RR's stupid diesel gamble, I give you... the Signum!

[omegod]

Hateful bastard of a car, bought one to fix and sell years ago and it was harder to shift than a corpse from Michael Barrymore's swimming pool

[Lankytim]

I saw one of these being used as an unmarked police car in Stoke yesterday.

[Rusty_Rocket]

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[SiC]

Was there no pickup pump in the tank on these? I've always used a fuel line clamps on the tank side pipe. Never had to bleed them more than a little then. However every diesel car I've had, has had one of those hand bulb pumps. Maybe the workshop use a vacuum bleeder on the engine side of the filter to suck it through?

[Rusty_Rocket]

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[twosmoke300]

That fuel filter is fine - when they come out looking like an oil filter is when problems start .

I would always keep fuel level above 1/4 and park facing downhill when possible on one of those .

Also keep some brake cleaner and a 7mm for taking a boost hose off in the car. Can get them going if it does develop an air ingress issue

[purplebargeken]

Fine looking beastie! Nicest looking modern Vauxhall so far (to me anyway).

[Rusty_Rocket]

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[mrbenn]

Nice idea on the hand pump and looks a very neat install!

[Talbot]

I need to do this exact same modification to the Merc.  Frigging stupid system:  The IP has a teeny-tiny plunger pump that pumps about 0.000002ml of fuel with each stroke, and that is the only way to draw fuel up from the tank, which is about 2' lower than the engine and 10' back, along 700 miles of pipework.  All the online information and guidance I can find simply states "crank the engine until it runs".  All well and good, but when it's a bastard big inline 6 engine you're merrily cranking away for what feels like several hours, it does tend to knacker the battery and starter somewhat.  A fuel primer would have made so much more sense!

[Bren]

I use a vacuum type brake bleeder - blu tack around the pipes stops air getting in.

[Rusty_Rocket]

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[Bren]

I have heard of diesel fords killing their starters before they have been running.

[Talbot]

All sounding very familiar 

This is the Laser one-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diesel-Fuel-Pump-In-Line-Hand-Primer-Priming-Tool-Laser-3813-P/262861816984?epid=10011376618&hash=item3d33c90498:g:NYIAAOSwjPdZ17yD

 

The one I will be fitting came supplied on a French car of indeterminate type.  It could have been a 405, 306, 309, BX or CX.  I've broken all of them for spares and always keep the fuel squisher.  Got about 8 of them now.  You can just about still find them in breakers yards and are a couple of quid, depending on the yard and whether you declare them or not.

[SiC]

I bet a Pela oil extractor and a length of thick walled vinyl tubing could suck it through pretty well too.

[sierraman]

I have heard of diesel fords killing their starters before they have been running.

Shouldn’t be a problem on a 2.0 TDCI if you fill the filter with fresh diesel before hand. Bit difficult to do that on a Mk4 Mondeo though.

[vaughant]

My mate used a large medical syringe to fill each one of the lines on his mongdingo to get it to start when literally all else failed. Fucking diabolical but it did go and no further issues found.

That's the one thing I hate with diesels.

 

The SEAT I have users pump only to start as it's the older ve pumped engine, apparently a lift pump from another model can be easily fitted into the tank, I wonder if a petrol versions pump could be fitted in one of these signum's..

 

Fine looking car BTW, always loved these especially when they came out.

The 3.2 pez must be a proper Stormer, remember that copper who got flashed at 150 odd mph in the veccy c?

Bet that boosted Vauxhall car sales ????????

[twosmoke300]

I either use a vac brake bleeder to pull it through ( the 2.0hdi in mk4 mondeos etc you need to suck if from the green return line after the pump etc .

Pd vag stuff just turn the ign on for 3 secs and off - repeat about 6 times .

Newer vag you can use diagnostic equipment to prime fuel system . Takes no extra time as I’m already plugged in to reset the reminder anyway

[theshadow]

place i used to work at does the servicing on the diesels and never ever changed the fuel filters!!!!! :shock: :shock:

[NorfolkNWeigh]

That's a good idea Bren.  I have a fluid extractor pump type thingy, that I put on the pump's return line but it just didn't work- nothing coming through and just a massive vacuum, even with the ignition switched on, like trying to suck a straw with your finger on the other end.

 

 

 

All sounding very familiar 

This is the Laser one-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diesel-Fuel-Pump-In-Line-Hand-Primer-Priming-Tool-Laser-3813-P/262861816984?epid=10011376618&hash=item3d33c90498:g:NYIAAOSwjPdZ17yD

 

The other thing with this Signum is, not only are all the fuel lines solid (apart from the short rubber section that I fitted the pump into), but also, they are a really large bore, something like 9-10mm I.D.  Not only does that mean the fuel is harder to draw up, but also the pump is a little bit too small, making an air-tight fit difficult.

 

All for the sake of not fitting a tank lift pump 

Don't knock it, I spent £600 having the in tank pump on my V70 replaced last week, £385 of that was the pump, I'd gladly spend 3 hours getting covered in diesel once every couple of years over that.

[Rusty_Rocket]

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[Lacquer Peel]

No lift pump at all

The whole shebang relies on the IP sucking the fuel (a long way) from the tank and when an idiot like me meddles, problems happen! Also, almost all the fuel lines are metal or hard plastic, so you can't clamp them. It's not very well thought out really.

Almost no mechanical pump diesels are fitted with an electric lift pump, the only one I can think of is the BMW diesel of the 90s.

The lack of a primer bulb to aid basic servicing in a lot of diesel cars is a nuisance.

[Lankytim]

The HDI Citroens and the Multipla I've had all self prime with the in tank pump after a fuel filter change. Piece of piss.

[Rusty_Rocket]

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[Rusty_Rocket]

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[Bren]

Diesel vauxhalls run on the cool side so I would'nt worry.

[sierraman]

All diesels take a considerable time to 'warm up' as seen through the gauge.

[rantingYoof]

SnrYoof's 3.0CDTi barely ever went above its 9 o'clock resting place and blew warm air.

 

The 1.8 Astra didn't even have a temp gauge which I found unnerving, being a serial kettle owner.

[Bren]

SnrYoof's 3.0CDTi barely ever went above its 9 o'clock resting place and blew warm air.

 

The 1.8 Astra didn't even have a temp gauge which I found unnerving, being a serial kettle owner.

Our vectra did get up to 90 but I suspect that was down to it's cooling issues.

[Sir Snipes]

SnrYoof's 3.0CDTi barely ever went above its 9 o'clock resting place and blew warm air.

 

The 1.8 Astra didn't even have a temp gauge which I found unnerving, being a serial kettle owner.

That put me right off getting an Astra.