My 2005 X-Type sedan has just over 36,000 miles on it. I just did my every 4,000 mile Maintenace on it. Oil, filters, check fluid and belts, etc. Yesterday I had a hard time starting it after it sat overnight. The same thing happened this morning. Once it started it started and ran fine the rest of the day. Both yesterday and today. No codes have come up. I am thinking maybe the check valve is bad. Any thoughts ?

 

Stephenniz, try this, get into the car after it has sat for awhile (when you know the problem is going to happen), roll the key to the RUN position (where it normally sits when you are driving the car) and then after 3-4 seconds, now roll the key to the start position. Did the car start up normally? If yes, then your fuel pump is starting to go. If not, then we will look further into it.

 

I did as directed. I could hear the fuel pump running. I waited about 10 seconds. The car started on the second crank. Sputtered for a second and started running smoothly.

 

Well, based on what you are saying, sounds like the check valve in your fuel pump is starting to go and what is happening is after setting a long time, the fuel line depressurizes and if you rol straight to START, it doesn't have time to build up pressure and therefore the fuel injectors do not atomize the fuel enough to allow the engine to run. Right nwo, you can get around it. But, as time goes on, this is going to get worse and worse until you reach a point that you will not be able to start the car.

 

There was a smell of gas when I started the car. I thought the check valve was the culprit. I will get one purchased and put it on my list. I guess I'll do it when doing the transfer case fluid change.

Thanks for the input.

 

Another question. I just priced the fuel pump kit at Advance. It is showing over $ 700.00. There are other sources as low as $ 200.00. What are opinions ?

 

My mistake. The sending unit is a couple of hundred $. The fuel pump itself is $ 500.00 to $ 800.00. It looks like its replacement is going to get done upon full failure. I am a bit let down that this unit is giving up the ghost after only 36,000 miles even though it is 17 years old. I also don't think I will do the holes cut in the floor for this repair. I will also source both the pump and sending units and replace both by dropping the tank.
There has to have been a better way to engineer this unit.

 

Read my thread "my kitty died today" shows pumps but also a couple of posts show how to just replace the "pump motor" only with the part number. More than one member have reported success doing that.

 

I just read the post/thread. I will be getting the pump from Welsh but I will most likely still drop the tank to do the repair when needed.