Xantia not starting

[myglaren]

I rather think that it depends on the system Roger, one has a primer bulb, the other an in-tank pump.
If there is no primer bulb then when you first turn on the ignition, but before running the starter, the in tank pump should be able to be heard priming the system, it should run audibly for three-four seconds.
If it doesn't, it can sometimes be resuscitated temporarily by smacking the bottom of the tank a few times with a bit of 3"x2" timber.
It will need replacing sooner rather than later.

Also, with it having stood for so long it is quite possible that there is fungal or bacterial growth in the tank the clogs the pump with evil gloop and will need a fair bit of work to get rid of.

[andy5]

The suggestion in this post is that the tank has a fuel pump built-in. I didn't know if the fuel was pumped or sucked. From memory, there is no manual primer bulb on the HDi, am I correct in saying this?

I think the in-tank fuel pump moves enough for a surplus forwards, and some returns, but even if that's wrong the pump is definitely in there.

Correct, no manual prime, or not that I've ever seen. I can remember years ago reading that the system is self-priming. It takes a minute or two, but I've done that more than once after running out.

[Rhothgar]

I rather think that it depends on the system Roger, one has a primer bulb, the other an in-tank pump.
If there is no primer bulb then when you first turn on the ignition, but before running the starter, the in tank pump should be able to be heard priming the system, it should run audibly for three-four seconds.
If it doesn't, it can sometimes be resuscitated temporarily by smacking the bottom of the tank a few times with a bit of 3"x2" timber.
It will need replacing sooner rather than later.

Also, with it having stood for so long it is quite possible that there is fungal or bacterial growth in the tank the clogs the pump with evil gloop and will need a fair bit of work to get rid of.

Hi Steve

Hope you are keeping well.

I did consider the fungal infection possibility as I had that on the green X1 a couple of years ago. I just removed the gloop and never treated the tank. I should have.

With the X2, I've not checked for this as yet and couldn't hear the pump running so I think mice may have chewed through the wires or high resistance as the rear footwell was underwater because a window had been left down.

My friend suggested reverse polarisation of the pump and correct polarisation and repeating that to try and free it up if it has seized up.

The other issue is it sucked the intercooler pipe in when we got it started on brake cleaner as if there is some blockage somewhere there in the air flow. Perhaps a mouse nest in the intercooler end connection?

[Rhothgar]

the pump is definitely in there. Correct, no manual prime, or not that I've ever seen. I can remember years ago reading that the system is self-priming. It takes a minute or two, but I've done that more than once after running out.

Thanks andy5. I just needed my memory jogging. Looks like it will be a stripdown to ease the pump. I'm kind of hoping that the wires have been nibbled through and that they're the only ones to have been nibbled through or perhaps the best thing to wish for is the wires have corroded with the water that was sitting in the rear footwell.

It's going to be fun recommissioning this vehicle. As soon as it's back on the road, It'll probably make sense to get rid and get an 110 HDi Estate if I can find one. It's been a fantastic faultless car but at the moment it's smelling rather musty in there so as soon as I can get it started, I'll be taking the seats and carpets out and giving them a good shampoo and plonk a dehumidifier inside to get all the moisture out carefully inspect everything and put the interior back in.

[myglaren]

I agree that taking the pump out and testing/cleaning it would be a good start and will show if there is a gloop accumulation causing problems.

The intercooler hose collapsing could be the intercooler clogged. They do tend to get some oil in them that may have solidified. Worth removing and cleaning that too.