300 Tdi engine stopping - HELP! please. Update!

[bambamjj]

Last couple of days engine has sounded different, very slight rattle.

Got to work this morning thought would have a look under bonnet, whilst looking and not seeing anything obvious the engine stopped  :-k

Cranked it over a few times then it started, 30 seconds later it stopped, left it for a minute or so cranked it over and it started straight away  :-k

She has always started immediately no problems, drove on the motorway this morning with no problems?

The vacuum pump has been changed so i know the rattle is not that, also upon further investigation i noticed the pipes under the injector pump were slightly wet looking, but not sure if that was like that already....

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

Have new fuel pump that i may try and fit tonight, engine RPM never gets above 3500rpm, but put that down to alternator connection :-k

[Disco Matt]

Check your fuel lift pump - mine failed with similar results, it took some time to start and would sometimes cut out shortly after. Once running at road speeds it wasn't a problem. I was only able to diagnose it by a process of considering what I'd fiddled with recently while fitting a new fuel filter.

[hobbit]

Another is the sediment catchment bowl, (if you have one) above the rear axle, might need draining

[bambamjj]

Sedimentor bowl was emptied and rebuilt new washers etc about a month ago.

Have a Lift pump (Fuelpump?) at home so will replace tonight, just hope it is that and not the injector pump....  Lets hope it is a full moon tonight as wont be in till 8ish.

Or should i say hope i make it home. if it is the lift ump would that be why it is reluctant to get to higher rev's?  though it is probably just the rev connection to the alternator

Thanks for comments people

[turbonutter]

another little thing to check is the wire to the stop solinoind , mine had a bad conection and it would randomly cut out , just wiggle the wire with it running and see if it makes a difference

[stageonesimmo]

IF it is electrical - could be the dreaded alrm spider!  :shock:

Sounds as though its the lift-pump to me though but I'd double check all of the connections to the sedimenter/filter head and lift-pump to be sure - I've had them sucking air in at the inlet to the lift-pump between the plastic pipe and brass olive......

[andyb]

Doubt that it's the spider alarm loom. That would mean that is intermitantly starts. This engine starts but dies. I'm with the fuel related problem. Changing the lift pump is cheap and easy.

[stageonesimmo]

Hence the IF in capitals.....

 ;)

[andyb]

Sorry, read that as a typo :)

[stageonesimmo]

Easy mistake to make with my spelling!  :lol:

[bambamjj]

Well got home tonight changed Lift pump over for new one, took about 30mins in all  :dance:

Must say massive improvement, not sure how long it has been braking down but it idles nicely, more responsive etc etc.  Only went round the block so looking forward to the run to work in the morning.

It has been running rough but just assumed it was having a bad day etc. etc.

Thanks everyone for your help.