Cutting-out
First thing in the morning, my 2010 Transit Connect TDCI glow plug light comes on and goes off as normal and I have confirmed the voltage going to the plugs is just over 11 volts. The engine will start, run for a few seconds, then cut out. The only way I can start it again and get it to run is by using Easy Start. It will then run OK for the rest of the day, sometimes starting and stopping four or five times.
I took it to a diesel specialist who retrieved a fault code for the fuel pressure regulator. He replaced three sensors – two on the fuel pump and one on the fuel manifold – and fitted four reconditioned injectors, to no avail. I have lost faith with him and am hoping you can help. At the moment there are no fault codes showing. John Shiels
The specialist has replaced the sensors that commonly fail and cause the problems your van is exhibiting. This should have fixed the problem, but this is one of the drawbacks of jumping to conclusions because the symptoms seem to fit a common failure.
You have not made any mention of the fuel filter being changed, although I would have expected this to be done at the same time as the other work. If this has not been done, then this would certainly be the first part I would replace. The fact that the vehicle starts up initially indicates that fuel is present in the system, but the fact it it then cuts out and refuses to restart suggests the fuel is not being replenished. It's possible that either the fuel is seeping back from the fuel filter or the pump isn’t drawing in the fuel. As the van will run perfectly for the rest of the day once the initial problem has been overcome, I suspect that fuel is seeping back or air is getting into the system overnight. The most likely area for this is the fuel filter.
If the fuel filter has already been replaced, examine the fuel pipes and connections for any signs they are allowing air into the system.
Another area that could cause problems is the connections between the leak-off pipes and injectors, but as the injectors have been replaced, I would hope the connections are good.