1.5D Loss of power & now won't start

  1. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #1
    Hi, I have a '97 1.5 diesel Saxo. It's been taking a bit longer to start recently, but it always managed to start. However, yesterday every time I went up a hill it would lose power about half way up, no matter what gear or how many revs I gave it, then it would just die.
    It restarted after a couple of seconds of being off and as soon as I got onto flat land it would have no problems again??
    Then I go to start it this morning and it just doesn't want to fire at all. I suppose it might need new glow plugs but they shouldn't affect it while its driving would they?
    Anyone had a similar problem?
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #2
    Try bleeding your fuel filter.
  3. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.
    #3
    or putting fuel in the tank
  4. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Try bleeding your fuel filter.
    How do I do this? I've had a quick search, can't find anything specific. Something to do with loosening the screw on the bottom of the filter then pumping that pump thing close to the battery?
    Could it be the filter just ready for a change? It's on 90k miles now so might be about ready to be done
  5. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #5
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by welshpug View Post
    or putting fuel in the tank
    Ha it is on red light but there's definitely plenty left!
  6. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.
    #6
    red light + hill = FAIL.
    2 users thanked this post: ,
  7. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by welshpug View Post
    red light + hill = FAIL.
    No I've driven it lower than it is - it only just came on before it started happening so will have plenty miles left. Wasn't far from home either
  8. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Muel View Post
    How do I do this? I've had a quick search, can't find anything specific. Something to do with loosening the screw on the bottom of the filter then pumping that pump thing close to the battery?
    Could it be the filter just ready for a change? It's on 90k miles now so might be about ready to be done
    Yeah that's right mate, mine is on 140k mine never had a running issue but changed mine and it was full of black gunk! So I would change it.

    Bleeding them is a bit of a pain in the arse sometimes takes a few attempts to bleed them depending on which pump you have but that should fix the cutting out.

    Also my glow plugs need changing but I would say don't change them if you can start them, they've been known to snapping in the head.
  9. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Aly View Post
    Yeah that's right mate, mine is on 140k mine never had a running issue but changed mine and it was full of black gunk! So I would change it.

    Bleeding them is a bit of a pain in the arse sometimes takes a few attempts to bleed them depending on which pump you have but that should fix the cutting out.

    Also my glow plugs need changing but I would say don't change them if you can start them, they've been known to snapping in the head.
    Cheers yeh it did look like a bit of a blag - might get someone else to fit a whole new filter tomorrow then.
    Mines on 90k, so if it has been done at all it should be about ready to be done again.
    I nearly traded it in for a gti + not much cash on Friday. Quite pissed off I didn't do it now!
  10. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Muel View Post
    Cheers yeh it did look like a bit of a blag - might get someone else to fit a whole new filter tomorrow then.
    Mines on 90k, so if it has been done at all it should be about ready to be done again.
    I nearly traded it in for a gti + not much cash on Friday. Quite pissed off I didn't do it now!
    GTI's are nice I had a lovely one, but GTI's can't do 600 miles to a tank!
    Yeah better off getting someone to do it if you're unsure, took me ages to wrestle mine off lots of hammering and diesel everywhere finally got it off.
  11. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810
    #11
    btw, i thought the glowplugs on my brothers 1.5d would be seized into the head but they came out nice and easy

    also the fuel filter was an easy change too. The haynes manual has a good guide how to bleed it. Its now running a mercedes fuel filter on separate fuel lines though
  12. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LSOfreak View Post
    btw, i thought the glowplugs on my brothers 1.5d would be seized into the head but they came out nice and easy

    also the fuel filter was an easy change too. The haynes manual has a good guide how to bleed it. Its now running a mercedes fuel filter on separate fuel lines though
    i'd love to change mine dude but I just don't want to risk it
    I can put up with it running a bit rough for a few seconds at cold
  13. Infrequent Poster Joined: Nov 2009 Weston super Mare Posts: 189
    #13
    check for air in the fuel lines, usually comes in near the fuel filter but you will be able to see air bubbles near the alternator there is a fuel line above.
  14. Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2010 Bristol Posts: 906 Saxo 1.4i SX 3dr, 106 (engine swap under way), p
    #14
    Sounds like air in the lines, and possibly a partly blocked filter to me. Does it splutter and sound like it's misfiring before it dies? or is it it just an instant stop?

    Either way, pop the bonnet and get someone to try and start it while you look at the clear bit of line between the filter and the pump. If you can see bubbles, that's why it's struggling. When my pug diesel died it went from the occasional hiccup to taking ages to start, to refusing to start full stop, in about 2 days. I was getting mass amounts of air in the fuel line. It was being sucked in via a failed o-ring in the overpressure valve assembly that lives in the housing that the fuel filter screws onto.
  15. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #15
    Well after some fresh diesel and the threat of some easy start it decided to fire up! It still isn't right though - it has like 'flat spots' when accelerating and just isn't the same as it was. Haven't risked any hills yet though lol.

    Mechsman & quikydan, cheers for that. I did see that pipe so if it gets worse again looks like ill have to bleed the system.
  16. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810
    #16
    to help with the bleeding, i cracked off slightly the fuel lines right at the point theyre going to the injectors (needs a big 19mm spanner i think and a bit of wd40)
    and then turned over the car so a bit of diesel started to dribble out then shut them again.
  17. Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2010 Bristol Posts: 906 Saxo 1.4i SX 3dr, 106 (engine swap under way), p
    #17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Muel View Post
    Well after some fresh diesel and the threat of some easy start it decided to fire up! It still isn't right though - it has like 'flat spots' when accelerating and just isn't the same as it was. Haven't risked any hills yet though lol.

    Mechsman & quikydan, cheers for that. I did see that pipe so if it gets worse again looks like ill have to bleed the system.
    For petes sake don't use easy start. It f*cks piston rings in no time flat! Engines get addicted to it very fast and you will end up killing it. It's almost as bad as radweld in that regard.

    If there is air in the lines and it's getting there continuously, you have a leak somewhere. The diesels rely on a contiuous supply to lubricate the pump and to maintain the timing advance/retard operation within the pump, as well running the engine obviously. A drop in fuel supply will mean a momentary drop in internal pump pressure, which will throw the timing all to cock and hurt the pump (no lubrication) until the vane pump can repressurize the supply. The issue with the air ingress via the O-ring in the filter mounting is well known, and a common issue on higher mileage engines. Do your engine a favour and fix the problem, rather than bodging your way round using stuff like easy start.
  18. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 3593
    #18
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mechsman View Post
    For petes sake don't use easy start. It f*cks piston rings in no time flat! Engines get addicted to it very fast and you will end up killing it. It's almost as bad as radweld in that regard.

    If there is air in the lines and it's getting there continuously, you have a leak somewhere. The diesels rely on a contiuous supply to lubricate the pump and to maintain the timing advance/retard operation within the pump, as well running the engine obviously. A drop in fuel supply will mean a momentary drop in internal pump pressure, which will throw the timing all to cock and hurt the pump (no lubrication) until the vane pump can repressurize the supply. The issue with the air ingress via the O-ring in the filter mounting is well known, and a common issue on higher mileage engines. Do your engine a favour and fix the problem, rather than bodging your way round using stuff like easy start.
    I still haven't had chance to have a look at it - it still manages to get me to work most of the time (had to be rescued and jumped off a few times though!)
    I havent actually used any easy start on it yet, we went to get some and when we got back it decided to fire up.

    I think there must be a leak somewhere, as its only when the engine is working harder eg going up hill or when I'm ragging it - thats when it loses all power and cuts out pretty much straight away. If I go steady on flat land it seems to be ok.