V70 TDI - No Fuel lift pump/relay non starter HELP
 

Hi Due to turning over and non-starting had rescue out the other day. He cracked open an injector, reported no fuel, retightened thumped bottom of diesel tank 5 times and it started... cause defined as fuel lift pump in tank. A few more times and I'd say about 70% refuse to start, thump tank and off it would go.

Volvo have a 'tank pump' ready for collection tomorrow at £140, however reading forums lots of reference to the pump relay as more likely cause, could starting after thump e coincidence I wonder. Hence I planned to short relay and check this evening as its a far cheaper component. Having removed fuse box lid their is no fuel pump relay! I'm now wondering if all volvo have got in for me is the tank draw-up and recycle fitting as equally the audi haynes for the engine suggest fuel is drawn by injection pump...

So the big question is there a lift pump in a 99 TDI or not? AND if not then where to look next...

Help urgently needed on this one please, thanks Ian

Not sure what your problem is, but I'm fairly certain the TDI's use the injector pump to get fuel from the tank - in other words there is no in-tank lift pump. Is it possible that either the pick up pipe in the tank is partially clogged/collapsed or the fuel tank vent pipe blocked? These symptoms 'may' respond to a thump of the fuel tank. Other than that check the fuel line junctions ( and lines themselves for that matter) near the tank since even a tiny air leak would cause fuel starvation.

Best of luck


John

Lift pump or not?
 

Hi John, many thanks for your reply which exactly mirrors my thinking. As far as I can see the draw off fitting only has one wire, possibly an earth? So this also suggests no pump as I struggle to see how it would be powered. Saying this the parts guy at Redditch Volvo is confident their is a pump and that the relay is in the back somewhere, hes going to have a further chat with service and ring me back, so I'll await with interest.

In the interim it started three times last night and has just brought me to work, so currently its a happy volvo - famous last words, lets hope I can get home for the weekend ;-)

Ian

Update - parts man has confirmed as I suspected it is just a fuel pickup and service engineer has never has cause to change one.. I'll screw the cover plate back on! That just leaves to to trouble shoot the problem again should it re-occur, at least one line of enquiry removed.
Ian

Ian, There is no lift pump in the Tdi, only the mechanical engine driven injection pump. As John suggests, it may be air getting into the fuel line somewhere which is hard to find of course. You could have fuel contamination - has it ever run out of diesel? Regards.

BTW I have one of the last classic Tdi's - May 2000, W reg. 195k currently.

Fuel starvation
 

Hi, I have a 1999 v70 2.5tdi and having starting problems. It appears not to be drawing fuel and I was wondering - if this model relies on fuel being drawn from the injector pump should i be able to feel suction from the pipe that connects to the filter from the pump when i am turni g the engine over and if not what does this indicate.
advice and guidance appreciated.
thanks
Tom