Right so my dad brought an escort van for work it was standing for just over a year so we though why not replace a few things.. Changed the deisel filter and now the engine wont start? Ive bled the system and im not sure what else could be the problem? Any ideas please?

Thanks

 

drag it down the road, ignition on and in gear, long rope. should do it

 

is it the one with a push button on top of the filter housing to prime it? if so touching that primer at all usually causes them to draw air in as they are shite by design lol and when not touched for years the seal becomes brittle so when you do finally pump it they leak air
fit a new one (non genuine ones are shite so get one from ford)
i when changing filters on these use a vacuum pump to suck fuel through the filter, you could also use a hand primer pump between the fuel pump and filter, they are available from most motor factors for around a 5er,
you can either use it to suck fuel through then disconnect it and reconect the fuel pipe to the pump or just leave it on permanently

 

Yeah its that one..

Ive replaced all the seals at the same time as the filter, do you mean replace the seals or replace the housing thing?

 

Just try priming it first, it may be ok, operate the plunger, if the plunger gets hard to push the seals are ok.
tabetha

 

pain in the ass mate, i used to look after a fleet of escort/fiesta diesels the knack is to fill the filter first then start and dont rev it..i used to cheat, it involves wedging an air line into the fuel filler then forcing the diesel through..apart from that you'll be best draggging it round the block