I decided to take a little break from messing about with the car to try an give my brain time to recharge....it didnt work though!!!!
As the car still wont start i decided to take the fuel filter off and check all was good in there....I dont think it is
I found what looks like silver metal filings in the housing. I am sure I have read somewhere in one of my extensive forum stalking searches
that metal filings in filter housing means the high pressure pump has failed???? Can anyone please advise on this?
If it was from the HP the filings would have had to make their way backwards against the fuel flow. Looks like you'll have to replace it, clean your fuel lines out and take the filter bowl off the car for a good clean (you don't want any of that to get to the HP pump).
So even though the low pressure pump (the one in the tank) seems to be pumping, it could still be the cause of all my problems?
Don't mean to sound dim, but what is the best way to clean the fuel lines out??
I will try and source another lp fuel pump tomorrow, my local scap yard had shelves of them. Just hope he has another 406.
You will probably get away with removing & cleaning out the filter bowl thoroughly, changing the lift pump, then, (I'm guessing here), purge the fuel line by pumping a litre or two from tank to a clean container to check for any further impurities. You can always recover the fuel by straining it through say some kitchen towel to catch any nasties.
IIRC the HP pump has a very fine gauze strainer on the inlet for just this reason.
2002 HDi 2.2 Exec Estate, (2008-12) (wonderful)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
I also have metal bits in my fuel filter housing and have no problems. I seem to remember having them in my 2.1TD XUD engine as well - again, with no problems.
Captain Jack wrote:I also have metal bits in my fuel filter housing and have no problems. I seem to remember having them in my 2.1TD XUD engine as well - again, with no problems.
Me too when I changed the fuel filter
Got a bit paranoid about it and as one of the pipes on top had been repaired, changed the whole filter housing.
Had no issues relating to fuelling
1999 D8.5 HDi GLX - Sold
2007 Mondingo Zetec - I seek forgiveness Bring back my 406
Usually when we hear about swarf in the filter it follows the words "my fuel pump died and..." so we've always assumed the swarf is a product of a failed pump, now it's looking like that's meaningless because the one doesn't actually follow the other. I'd love to know where it's coming from (anyone got an old pump they'd care to take a hammer to?)
Looks like I'm back to the drawing board then
I will still see if I can source a cheap pump today just to rule it out completely.
I was having a look at the loom last night and I unravelled the tape around it and found that 2 separate sections appear to have been cut and connected together? One sidebhas four wires one side going to two the other?
Does anyone know if this is normal or is it an attempted repair by a previous owner?
The wiring will have some splices, these will probably be crimped rather than soldered. I'm afraid without wire numbers I wouldn't know where to start looking
If the pump runs for a few seconds and then cuts out then I'd think it was putting out enough pressure (this is without trying to start it), if it ran for a very long time indeed then I'd think it wasn't up to the job.
Low pressure pump surely? 
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