Dead Vito!

[dave2016]

Hi
I was driving along the M4 when a rattle started (like a plastic bag getting caught under the van.)
the rattle stopped when I took my foot off the acellerator and resumed when I pressed again.
I looked in the mirror and saw light blue smoke coming out of the back (not a huge plume of smokescreen, but enough!)
The engine cut out and would not restart.
I stopped on the hard shoulder and was relayed back to my local garage.
the turbo is ok, there is fuel getting to the engine but the diagnostis suggest low fuel pressure.
when easy start is squirted in, the engine will fire and run.
The mechanic is a bit flummoxed and says the high pressure fuel pump requires engine removal, which may not fix it.
the van has done 105,000 miles and appears to be scrap....

HELP!!!!
Thanks

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Not dead, just sick, as usual, diagnosing the fault is the name of the game, fixing the failed ancillary item may be straightforward, 105k is really nothing for this engine. good luck.

 

[dave2016]

Daed Vito

has anyone any ideas?

 

[M80]

Engine out for hp pump, no chance. It's easily accessed from the front.
As said the mileage is low, expecting 4 to 5 times that mileage is reasonable.

TBH it sounds like you need a more competent mechy, are there any MB indies in your area. There are a few things to check for, like fuel to and from the filter, and a reasonable Indie would soon diagnose this.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Engine out for hp pump, no chance. It's easily accessed from the front.
As said the mileage is low, expecting 4 to 5 times that mileage is reasonable.

TBH it sounds like you need a more competent mechy, are there any MB indies in your area. There are a few things to check for, like fuel to and from the filter, and a reasonable Indie would soon diagnose this.

Not on a 651, they are at the back of the engine and a pig to get to and indeed it is easier and quicker to drop the engine out for the sake of messing about trying to do it in situ, pretty much the same for any work on the inlet manifold too.

However if it runs on easy start and continues to run it must have fuel pressure....If it smoked heavily before cutting out I would say you have lost a couple of injectors, which on a 651 is not uncommon.

Has your garage actually checked the fuel pressure, and I dont mean by cracking off injector lines, actually measuring it with a gauge? That will determine whether the pump is goosed or not. Have they done a injector leak of test? Check the quantity correction values of the injectors when the van was running?

Low fuel pressure fault codes just mean the fuel pressure has dropped below 150bar which is minimum running pressure. But that will store if you have a leak or if the ECU has cut its supply as its seen high diesel usage at an injector(s) such as high leak off or worn nozzles dumping diesel rather than a good spray pattern..

As someone has put, its not beyond repair, just needs someone who knows what they are doing to diagnose it properly.

 

[M80]

My mistake Steve, the ass in me assumed it was the same design as mine.
Sounds like an engine I'd prefer to stay away from.