Leak Off Pipes & Fuel Return Pipes!

Bargin_Betty79

Hello,
I've posted a few times on here about trouble I've been having with my my Vectra and as suggested by some of you I had the glow plugs checked and changed, things seem to have been going fine.........until yesterday. I'm hoping you can help me out again!

I'd had to park the car on the opposit side of the road Friday evening to where I normaly put it (there's a bit of an incline, not sure if this is relevent or not) and when i went to start it yesterday it wouldn't go. The engine turned over but nothing happended. We called the breakdown service who sent someone out to look at it, he tried to jump it with no luck and after poking around a bit suggested it may be the fuel pump.

I've been doing a bit of investigating and it seems that 'leak off pipes' and 'fuel return pipes' are a common fault with this type of car.

Does anyone know roughly how easy it would be to replace them....is it something the other half could have a look at or would it need going to the garage.

Thanks
BB XX

p.s Once its fixed I'm selling it....I'm sure its cursed and has been nothing but trouble from day one!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Not a lot, they're only a bit of tubing. I'd be surprised if those pipes would cause problems starting your engine, all they do is return unused fuel to the fuel tank, from the top of the engine.

As you've parked on an incline and it won't start, I'd venture a guess that an leak in one of the fuel pipes supplying the pump/filter has allowed the fuel to drain back down to the tank, and be replaced with air. Engines won't run on air alone.

Do you have access to a battery charger, or a neighbour with jump leads? If so, keep cranking the engine. With the occasional 30 second pause, keep cranking it. If it is an air leak, eventually the fuel will be pumped back up and the engine should run fine. It might take as long as 2-3 minutes of cranking though, which is why you need a friend to help you avoid draining your battery.

If you manage to get it started doing this, make sure you leave the car parked up with the nose pointing in the opposite direction, that way the fuel won't drain into the tank overnight.

somech

fuel return pipes crack allowing air in also injector seals wear also allowing air in
the low pressure fuel pump in the tank is not activated until the engine starts so often gets misdiagnosed
parking facing downhill helps,
google vectra diesel starting problems you will see its a very common fault

mikey72

If the leak off pipes "leak" usually the engine starts eventually, but feels like it runs on 2 or 3 cylinders until the fuel gets back to the injectors.
You can see if they are leaking, it's a bit of rubber pipe between the injectors, first one is plugged, then first to second, second to third etc, fourth one returns to the pump. They should be bone dry, and usually dusty. If they are leaking they will look blacker, and slightly oily. If they are really gone, they will be spitting diesel down the engine, and smoking white.
They simply pull off, push on, and you can buy a metre for a few £.
I have a fiat 1.9td engine, needs pipes every year, and a peugeot 1.5, never needed them since I've had it.
Is there a manual primer on your car, usually a black bulb somewhere up to the pump?
If so, prime it by pumping, if there is resistance after a sqeeze or two, the fuel sysyem is full, so it's not that. If it takes a few pumps, it's leaking back from somewhere, and draining into the tank.
Fuel filter seals are also another suspect if it is draining back.
Have you checked the plugs are actually coming on, then again the breakdown people should have checked this first.
What year is the Vectra?

vaio

try starting spray (Easy Start?), that will at least get it running and give the pump chance to pump fuel through

petrolhead69

what engine is it? the 1.7 used to have shims for setting the valve clearences and when the valve seats wear the clearences get too tight giving poor compression when cold, a reshim would give them a new lease of life. the 2.0 ones dont suffer that, it would probably be an air leak in the fuel system or a glowplug issue. I cant remember if there is a priming pump but if there is they are a favourite for air leaks.

harveybobbles

2.0 and 2.2DTi suffer leak off pipe problems. Any old tubing will do. We often replace them at about 70k.

mikey72

harveybobbles wrote: »

2.0 and 2.2DTi suffer leak off pipe problems. Any old tubing will do. We often replace them at about 70k.

It'll last until the customer gets it home, then it's wear and tear again. Sounds better and better.

The right diameter, and resistant to diesel is better, as it won't leak, split, or go hard. It's a few quid for the proper one.

harveybobbles

I just mean you dont have to spend a fortune on tubing, you pleb.

mikey72

harveybobbles wrote: »

I just mean you dont have to spend a fortune on tubing, you pleb.

Not a couple of inches from the screenwasher then? :rotfl::rotfl:

harveybobbles

similar size,, but never tried it LOL.