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when i start from cold, and only the first time, before i crank the engine, there is a noise that sounds like a lifter or priming pump, judging by the way they behave on other vehicles. It sounds pretty wrong - grindy and like it's struggling.
if i knock off the key without starting the noise keeps on going, getting slower and slower (sounds like) until eventually it stops.
however the motor starts fine, really well in fact.
location is under the bonnet, above the engine, near base of windscreen.
any suggestions of what this could be? lifter pump? something else?
what should i check? should i be worried? : )
thanks
hmmm, bit quiet...
right well, in case anyone else is ever searching this, i heard back from a really helpfull seller on ebay who seemed to know vitos inside out. he said:
Your lifter pump is fine if it’s fine from cold,
The source of your problem is a little water recirculating pump/motor that sits on the bulk head that helps the coolant heat up when it’s cold. You can check it by just unplugging it, simply remove the thick hard plastic air tube that runs across the top of the engine (just two jubilee clips) and you’ll have good visual access to it.
which sounds spot on. so i'll check that ou tat the weekend
this is fun : )
You may have asked the first STW unanswerable question. Hat.
By lifter pump do you mean fuel filter pump which sits high in the engine bay in the centre? These can be replaced easily enough using some spanners and a fuel pumping hose to prime it.
They rust up so may eventually fail. Halfords had them around £40 last time I looked, depending on whether yours has the sensor or not (the third connector) - mine does, being on a mk2 Vito.
i may have, yes, but the reply i got from the ebay guy looks more likely.
thanks for the info tho
You need to establish what is making the noise first, could be the primer pump charging the fuel rail to allow starting but then could also be a different pump, as mentioned above.
Get someone to turn the ignition on with your head under the bonnet and see if you can find out what is causing the noise to start with, once you have found this and given us a little more information there may be people who can offer advice. Once established what is making the noise you can see what pipes are connected to it fuel/coolant/air/vacuum and then you can decide what and whether it needs replacing, you might be able to remove and bypass it or just disconnect it and see what happens.
Fuel primer pumps, electrically driven, are usually nearer the fuel tank area though and the main high pressure pump will be engine driven.
You are asking for some armchair diagnostics with very little information to go on...
I'm definitely not an expert on Vito's though.