Thread: TD5 ran out of diesel. What's "happy start"?

It would have been "aerostart" or "start ya bastard"

Why didn't you do the priming technique? It would have had you running in no time without a flat battery!

Does still make me wonder if the fuel pump is dicky.

Im sure this has been well covered on here but...

To start a TD5 after running out of diesel.
Turn ignition on, depress accelerator 5 times.
The MIL will then flush, this is purge mode, once completed the MIL will turn off.
Then hold the accelerator to the floor, crank engine over.
Once it begins to start, bring the accelerator pedal up about half way until it fully starts.
There will lots of white smoke (unburnt fuel) but all will be good.

Yes you still need a good battery to achieve this.

One of symptoms of a failing fuel pump on a TD5 is it wont pull past 3000rpm when driving.

Regards
Daz

checkyour fuel pump relay as well.

if the pump is sub optimal and the relay is causing a voltage drop the pump wont make enough flow to prime the system.

IF you have any doubt on the relay bridge it out temporarily and then replace it if the pump sounds different the relay has a burnt internal contact, a visual inspection will tell you if the spades and sockets are shot.

if you have any doubt that you have done the purge procedure correctly bypass the fuel pump relay with a briding wire and let the pump run for about a minute without cranking the engine then crank the engine for start as per the rest of the starting procedure (full throttle then modulate engine RPM to about 2KRPM after it starts to run) once its running smoothly shut down the engine and the pull the bridge wire.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TEST DRIVE WITH THE RELAY BRIDGED

and no, you wont have a hope in hell of starting a td5 thats been run dry of fuel if you have most of the following
1. not done the prime, or the alternate prime
2. have a less than optimal pump
3. have a dodgy fuel pump relay
4. Have a lazy starter or bad earth
5. Have genuinely noisey crank angle sensor (as opposed to the signal that comes up on almost every start anyway, the difference is the fault being live after the engine is running smoothly and the starter is spun down)
6. havent refilled the tank (yes, Ive been called out for that. Quick tip if your going to put a jerry in and have dual tanks put it in the tank with the pump, not the tank thats got a transfer pump that will only fire up if the alternators charging)