406oc.co.uk

My D9 406 110 HDI estate with 108,000 miles on the clock does around 44 mpg averaged over a lot of miles - not great and the garage just told me there was metal in the fuel filter so the fuel injection pump is on its way out .. I also get black smoke when I put my foot down after slow traffic for a while

Is this diagnosis correct?
does anyone else have this experience and where can I get a good priced replacement?

Cheers

thats quite common among many new diesels. its a combination of the lift pump in the tank and the main fuel pump. if the pump was on its way out it would become hard to start, really poor fuel economy and performance will really suffer.

Its just the low pressure pump in the tank, very common i am afraid.

you need the pump in the tank changing and all the fuel lines flushing. providing the metals bits haven't got into the high pressure pump it should be ok.

Little 'bits' in the filter indicate the lift pump is breaking, I think these bits build up over a long period myself until eventually the pump craps out.

It would be best to change it now but it seems the only real way to do it is to drop the exhaust/tank etc.

Bit difficult to do at home, and you do need to flush the lines out

Has the pump been 'grumbling' at all? I know mine moans a bit when it's cold when you first put the ignition on then other times it makes a nice even hum.

Guys - is it possible to drain some diesel out of the filter bowl to see if any metal bits come out with it? or do you have to get the lid off etc.?

mikey s wrote:thats quite common among many new diesels. its a combination of the lift pump in the tank and the main fuel pump. if the pump was on its way out it would become hard to start, really poor fuel economy and performance will really suffer.

slightly wrong, its only when the lift pump bearings are breaking up, nothing to do with the high pressure pump

there will be no difference to power/performance/economy as it just keeps the fuel flowing to the high pressure pump
the high pressure pump does a fair ammount of 'sucking' if you like, when the engine is running even though the lift pump stays running

Welton wrote:Little 'bits' in the filter indicate the lift pump is breaking, I think these bits build up over a long period myself until eventually the pump craps out.

It would be best to change it now but it seems the only real way to do it is to drop the exhaust/tank etc.

Bit difficult to do at home, and you do need to flush the lines out

Has the pump been 'grumbling' at all? I know mine moans a bit when it's cold when you first put the ignition on then other times it makes a nice even hum.

Guys - is it possible to drain some diesel out of the filter bowl to see if any metal bits come out with it? or do you have to get the lid off etc.?

its only the estate you need to remove the tank and exhaust to get to it, it just fits through the top on the saloon

there is no benefit draining the filter housing as the drain is on the side of the housing and there is a bowl at the bottom of the housing where the particles sit, the only safe way to be sure there all gone is to replace the housing

''its only the estate you need to remove the tank and exhaust to get to it, it just fits through the top on the saloon''

You don't need to drop the tank+exhaust to get to the lift pump on Estates. Just replaced mine today. You get at it from under the back seat, from inside the car. Bloody tight fit to get old pump out and new one in through the hole though. Why did they not make the hole 10mm bigger?? I had to bend the lugs at the hole sides back to make room.

Big tip. Discovered the sealing ring has a flat side to it and that flat side must be located against the rim. If not so located it gets repeatedly dislodged as you try and wriggle the pump in.

jim