How do I bleed the system on a 2006 fiesta 1.4 Diesel?

 

Should be a hand pump a black plastic bulb at the back of the engine bay by the air box

 

Yep, been pumping that til my hand went numb, still no sign of it firing.

 

What I want to know is, do I have to disconnect or loosen anything to let the air out whilst I'm pumping?

 

usually the pump will have a 1 way valve but im not 100%

 

The full story is that I changed the starter. But a month lapsed between getting the old one off and fitting a replacement and all that while the front wheels were up on ramps. Now it turns over lovely but won't fire. I just assumed it was a fuel problem. What else could it be?

 

Blocked filter?

 

I would start with getting someone to plug it it to see how the land lies if there's no obvious faults stored check live data for engine speed and fuel pressure

 

Did you have any of the fuel system disconnected while changing the starter motor?

 

None of the fuel system was touched when I changed the starter.

 

Ok.
It's possible without disconnecting any of the fuel system that the fuel has somehow ran back to the tank and you now have an air lock.

When you are pressing the bleeding bulb can you feel / hear fuel flowing through it?

 

Is the battery connected back up properly? What is the red immobiliser light doing? It should blink steadily with ign off, come on solid for a few secs with ign on, then go out.

 

Immobiliser is doing what it should and I can feel fuel filling the pumper as I pump it.

 

Get a diagnostic check done on it. Could be anything really!

 

Is it attempting to start or just nothing?

Have you tried getting someone to pump the bleeding bulb when you're turning it over?

 

It turns over but makes no attempt at firing. I had a guy come round and plug it in, no codes showed up and he had no idea why it wouldn't start. I'm at my wits end, this the first, and LAST diesel ford I ever buy.

 

It was running fine. You took it to bits, put it back together again and now it doesn't start. Doesn't sound like it is the car that is at fault here?

 

I sounds like you could have an airlock in the fuel system.

I know you've tried priming it with the bulb but for some reason that doesn't always work.

You could try the brake / clutch cleaner trick to see if it starts.

Spray small bursts of brake cleaner into the inlet manifold when trying to start the car, this often gets them to fire & start, if it starts keep it running to bleed any air from the fuel system.

Give it a go and see what happens.

 

is the starter motor turning the engine quick enough,because i know the focus 1.8 diesel wont fire the injectors unless the engine is cranking over fast enough.so it might be a duff starter or battery.

 

I wouldn't, the glow plugs can pre-ignite the brake cleaner, sending the charge back down through the intake or whatever!

 

You may get the odd backfire if you're unlucky, just make sure to keep your face out of the way.

 

You're not wrong! Eventually had to strip it all down again to find a wayward plug that I must pulled out accidently, pushed it back in away she went. Still the worst car I have ever worked on tho.

 

At least you found the problem and it's running again and without losing your eyebrows