Astra 1.7 cdti help

[londondan86]

I know this is a pug forum but I was hoping spmeone could help.

My mate has an astra that just wont start, wont even try to fire. There is fuel getting to the injectors, the glow plugs are working, timing is good and we have just changed th hp pump as this is meant to be a common part to fail but still no joy.
She runs on easy start but then dies as soon as it is gone. We are thinking an electrical problem but the ecu shows no codes??
We also have a diesel compression tester but the attatchments are not long enough to get into the glow plug holes.

Any help much appreciated as I can't get my bits painted until it is gone from the garage!!!

[Dum-Dum]

If your getting fuel to the injectors and it runs on easy start then it has to be an injector issue, either the signal operating them or the injectors themselves but injectors tend to go one at a time and it will make a good effort at starting on 3 so its gotta be electrical/ECU related.

Is it smoking when you try to start it.

[Tom]

Air leak into the fuel system? You sure theres enough fuel upto the injectors? Dad has a 54' 1.7cdti astra and it wouldnt start.. AA man played with fuel filter housing dad said then it started, worth a try?

[londondan86]

We tried bypassing the filterhousing altogether by just running a pipe into a jerrycan full of derv which made no difference at all. If you crack off a union while cranking it pisses out so I dont think the problem is there. Also after a hard crank if a union is opened fuel still pisses out at high pressure like its not getting into the cylinders at all just pressurized in the lines.
Dum, this is my thinking as well, I put a meter on the signal wire to the injectors and it bounces around while cranking, too fast to get a reading. Can you put a battery on the injectors to hear them click open? But like you I thought it unlikely that all four have died and its certainly not even trying to run on 3. Do you think that maybe the ecu is fooked?

[Dum-Dum]

is it smoking when you try to fire it (or smelling very dieselly out the exhaust)?

[londondan86]

Nope, not really on cranking, puffs out a bit of white smoke on easy start but not really otherwise.

Cheers mate, pulling my hair out with this one! I dont know naf all about ecu controlled dervs!

[306carter]

There's a soldered connection in the pump that comes loose. A vauxhall or diesel specialist is your best bet. Or someone with tec2.

[Frosty]

Tell him to scrap it and buy a 306! simples

[londondan86]

There's a soldered connection in the pump that comes loose. A vauxhall or diesel specialist is your best bet. Or someone with tec2.

The pump has been changed mate

Tell him to scrap it and buy a 306! simples

Took longer than expected but I have already recommended this to him!

[londondan86]

Does anyone know where the ecu is on these, there is a box of tricks behind the bumper on the passenger side but the wires look too big and there is a ruck of wires heading into the wing to another box. Both look like a pig to get to do I dont really want to get the wrong one!
Cheers

[stevieg]

we had an veccy in last week that no one could get started except me *smug* had to get a hand primer on it in the end and there was a one way valve on the rubber pipe just pre filter. pulled the valve off and stuck the primer pump in, pumped until hard and it went 2nd crank

[Dan!]

Had one of these in at work last week with the same symptoms. Turned out to be the fuel control unit, it's a box like an ecu about 15cm x 15cm x 4cm down the back of the engine, 4 10mm bolts holding it to the block and a connection at the bottom to unplug.

However, ours was bringing up error codes (fuel pump and spill valve) which were both fine but the ecu thought they were faulty because they werent receiving any signal from the fuel control unit.

[londondan86]

we had an veccy in last week that no one could get started except me *smug* had to get a hand primer on it in the end and there was a one way valve on the rubber pipe just pre filter. pulled the valve off and stuck the primer pump in, pumped until hard and it went 2nd crank

We tried the hand primer trick mate with no joy but good shout!

Had one of these in at work last week with the same symptoms. Turned out to be the fuel control unit, it's a box like an ecu about 15cm x 15cm x 4cm down the back of the engine, 4 10mm bolts holding it to the block and a connection at the bottom to unplug.

However, ours was bringing up error codes (fuel pump and spill valve) which were both fine but the ecu thought they were faulty because they werent receiving any signal from the fuel control unit.

We've already ordered another ecu off ebay but if that doesnt work we will try that next, didnt even know it existed!

[stevieg]

do a little research as most ecus on modern cars need coding especially CR dervs and fuelling