Lpg help

[The Moog]

I am the proud* owner of the focus bifuel that Mr Shadow flogged on here a few weeks ago.

 

Today I have started it for the first time in about a week and I can't get it to run on gas. It is up to temp and everything idles fine, it switches to gas and stalls.

 

I popped to the lpg specialist in town who sucked teeth and said that the ford systems suck donkeys Wang because of patent fights between them and Bosch l. He thinks that it will be the pump which are about £500 to replace if you can get them (I didn't have the car with me)

 

Anyone on here got any experience of them? Anything simple I should check?

 

I know it was running because Mark had it motd on gas only a few weeks back.

[Junkman]

A pump????

Some LPG specialist clearly doesn't understand the principle of LPG.

 

Are you sure there is gas in the tank?

Next, check whether 12V arrive at the vaporiser, i.e. the solenoid valve mounted to the vaporiser, when you switch to LPG.

[The Moog]

He said the ford system uses a pump, which is why it is shit. No one else does hence no spare parts.

 

The gas lights say 3/4 tank or should I assume it is lying?

[scaryoldcortina]

It does. The Ford Ikon LPG system pumps liquid from the bottom of the LPG tank rather than using gas pressure from the top like a Bosch system would.

 

Always assume the gas level lights are lying unless you know you just filled it, low level makes these cut out sharpish as the whole tank contents turns to vapour and won't pump.

[Junkman]

Is the pump running when you switch to LPG?

[The Moog]

So you have to choose which fuel before you start the car.

 

Then it will switch to gas after a couple of minutes. It starts fine on petrol, you can hear the solenoid click on passenger side but then it stalls.

 

Would idle control valve screw it up? It is a rough sometimes and so on list of things to change.

[mat_the_cat]

Pumps are/were available from somewhere like Lithuania. Knowledge of the Ford system seems quite rare, but there us a mobile bloke based in Telford who is an expert.

[The Moog]

I couldn't work out whether the bloke wasn't interested in helping or actually trying to be nice and save me money.

 

Taking your advice I topped up the tank. (45p/l ftw) so it definitely isn't that.

 

 

Mat- if you think if that is then can you let me know. Happy to travel to get it fixed.

[omegod]

Slim chance the cotton LPG filter is clogged, should be " in line" in the engine bay somewhere, other thought are there any loose vacuum lines. Just throwing in a few randoms from my experience of LPG in the past  

[barmatt]

^^wot he said, check the vacuum lines. I had an RRC that would cut out on gas, turned out to be a half inch split on the end of a vacuum line. Snipped an inch of it off = free fix

[The Moog]

Cheers will have a look tomorrow.

[mat_the_cat]

I don't know enough to even say whether it's likely to be the pump, but it seems to be a common failing. Someone with knowledge of th system may be able to diagnose remotely, or at least give likely causes but then it only seems fair to buy anything needed from them...

http://www.mobileautomotivesandlpg.co.uk/default.html

 

This is the website which supplies pumps for some Ford factory kits, but not sure which your Focus will have

http://www.cardo-parts.pl/index.php?p19,erj173-lpg

[The Moog]

Cheers Mat. Will give them a call monday

 

 

Managed to get onto LPG forum. The system is a liquid injection system with the pump in the tank, which is why it can start without having to warm up.

 

There is a replacement pump on eBay uk for £88.

 

It seems they used fuel pumps in the LPG which causes issues because LPG doesn't lubricate it like pez does.

 

It's just a case of finding out whether t can be diyed or if someone will fit one. There is a place in Bolton that says they can on their website so will have to see how much they charge.

[The Moog]

So Lpg specialist has given the whole system a going over and the verdict is..... (Drum roll) the pump.

 

Everything else in the system is in fine fettle. They can source and fit the pump for £400 so have decided to go ahead with that. I will save that money I about 3 months so not a deal breaker.

 

Plus I have got a xsara hdi to tootle around with

[The Moog]

Not sure if anyone is interested but focus is back and fixed. Cost the same as I paid for the car!

 

So it was the pump. The garage did full diagnostic and service which showed it was not supplying the right pressure.

 

They replaced the pump and also found out why they think it has failed. There is an issue with the fuel gauge where it won't go to into the red section. Even when empty it still shows a green.

 

This wouldn't be a mega issue except when the gas pressure drops to empty it automatically switches over to petrol. The ecu then kills the gas pump but only if the gauge is showing red. So it leaves the pump continually running killing it quickly.

 

Can't recommend the place enough. They took pics of the diagnostic and replacement so you knew what had happened. Took the time to explain the faults and show me what to do if I run out of gas. Also serviced the system whilst they were there.

 

Looking forward to filling up for £20

 

Garage is CRD Technology in Bolton.

 

[lisbon_road]

Pumped lpg?  Now I have heard everything.  Would never have believed it and only just do - why pump something that pumps itself?  However, clearly it does so thanks for sharing.

[The Moog]

According to the garage it is directly injected in and so no vaporiser. Which in turn means no warming up period needed.

 

In theory it was supposedly better than the standard method although everyone else went with vaporisers so technology was obsolete.

 

Bonus is that I have got a tickford tuned focus! Got to be worth 25bhp for the badge alone

[UltraWomble]

Im already wondering about how much it would cost to LPG the Almera - it has a fair size spare wheel well that would take a tank - an indicated 23 MPG on Pez is a bit shite.

[The Moog]

I think there is a place in Leyland that is rated highly for Lpg. I think it is around £1500 for a conversion. So depends mileage...

[andrew e]

Im already wondering about how much it would cost to LPG the Almera - it has a fair size spare wheel well that would take a tank - an indicated 23 MPG on Pez is a bit shite.

Well 23 MPG will be 20 MPG on LPG.

[The Moog]

True but round here it is 47p a litre versus 107p a litre for pez.