Xantia - non start following break down

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Jaf
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Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Engine cranks at high revs but doesn't attempt to fire. Cam belt is new and have checked it's timed. No fuel coming through to injectors when I crank the engine.

Fuel pump solenoid gone?

I was driving at 100kph when the engine stopped with all the dash lights on. I thought it was the leak off pipes and an old repair gone bad on the fuel filter housing as they were leaking but no change after changing them.

One other thing, when the engine stopped there was a lot of smoke in the engine bay. I thought it was the diesel leak, but there's a small coolant pipe under the fuel filter housing which has split. It dumped a lot of coolant. Am bit concerned that the engine might have blown up. Not that it is relevant the to fuel issue.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by wheeler »

Will it fire up with a sniff of easy start?
Jaf
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Thanks. Just tried. Didn't make any attempt to fire. Sprayed the easy start into the air intake after the air filter, is that the best place?
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
wheeler
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by wheeler »

Sounds to me like you don’t have any compression. Have you actually re pinned the flywheel, cam pulley & injection pump?
Are you able to patch up the coolant leak & fill it with water? Try starting it & see if the water is bubbling in tje expansion bottle.
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by white exec »

Even if the engine doesn't fire up, you should be able to hear (sense) each compression stroke as the engine is cranked. All four should sound equal, with no momentary acceleration of the cranking when the cylinder(s) with no/reduced compression offer little resistance.

And oil in what remains of the coolant?

Important, as said, to check the timing, by pegging flywheel, crankshaft and pump pulleys.
Also check the TDC sensor is in place, connected and working.
Chris
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Thanks. TDC sensor is in place, not sure if its working but rev counter does go up a bit when cranking. Turning the engine over by hand I can feel some compression. Couldn't say if it's even though. Checked crank/ cam/ pump timing again, all good (I like to use a camera on the crank hole).

Will get water pipe tomorrow. The coolant still had some oil from replacing the oil cooler 2 years ago, despite flushing it several times.

I had a look at the fuel pump solenoid on one of the old pumps (I have 2 broken ones). Can't see how it works, electrifying it pushes the pin? On the car I checked 4 wires go to it, 1 has 12volts.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
wheeler
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by wheeler »

As far as the stop solenoid is concerned, if it doesent fire on easy start then i would rule out a stop solenoid fault. Even if you removed the fuel tank off the car it should still fire up on easy start.
If an old school engine like this wont fire on easy start then Either:-
1. There is no or not enough compression.
2. The exhaust is blocked.
3. The air intake is blocked/restricted including stuck open EGR strangling it.

Im not sure that the TDC sensor is critical to the firing up on an XUD engine?
Jaf
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Thanks. The only thing with the easy start is I'm not sure that I did it right. Not used it in years and even then not on a diesel. I think the easy start should be sprayed whilst cranking the engine, therefore a 2 man job. I might have to ask my mum!
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by wheeler »

Ideally yes 2 people but even if you sprayed a couple of bursts up the intake I would have expected even a bit of a cough from the engine.
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Oh dear. Changed water pipe, geyser coming out the expansion tank when cranking engine.

Deciding whether it’s worthwhile changing the Head Gasket. Eurgh.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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white exec
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My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
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previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by white exec »

If there's no great quality of oil in the coolant, it'll be the HG.
If lots of oil in the coolant, the oil cooler will have perforated internally.
Sounds like HG, though...
Chris
Jaf
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Engine's now impossible to turn over by hand (using 5th gear and turning wheel). Hydro lock I'm guessing. No water in oil and only a little oil in the water which I think is old.

Going to see if I can get the head off, on Wednesday. I have done head gaskets before, but on simple petrol engines and about 20 years ago. I have an engine hoist so that'll help.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
User avatar
white exec
Moderating Team
Posts: 7445
Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by white exec »

Good luck with the repair, Jaf.
Chris
Jaf
Posts: 514
Joined: 09 Dec 2010, 19:17
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Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Went to the cinema yesterday, saw the new bond film. Good, but a bit long.

Today I got the air pipes off and the inlet manifold is now loose. Found out the car has an EGR, wondered what the tiny pipe went to at the back of the engine! It's been broken for years so can't imagine it's important.

Exhaust manifold tomorrow.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
Jaf
Posts: 514
Joined: 09 Dec 2010, 19:17
Location: Oria, Spain
My Cars:
x 29

Re: Xantia - non start following break down

Post by Jaf »

Got the head bolts off and the exhaust manifold is loose, need to remove the studs tomorrow.

Worryingly some coolant came out from the headgasket when I loosened the bolts. Hope no damage has occurred, cam itself looks like new.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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