Air lock on xantia fuel

oli · Post by **oli** » 05 Nov 2002, 19:00

Hi
Xantia 1.9 td 1999
Wouldnlt start,breakdown staff said airlock in fuel supply . He undid a nut and used a a handpump which did the trick. Same problem this morning!
Is there anything that could be causing this that I could check?
Thanks
Oli
Oli

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 05 Nov 2002, 23:35

Hi Oli - Nothing to worry about - well not too much, we've all suffered from it from time to time. The fuel line from the tank to the injectors have always got to be full of fuel. If more than a few bubbles of air leaks in, it get's increasingly difficult to start the engine. Your mechanic opened the bleed screw and pumped fuel through the fuel lines, allowing the air to be pumped out. Your problem is knowing where the air is leaking in. Have you had a service recently carried out where the fuel filter has been changed? If so, it's likely that the leakage is around the banjo joints or the top of the filter housing.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 06 Nov 2002, 13:24

The other favourite places for air leaks in diesels are the fuel pre-heater (leave it out) and the fuel hose from the pipe at the back of the engine to the fuel filter (the hoses go hard and crack, not enough to leak out fuel, but enough to let in air).
//NiSk

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » 06 Nov 2002, 15:45

Just to add my 2 pence worth. I have the same problem, if I don't use the car for 3-4 days. I'll automatically go for the rubber hand pump in the engine bay in front of the driver, pump until hard and it'll start first time. I think my leak is a little one at the bottom of the fuel filter housing / O-ring.
Gaz