Many thanks for your reply Peter.

The engine is the Endura DE, would this be the correct engine for a 52 plate escort van or do you think it has had a transplant at some point? (i havent owned it long)

Like i say, i changed the primer top today for a brand new one, so yes the fuel filter has been off, but because it looked "as new" i put the old filter back on the new primer top, in hindsight i should of replaced the filter and the top and bottom rubbers too, perhaps will do that tomorrow as only a 10 minute job.

Have pumped the primer till it goes hard but still no joy, well not straight away (it always does start eventually), i normally pump then try, go back and pump then try, and then normally on a about the third pump and try it will fire but not start, then i normally pump again and it will catch ??

I also have a 96 (P) Ford Courier with a 1.8 Endura DE, this one hasnt got a primer pump and has a different injector pump. The courier pump has loads of gubbings on the top whereas the escort pump is flat on top apart from the throttle lever...will have alook in morning to see if i can find the solonoid valve, albeit from memory i dont think it is obvious (to me) where it is.

Pretty sure it is the Lucas pump on the Escort. The fact that it does start eventually, would that point to air leakage and fuel draining back or solonoid. When it does run it runs well, just hard to start from cold.

Could compression be a problem?.,......as i said in first post it doesnt seem that quick (i know they werent when new but does seem extra slow, plus it smokes white/blueuy smoke all the while)

Once again thanks for your time

Vattie

Thanks once again for your reply Peter.

Ok, have just been out to the van, first thing i did was take the fuel line off the primer pump (that goes to the injector pump), and pressed the plunger a few times, diesel spurted out on every plunge. I then got in van and tried to start....nothing, no fire or anything (although it would eventually if i get trying for 10 minutes). I opened the rear doors and spun it over for a good 15-20 seconds (twice) whilst looking out the back doors and could see no sign of any smoke ?? So no diesel getting into the pots (which i suspected as when i put a drop of diesel down the air intake it fires straight away), but the fuel filter seemed full this morning when i took the pipe off and plunged !!

Where too from here??

Cheers

Vattie

I have a 94 1.8 diesel fiesta, and have had problems with the running. Mine started ok but everynow and then it revved by itself. After trying almost everything I had no option but to go to a specialist that opened the pump up and serviced it. it now seems ok cross fingers.

From what you are saying it seems that there is some restriction for fuel from pump onwards, probably inside.

I am no expert but to also eliminate any notion of air leak and fuel floing back to tank, a very cheap solution is to put a non return valve in the pipe leading from filter to pump. At least this way after engine starts it has for sure some fuel to start and initiate suction.

But your problem seems to be like others are saying. But it won't hurt since you're at it.

Don't know if yours has an external connection for the cold start advance solonoid but they can loose their supply, try connecting it to a 12v supply, straight to the battery would do, this happened on my sons P100 and it made the difference between running the battery flat or starting reasonably quickly .

Just try connecting them to the 12 volts, if that helps and it runs OK leave them connected. You can pick up a 12v switched supply from the fuel solonoid towards the rear of the pump on the top.