Wont start after running out of Fuel..

[Rtype3000]

Hi Guys,

I’m driving a Seat Leon Diesel 1.9 TDI Hj52 plate.

I know i shouldn't drive on low fuel but i had and it has finally caught me out.

It ran out while i was at the Traffic lights, so i ran to the petrol station and filled her up, it started up and i drive the last part of my journey less than a mile.

I parked it up for the night and in the morning it didn’t start... It’s not ticking over at all.

I know it could be because it pick up the junk at the bottom of the Tank, but how do it get it sorted? do i just clean out the Fuel Filter or could it be a even bigger job?

Any Guides, or step by steps?

Kind regards

Robert

 

[warren_cox]

Hi Guys,

I know it could be because it pick up the junk at the bottom of the Tank, but how do it get it sorted? do i just clean out the Fuel Filter or could it be a even bigger job?

Any Guides, or step by steps?

Kind regards

Robert

When running the tank low its always a risk you face. It's better to fill it once and then refil from 1/8th of a tank every time when you get low than it is to fill up a 1/4 tank and run it to empty every time as all the **** in the tank gets dredged into the fuel filter / injectors.

Is there any chance you have now got air blockages in the pipe that need to be bled out, or that the limited amount of diesle in there may have gone waxy in the cold?

Fuel filter info: link / TDi help

 

[vroomtshh]

I know it could be because it pick up the junk at the bottom of the Tank

People say this all the time and its nonsense. The pickup in your tank is at the lowest point, so no matter how much fuel you have, you always get your fuel from the bottom of the tank.

 

[Rtype3000]

Thanks Warren,

Its possible that there could be a air block, but weird how it started when i put diesel in it and able to drive it home.. so could be waxy..

 

[Muttley]

Is this a PD engine (130 or 150 BHP) or not (90 or 110 BHP)

I'm assuming you filled it with diesel and not petrol

What can did you use to carry the fuel back to your car, and how much did you put in? Did you check the can to see if it was clean before you filled it?

If you only put a little bit of fuel in you might have run dry again.

If the can was dirty or had water in it, you now have contamination that you didn't have before.

PD engines have lift pumps in the tank and a second pump on the end of the cylinder head. Non-PD just has the one distribution pump.

Both systems are meant to be self-priming i.e. to work after filling an empty tank.

 

[Rtype3000]

Its a 90 BHP,

I ran to the petrol station bought the can in there then filled it up with Diesel £5 worth, before i did go home i went to sainsbury petrol station and popped in another £20.

No water was in the can as i broke the seal..

Is there any step by step to change this Fuel filters - bit of a novice

 

[Muttley]

Non PD then. You can do a crude check for fuel delivery by loosening off a pipe at the injector, putting it in a jar and cranking the engine. Fuel should come out

Fuel filter looks like this

Have a tray or something and plenty of rags or paper towels ready to catch fuel, which will spill.

Undo the spring clip and lift out the thermostatic valve, still attached to the return lines. The new filter should come with a new o-ring.

Unclip the feed lines, undo the filter clamp and remove the old filter. If you had crimp clips they will have to be replaced, a jubilee clip can be used.

Fill the new filter with diesel, mount it in the bracket and reconnect the fuel feed lines

Put the valve and return lines back in place, using a new o-ring and the spring clip.

Crank the engine till the fuel comes through

 

[PlatinumCupra]

im sure diesels have to be blead when u run out but dont hold me to that!!!!

 

[jabbasport]

Not on PD's as they have a tandem pump and return system. All you have to do is cycle the ignition a few times and then it's bled the system..

Kev

 

[MJ]

The earlier pds had a one way valve in the fuel lines to prevent run back and poor starting. The later models have a lift pump in the tank which fires a squirt of fuel into the fuel lines to allow a full uninterupted supply at start-up.

 

[Muttley]

Just a thought, Rtype3000, but have you drained the fuel filter? The drain plug in the bottom is to allow water and any coarse sediment to be drained from the filter body without the need to replace the filter.

You don't need to unclip any fuel lines, but you do need to take off the valve as described above, then undo the filter clamp and raise it so you can put a container and some rag/paper towel underneath. Open the drain until fuel starts to flow and let all the crud out, water should come first if there is any. Keep draining until 100ml of clean diesel has come through.

 

[Rtype3000]

Ref Muttley - No i haven't drained the fuel filter but that is my first protocol, i have noticed that there is a large air bubble in the see through pipe so will see if draining it will solve it.
Thanks for all the posts. You have been a great help, will be trying to fix it tomo.