Starting Issue & Smell of Fuel - Terrano 2.7Tdi Mk11

[TONUP]

Hi,

Due to work commitments it has been some time since I have posted anything on the site, therefore it is not without some embarrassment that my first post in a long while is a request for some help.

When I went out to the car this morning, I noticed a distinct smell of diesel fuel, and as it was raining heavily the rainbow of oil on water could be clearly seen emanating from around the rear drivers side passenger door. Thinking that I may have simply overfilled it, I jumped in and attempted to start it. It did start, but with an unfamiliar reluctance (I say this because the vehicle has not missed a beat when starting for the eight years that I have owned it).

Anyway once running it was fine, and I made the six mile journey to work without incident.

Fast forward now to the end of the same day where the rainbow puddle could still be seen around the rear of the vehicle, and the distinctive smell of fuel was still very easy to detect. The car would start, but once going was very lumpy and would not accept any input from the accelerator without the engine stalling. Upon lifting the bonnet I first checked the little priming pump on top of the fuel filter housing, which was soft. I pumped it several times, as you might after a filter change and it became firm and I was able to restart the car. After allowing it to tick over for a minute or two, it ran fine and I made the return journey home.

My first thought is to suspect air in the fuel, which I think may be caused by a damaged fuel line (it is fifteen years old).

I would be grateful if someone, who has experienced similar starting problems, might be able to confirm that I am on the right track with my diagnosis?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice that is given.

Best Regards

Alan

 

[emjaybee]

I suspect usual thing, leaking fuel line above back axle. Easy DIY job, replace feed and return fuel lines front to back. Half a days work , about £40 all in.

Let me know if you want any more details.

:thumb2

 

[Sweety]

Sounds like the fuel lines from the tank to the engine bay need replacing asap, Mine went in September & had fuel dripping from the wheel arch to the B post:doh

 

[TONUP]

I suspect usual thing, leaking fuel line above back axle. Easy DIY job, replace feed and return fuel lines front to back. Half a days work , about £40 all in.

Let me know if you want any more details.

:thumb2

Thanks for the very quick reply. It's very much appreciated.

I will put it up on some ramps tomorrow and have a look around. I will post again with findings. Hopefully I can source some fuel pipe on a Sunday. Local motor factors first then Halfords if no luck.

Regards

Alan

 

[TONUP]

Sounds like the fuel lines from the tank to the engine bay need replacing asap, Mine went in September & had fuel dripping from the wheel arch to the B post:doh

Great. Thanks for the reply. Hopefully this won't be a serious problem.

Thanks for replying.

Regards

Alan

 

[Sweety]

Great. Thanks for the reply. Hopefully this won't be a serious problem.

Thanks for replying.

Regards

Alan

Mine sprung a leak just as we were about to head home with the caravan which got a covering of diesel up the front & you could easily see it dripping away, new rubber fuel lines fitted & no more leaks:thumb2

 

[emjaybee]

Thanks for the very quick reply. It's very much appreciated.

I will put it up on some ramps tomorrow and have a look around. I will post again with findings. Hopefully I can source some fuel pipe on a Sunday. Local motor factors first then Halfords if no luck.

Regards

Alan

If you're going to do it,make sure you measure the two pipes on the top of the tank in the boot (accessed via small panel under boot carpet). There seems to be a variety of sizes regardless of which model/year truck you have.

:thumb2

 

[jims-terrano]

Theres a download on these pipes so should give you some ideas. It'll be sucking in air making it run rough.

 

[TONUP]

Theres a download on these pipes so should give you some ideas. It'll be sucking in air making it run rough.

Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully it won't be raining after work tomorrow afternoon.

Regards.

Alan

 

[TONUP]

Hi,

Well I started work on the car this morning straight after finishing work and driving it home, it was a pig to start on both journeys by the way, and after getting up on the ramps I could see fuel dripping out of it at quite a rate just in front of the rear drivers side wheel.

Once under the car a large part of the chassis and underside of the boot floor was saturated in fuel and in a real mess.

My initial thought was to try to identify where the damage was, and on which fuel line and put in a patch piece, however after spending around thirty or forty minutes trying to clean the area up it was evident that the steel pipes were so corroded that it would be best just to cut them out. It is also difficult to see where the actual defect is as the fuel seems to run and be everywhere.

As the lines appeared to be in a serviceable condition about a 300mm in front of the wheel arch, I cut them both there and accessed the pump by lifting the carpet in the boot, where I pulled both rubber hoses off... One is 6mm and the other has an 8mm internal diameter. Unfortunately I snapped a bolt getting the access panel off, which I will need to attend to.

I cut the lines with my 'Aldi' Dremel, as they were difficult to access. I also had some problems getting the clips that hold all four pipes in place off.

By the time I had finished it was too late to get to the local car spares place, so I will pick some rubber fuel pipe up tomorrow. I rang Halfords, but the guy who answered the phone said he couldn't find any fuel pipe/hose on his computer and he didn't think they sold that kind of thing!

Not too bad a job so far, but an incredibly messy and smelly. I hope threading the new hoses over the tank and down the chassis rails will be fairly straightforward now.

Thanks again for the advice provided.

Best Regards

Alan

 

[Sweety]

When I removed the panel in the boot floor only one didn't shear off:doh bloody hate Jap crap steel bolts:augie ended up just drilling into the sheared bolts & used self tapping coach bolts to hold it in place

 

[TONUP]

When I removed the panel in the boot floor only one didn't shear off:doh bloody hate Jap crap steel bolts:augie ended up just drilling into the sheared bolts & used self tapping coach bolts to hold it in place

The joke is that they have a Phillips head on them as well. No chance after fifteen years of being in place.

It's tempting to ignore it and rely on three bolts only, but I worry about water ingress into the boot floor.

I think I'll follow your lead and use a good sized self tapping bolt.

Regards

Alan

 

[jims-terrano]

Stick some tape over the ends of the hoses when you thread them down from the top to stop crud getting in.

Personally when I do mine I'm going to go full length rubber hoses and then there are less joints to let in air and also won't have to revisit when next part of pipe has rotted.

 

[TONUP]

Stick some tape over the ends of the hoses when you thread them down from the top to stop crud getting in.

Personally when I do mine I'm going to go full length rubber hoses and then there are less joints to let in air and also won't have to revisit when next part of pipe has rotted.

That's a top tip. Thanks

There's no doubt doing the whole run makes good sense. I hope it's not something I regret later

Regards

Alan

 

[jims-terrano]

Ive also seen clear tube used just before the fuel filter on that short run. Makes it easy to see any air bubbles getting dragged in.

 

[solarman216]

I did Phils in copper from clutch slave to just over rear axle, but on a hoist it was easy, on the ground rubber all the way is the way to go, but make sure it is proper multi fuel hose, my motor has been done in rubber before I got it and it is so hard and brittle that I will have to attend to it before long, Rick

 

[TONUP]

I did Phils in copper from clutch slave to just over rear axle, but on a hoist it was easy, on the ground rubber all the way is the way to go, but make sure it is proper multi fuel hose, my motor has been done in rubber before I got it and it is so hard and brittle that I will have to attend to it before long, Rick

Thanks. I'll ask at the spares place before I get a lift there to buy it. I certainly wasn't aware of specific types of hose.

Regards

Alan

 

[TONUP]

Hi,

I can now confirm that I have completed the job, and the truck starts and runs much better now.

I hope that the remaining steel fuel line, which was in much better condition than that around the wheel arch, will last until the vehicle is no longer serviceable.

My only concern now is that there was some corrosion on the brake, and clutch damper pipes. I think they will need some attention at some point.

Thanks to all who contributed to the thread, which was very helpful.

Regards

Alan