Non Starting Xantia HDI

[harryjoe]

Hi Guys . Once agian.

I have a problem with starting. The Xantia was running just fine up until last night.

Parked it to walk the dogs, came back an hr or so later and all it is doing is turning over

I have a plug in code reader (not Lexia, but does anyone have one near to me??) and the codes are P1121 & P1131. I believe the first one is the throttle position sensor.

At first I checked the pump in the tank and thats working fine, then I thought it could be the high pressure pump, but the reader spat out these codes, would the position sensor stop it form starting? and how can I check if it is faulty before ordering a new one or does anyone have a spare I could purchase?

I am based in East Sussex
Any Ideas.

Thanks

[Peter.N.]

Try squirting a little easystart into the air intake, if it runs on that it may get the speed of the engine up sufficiently to give enough fuel pressure for it to start - if its a fuel pressure problem which it usually is. If it won't fire up on easy start its something more serious - cam belt?

Peter

[harryjoe]

Hi Peter.

How are you keeping ? Good to hear from you again .

I will try the easy start tomorrow, I don't think it is the cam belt as it sometimes try's to splutter, but I will check

I need a Lexia. Would a faulty position sensor stop it from starting /

[wheeler]

Would a faulty position sensor stop it from starting /

Highly unlikely, the only way I could imagine it would is if it had a dead short internally & stopped the 5v feed to the other sensors. Could easily be ruled out by unplugging though.
Can you read engine RPM and/or fuel pressure whilst cranking on your reader ?

[harryjoe]

Thanks Wheeler, it will try unplugging it tomorrow.

The pump that is in the tank! When the pipe is taken off the outward flow following the arrow on the top, when the ignition is switched on should this pump out diesel as there is no resistance from the high pressure pump?? only mine does not pump out anything with this pipe off, I thought it should at least make a noise ..

[harryjoe]

When the ignition is switched on ( but not cranking the engine) should the pump in the tank be running, and be able to hear some sort of sound coming from it continuously.

Sorry if I sound a bit thick over this, but I do not have much knowledge of the HDI engine !!

[Peter.N.]

The tank pump should run for a few seconds and then cut out.

Peter

[harryjoe]

Auhh! There could be my problem, as It an't making any noise at all, not even when you first turn the ignition on.

I will check fuses in the morning first.

Thanks Peter

[RichardW]

It's most likely to be the pump itself - they are not exactly unknown for failing like that Try turning on the ingition and giving the pump a bash with a hammer handle or something - this may shock it into life and allow the car to start / be driven home. Replacement is then required, but it's not too bad - if the ring will come off....

[harryjoe]

Ok. I have this morning taken out the lift pump from the tank and re connected it to the power supply, it worked for about 5 seconds then stopped, I quess this is correct as mentioned by Peter N. I have refitted the pump turned the ignition on and the same thing happened, but it does not make that noise every tie I turn on the power ( Should it?) I have also taken off the diesel filter by disconnecting the various pipes and there did not seen to be a lot of diesel in it, I have also checked the fuses and I can hear a relay clicking by the ECU once I have turned the car over.

The car is trying to fire on occasions when turning it over, so it seems to be a fuel starvation issue.
When I took off the two pipes from the top of the diesel filter and turned the car over there was not sign of any diesel being pumped through, so what is the reckoning, should I change the lift pump??

Only I am thinking that it does not have enough go in it to pump the fuel??

Is there any other way of testing the fuel system through process of elimination??

[Peter.N.]

If the lift pump is working the fuel should come out of the filter with some force so it certainly sounds as though the pump is not working. Connect a meter across the pump and check it for voltage when you turn the ignition on.

Peter

[harryjoe]

Just thought I would give an update to the post.

Having ordered a new lift pump from a company called Mister Auto (the cheapest I could find for a new one ) at £68.00 inc postage on the 8th Dec, it finally arrived yesterday have to come from Belgium

Thanks for all your posts on this, it was indeed the pump, taking all of 5 minutes to fit and having to give it a little help from the Saab to start via leads it did start after having to bleed the filter by unscrewing the bleed thingy on the bottom of it and giving a few turns, I could hear the fuel squirting into the filter them the relay would cut out.

She fired up and all is well .. At first the fuel gauge was doing a strange dance and then would stop working completely leaving the low fuel light on, I knew that there was a good 3/4 tank of diesel so I ran it to work last night and on the way the gauge pinged up to 3/4 tank and that now appears to be working fine.

Its good to have her back, the Saab 9-5 is a lovely car, but the ride quality is shocking in comparison.

the Xantia is such an under rated car, its does every thing I want it to do with over 50 mpg to boot.

Once again thanks for all your replies