oh gosh darn it

[Peetee]

My Fiancee has put Petrol in her HDi Diesel and now the thing won't start. Strange thing is she did it four days ago and has run the thing no problem in between. The course of event was this:
20 litres of petrol were mixed with 60 of diesel. lots of advise was taken before starting the car resulting in her taking the chance.
The car has run approx 200 miles now and had a number of short and longer journeys in that time. There has been no starting issues, no visible emmisions and no loss of performance.
However.....
Now the engine warning light has come on and it wont start The starter sounds quite 'free' as if it is not having to do so much work so i suspect that maybe there is no fuel getting through - although there are no leaks evident front or rear. That could of course be a safety feature of the warning light and not directly related.

I wonder if the petrol mix has dislodged some muck somewhere cauusing an issue at the pump or for the emmisions sensor. Beyond that i havent a clue. I have googled this and all I can find is reference to deterioration of the rubber fuel line sections - although i can't really believe there are any in a high pressure system - and of course there are no visible leaks.
Any ideas folks?
Not engaged panic circuits yet - but close!

[MarkyB]

You'll have to get the codes read to get any idea of what's upset it.
If you are a member of the RAC, AA etc get them to do it as they will have seen it before.

This gives any idea of the type of message;
http://www.bentleypublishers.com/tech/v ... .table.htm

Something like "Fuel Trim,Bank1 Malfunction" gives a clue but still needs some interpretation!

[Peetee]

AA member but no homestart

[badger]

Push it down the road and say that you nearly got home!

[MarkyB]

I think you only have to be half a mile away from your home.

[mike.perry]

Don't forget to turn the car around so that it is facing your home! How do you warm up a cold engine?

[Ratbag]

I imagine that diesel is more dense than petrol (heavier fraction).
I also imagine that your vehicle pulls from the bottom of the tank.
So, maybe its been running on mostly diesel up till now, and now there's only mostly petrol left?

Add more diesel to the tank.....


Phil.

[Peetee]

Good thinking. However, after driving 100 miles the tank was topped up. it was the following afternoon that the trouble started.

[Matt]

So Pete,

what do you estimate the last petrol/diesel ratio it ran on was? How much of it is in the tank now? How many miles since the wring fuel was put in and how many since its been topped off with derv again?

I would be inclined to fit a new fuel fiter - fill it with diesel or injector cleaner before you fit it and see what happens. It could be that it started on the proper diesel mix and as it was warm it kept running on the petrol/diesel. Or (and I can't see this) that the petrol/diesel mix has picked up the crud in the tank an pulled it in to the filter

Whatever you do don't use easystart or similar on a diesel - unless you know how to use it properly

If its any conselation I would have tanked it right up and driven it too.

[MarkyB]

How do you warm up a cold engine?

Just say you walked home before calling them.
I don't suppose the patrol men are worried about strict enforcement of the rules anyway.

You could but one of these if your car is listed;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-VW-Audi-Diagn ... 563e26999c

Cheap enough for a punt, and could come in very handy.

[Peetee]

Things have moved on - or rather they haven't.
The thing is now starting after a number of hours stationary but if you attempt to restart within a couple of hours it just cranks over but doesn't fire.
The immobiliser has a flashing led and this is very dim (sure it used to be brighter) so very difficult to tell if it's flashing when it should be and vice versa.
I've looked at all the fuses and tried resetting the transponder following instructions on t'internet. No joy.

Mogwai popped round with his diagnostic reader and no faults were recorded.

Stumped we are

[irmscher]

airlock ? try starting with the petrol cap open and a new fuel filter

[MarkyB]

Drive it a mile away and call the AA.
The chances are they will have plenty of experience of wrongly fuelled cars.

[chickenjohn]

Push it down the road and say that you nearly got home!

Yes, my thoughts! The AA will be able to diagnose this very quickly.

[rayofleamington]

Good thinking. However, after driving 100 miles the tank was topped up. it

with diesel I hope!! Otherwise that would explain your problems

[Peetee]

Yes with diesel. the car has done approx 250 miles now with the 1 part petrol/ 4 parts diesel mix with no performance issues whatsoever.
I really think this starting issue is unrelated.
Since she bought the car there have been occasional, random electrical issues like a radio and/or aircon that switches itself on when the ignition is turned on or off.

[MarkyB]

The thing is now starting after a number of hours stationary but if you attempt to restart within a couple of hours it just cranks over but doesn't fire.

That sounds a temperature/electrical connection issue, and the other things you list sound like connection issues.

VW Passats had a recall to check that the drains from the air box (between engine and bulkhead) drains hadn't blocked up with leaves etc allowing it to fill up with water as that is where the brain lives and getting that wet is a very bad plan.

If you want to DIY I'd suggest disconnecting the battery then looking at every connector you can get to with a very critical eye.
Any sign of verdigris, dirt or water will need attention.

Have a look at the VW forums for useful info.