3.O 2nd gen cranks but no start... Help?

[hypoid90]

Hello All.

Bought my Baguette in small French town nr Toulouse this morning and then my Surf didn't start.
Kind friend towed me to his home and has lent me a vintage renault 4 van.

Anyway, Surf cranks fine but doesn't start.
batteries good.
1/4 tank of diesel.
No diesel coming out of filter head exit when i pulled pipe and pumped it, but i always change the filters by filling the new one and then running it so i don't actually know if the priming pump works. (the filter was still full though).

Surf was an auto, then i swapped it over to manual.
i still have auto box sensor plugged in so it starts and runs. if this was playing up or has moved i don't think it would be turning over.
(could be wrong tho, wouldn't be the first time.. Lol,
maybe i should re-verify its still fully in Park).

My guess is its the fuel cut off at the injector pump, or the signal not getting to it.
I've checked the fuses in door pillar drivers side, and by the engine.

Could this be an E.C.U. gremlin?
Is there another module somewhere for the fuel cut off?

If this rings a bell with anyone i would extremely grateful for some pointers.
Other than checking the auto box sensor position i have no other bright ideas.
No previous symptoms. was running fine. parked. then didn't re-start. just like that.

Many thanks

Sim

[TonyN]

Could be the spill control valve (like a fuel cut off, but more delicate on an EFI surf) YOu cna test the power to it with a multimeter, it should be 3-5v or so, and change as you move the TPS. If no power then ECU or some sort of immobiliser, if getting power then it could be blocked or broken.

If you take it out, you should be able to pump fuel out of its hole with the primer to prove its the problm, but its a bugger to get out while pump on car, you need a big spanner to get on hex at bottom, but not much room to swing it down there. I cut and rewelded one to make it work.

You need to see if you're getting fuel out of the injector pipes, but this assumes you're getting fuel out of the primer first, need to make that work first.

[hypoid90]

Thanks Tony

Hi Tony. Thanks for reply and tips.

I read in the manual today the primer pump head has to be turned to un-lock it, then re-locked after use.
I'll try that to get the pump action going.

I saw the big hex nut at base of the solenoid switch thing (now known as the spill control valve...) on top of the pump. it has a lock washer with a fold up tab.
Once i undo this, can i just tighten it back up again?

I'll test the current as suggested, then go from there.
I have my old ecu on its way by post.

nothing at the injectors when i spun it over, and friend verified the valves where moving so should mean timing belt o.k.

The Renault 4 van is amazing, but i think the novelty will wear off.

Many thanks

Sim

[TonyN]

I saw the big hex nut at base of the solenoid switch thing (now known as the spill control valve...) on top of the pump. it has a lock washer with a fold up tab.
Once i undo this, can i just tighten it back up again?

I think you're in the wrong place, the SCV is right at the back of the pump, with a wire that loops two a plug clipped to the side or the pump.

Also worth checking is the sensor on the side/rear of the pump, its got a small gauze filter behind it that gets blocked. Be careful taking it out as it has a wavey washer behind it thats easy to loose if you don't know its there.

Pump the primer with it removed to prove fuel is getting through the pump, then the same once the SCV is out (if you get that far)

They're not really parts that are easy to work on 'at the side of the road' and you need a bit of 'savvy' to not bugger things up (no offence intended)

The bit in the middle of the lid with a tab washer is the engine speed sensor connection, and is a piece of cake to undo compared to the SVC... sorry..

[hypoid90]

Cheers Tony

Thanks for the extra info.
I'll test the current to the scv valve first, then go on from there.
I did think the sensor on top didn't look too hard to get to...

I'll probably be back in touch in a couple of days

Many Thanks

Sim

[hypoid90]

Is there a one way valve in the primer pump?

Hi Tony (and anyone else)

Bled some fuel out of the fuel pump using a hand primer and a diesel can and the engine fired up instantly.
One injector was still open so stopped it whilst i tightened that (yes, that was a mistake, lol) as didn't fire up afterwards.
did tell me it all works fine though, and that its a fuel/air leak issue i'm thinking.
Bought a replacement bit of filter to fuel pump pipe in case thats leaking.
so next suspect is filter bracket and primer.
my primer isn't working.
having cleaned it all up, the diaphragm seems to hold vacuum o.k. according to my tongue over the inlet pipe and thumb over the exit into filter so guessing its not (badly) holed.
the primer blows equally into the threaded filter connection, and back towards the tank.
is this right?
i can't see how it draws anything up (and it doesn't).
when i disconnected the exit pipe the fuel in the primer head drained noisily back to the tank. (i took the cap off before so no tank vacuum).
Thinking of replacing primer as it could be letting in air somewhere and it would be nice to be able to prime it.
should there be a one way valve in it?

Thanks for any info


Sim