C5 2.2HDI only starts with a tow, white/grey smoke

[reef2k]

hi all, im a newbie and ive just bought a very cheap 2002 2.2hdi estate. it will only start with easy-start or a tow, runs great for around 30 seconds then i hear a click from under the bonnet,the revs drop then eventually dies. it can usually be made to run after a few goes,but requires plenty of revs,lacks power and smokes quite alot. smoke is very light grey/white and smell like fuel. im prepared to spend upto 800 quid on fixing the problem, but would appreciate your comments and abuse, regards Nick

[steelcityuk]

At a rough guess and worst case scenario the injector pump and injectors are knackered. I would hazard a guess that's why it was so cheap. £800 won't even come close unless you're buying used parts. Be aware though that the pump and injectors will need 'coding' to the ECU with a dealer tool.

I would say it doesn't start because the injection pump can't generate enough pressure, below a set level the ECU won't even try to fire them. So a tow or Easy Start winds the engine up enough to allow this to happen but within a short time the pressure drops the ECU 'sees' this and cuts the engine with a click.

Hope you didn't pay too much for it and that I'm wrong but those are classic signs.

Steve.

[wheeler]

Be aware though that the pump and injectors will need 'coding' to the ECU with a dealer tool.
Steve.

The injectors & pump dont need coding on this engine/injection system.
I think (unfortunately) your right about the fault, sounds like an injector has gone down and/or the HP fuel pump. First step is to do an injector leakoff test. Remove all the return pipes from the injectors & then clamp the pipe off, get someone to crank the engine for about 10 seconds & watch the return outputs. its normal to get between nothing & a dribble from the top of the injectors. If there is one spilling out loads more than the others then thats your faulty one. there are special kits available to test the returns with graduated containers but it can be done by eye ok.

If it is a faulty injector good luck getting them out. These engines are notoriously bad for the injectors siezing into the cylinder head often requiring replacement of the engine even at low mileages. A new injector is about £300 inc vat from citroen.

[reef2k]

hi there, many thanks for your comments/advice. i will give the injector test a go,sounds straightforward. ive found recon injectors for 135,(new from bosch for 245) and s/h pump with 3 mth guarantee for 180. ive heard about the problems getting them out so ive got a specialist quote me 150 for removing and fitting replacment/s and any ecu reset,though you say it wont require this. i only paid 600 for the vehicle,and is in very good condition,so im hoping to have a cheap motor,but one other thing worries me,and its that the engine turns over very quickly when warm and wondered if compression is low.that could be very bad news,
regards Nick

[reef2k]

just got a quote to recon my own injectors, if thats the problem (if they come out ok) for 300 quid,which sounds very reasonable. tested on bosch rig and come with 1 year warranty

[KevMayer]

Hi reef2k,

Could you have a starter motor fault ?

I had to change the starter motor on my 2.2 Hdi. It failed intermittently at first. I thought of all sorts of other problems such as failure of low pressure diesel lift pump, but, with a few checks I found the starter motor was faulty. A new starter motor made all the difference.

Does your engine turn over on the starter from cold ? Is it turning over too slowly? Why do you need to bump start it ?

You say it turns over quickly when the engine is hot. That suggests to me that the commutator on the starter motor is cream crackered.

Cutting out after 30 secs or so could be a low pressure lift pump problem. This lift pump picks up the diesel from the tank and delivers it to the high pressure pump, but, it has to deliver at around 1.5 bar or so. If the high pressure pump doesn't see the incoming diesel at 1.5 bar ish then it shuts down (it protects your pump if you run out of diesel (like I did once)). Low pressure pump failure is common on the HDI system.

[reef2k]

the starter motor appears to engage ok and turns over, cold or hot,very quick when hot,but wont start. easystart or a tow starts the engine for around >30 secs. regards Nick

[KevMayer]

It sounds like your starter motor is faulty. It must be turning over too slow.

When you do a tow start you're just simulating the action of the starter motor but turning over at a faster rate.

I got my new starter from GSF. They do a normal duty or heavy duty. I fitted the heavy duty and it turns my engine over really quickly.

[reef2k]

i think the starter is ok, as it turns over at a good speed when cold and faster when engine is warm. ive booked it in at a recommended diesel specialist,so will wait and see what they come up with.

i did the injector test as suggested earlier and two produced fuel,one much more than the other,so again i'll see what the engineer finds

regards Nick

[poggle]

hi reef2k
i had same probs with my daughters car dug into it a bit
the advice i was given was to disconnect output pipe from back of hp pump to rail to test for fuel release from pump before i started on injectors because the pumps tend to fall apart inside,low and behold nothing, bought s/h pump £50 and also a new l/pressure pump for tank because of metal residue in fuel filter, emptied tank and wiped that out also could just get my arm in,then done cammy bits and bobs 1 full days work.s/ hand pump dos'nt need coding only new one never touched injectors daughter said never run better