 306TD - three bolts to the cambelt side and two or three on the mounting plate to the engine. I've swapped pumps on the XUD and DW8 before and it looks pretty much the same.
Its just really awkward to get at because the front of the van is a lot higher than the car's so the pump is more behind the radiator than level with it.

Post by **CitroJim** » 12 Mar 2010, 12:27

I have to say that £60 to repair a leaky pump is a bargain of the highest order

Make sure they KNOW it's a Bosch. they may be thinking it has a Lucas and on these, the leaks can be resolved in-situ without removing the pump.

The Lucas, in this respect, is a lot easier.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 12 Mar 2010, 12:50

Yes that is a good price. Having said that, a friend brought her 525 tds down for me to have a look at, quite a severe pump leak, although being rwd the pump still wasnt very easy to get at so I declined, I sent her in the direction of our 'local' diesel specialist in Honiton, and he fixed it for her while she went shopping for about £65.00 - nothing like knowing what you are doing is there?

Peter

siraff · Post by **siraff** » 16 Mar 2010, 18:39

I just thought I'd let everyone know how it went.

Well I called them last week and vagualy booked it for this morning.I turned up this morning and they were expecting me. Very polite people and came across as old school engineers.
I left the bus with them and arranged to pick it up at 4pm.
I gave them a quick call at 3pm just to make sure it was going well and he said "its all done and ready when you are".
I collected it at 4pm as arranged and it now has no leak.
On the downside it felt like it had no turbo - the power just tailed off.
I gave them a call and he asked if I could pop it back round - so I did.
10 mins later he'd adjusted it again and this time its got all its revs back. Its still a little lacking in the guts department though.
He said it would be the fuel settings so could i pop it back tomorrow (this was at 10 past their closing time of 5pm) and he will reset everything again.

Now I thought this was excellent service considering how little I paid. It ended up as £65 due to it needing a shim or something aswell as the seal so still very cheap.

It just seems they can't do enough to get it exactly how I want it. I imagine most places would say something along the lines of "its working so its done" but these guys seem genuinely interested in making me happy.

I'm over the moon to be honest.
I don't know if its etiquette to post their name and details on here but if someone could let me know I'd be more than happy to recommend them.

Thanks for the advice and help again guys. You're a nice lot and this is a good forum.

Post by **myglaren** » 16 Mar 2010, 18:46

As a satisfied customer - and there is no doubt about that - you are welcome to put their name and address plus any other details you might care to add in the Recommended Garages And Services subforum.

Always good to hear about service that excels!