Club 80-90 Forums

Went to start Smurfette today for her MOT and she won't start!! 1991 1.6TD JX engine. Engine turns over although there seems to be no fuel getting to engine. Fuel present in the tank, I took the hose off the tank and fuel comes out, other end of the hose at filter is dry. Whats the best thing to try first before getting it sent to a garage?

How long has it been sat ?

Hi, not been sat too long, maybe 2 weeks. I do start it now and again.

Any signs of leaks (fuel on ground). Seems drain back valve on fuel filter failed. Keep cranking!

No signs of leaks, I shall try a new filter first, think its the original one still fitted!!

slakweld wrote: ↑14 Mar 2023, 13:28 No signs of leaks, I shall try a new filter first, think its the original one still fitted!!

I’ve had a couple of instances of this recently, blocked fuel line/ pickup , almost like coagulated fuel, blow back up the fuel feed and returns into the tank, are you sure your heater plugs are working?

Give it a squirt of brake cleaner down air intake. Usually gets a stubborn diesel to go.

slakweld wrote: ↑14 Mar 2023, 13:28 No signs of leaks, I shall try a new filter first, think its the original one still fitted!!

Change them wvery two years. Go to GSF and get a MANN filter.

I had the same with my JX 1.6TD whenever I left it for a week or two. I eventually found it was due to the rubber pipes that bleed the surplus diesel from the injectors as they were old and letting in air, causing diesel to drain back into the tank over time. It was an easy job to replace them and since then I haven't had a problem - it now starts first time very time. I also fitted a 1 way fuel line valve as belt and braces!