2003 3.0D Auto X5 Cranking But No Starting

[AndycX5]

Hi,

Just wondering if someone could give me some pointers on what might be up with my 2003 3.0d automatic X5, The other day I was driving up a steep hill as I pressed the accelerator down there was no change in power and the car struggled to get to the top, I drove about 400 yards to my girlfriends house at the end of the road with the car not accelerating no matter how hard I pushed down on the pedal. I left the car outside returning to it about 2 hours later to find when I turned the key it was cranking but not firing up. The car had to be recovered to my house where it still wont start, any ideas on what may be the problem???

Thank's Andy

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Any other symptoms like black-smoke or misfire? How much fuel in tank?

How are the other fluid levels/condition? Did it overheat?

[G4VHD]

As above...

How was it preforming up to this event?

[AndycX5]

There was no black smoke or misfire it just went really slugish as if there was no diesel coming through as i pressed the accelerator, i had put 20 litres of diesel in the day before this happened and the range was at 176 miles, the car has just had a full service last month and the levels appear to be fine, it did'nt overheat and no warning lights came up on the dash.

[AndycX5]

yes it was performing fine leading up to this Gav

[G4VHD]

Ok, did it run lumpy under acceleration or just go to a certain revs and stay there?

[AndycX5]

It would'nt go past about 2k revs but did'nt seem to be lumpy

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Sounds like "Limp-Mode" but your dash would've stated "Trans Fault" or engine light on!!! Hmmmmm

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Do me a favour, disconnect the battery earth-lead overnight... Reconnect and try in the morning, i'll have a hunt in TIS for a solution ;)

[AndycX5]

So far people has said it will be, 1: diesel pump 2: fuel relay 3: battery. I don't see how it could be the battery as it was cranking when i was turning the key and all the electrics worked but i was told to check it anyway

[AndycX5]

I will give that a go, Thanks for the help guy's.

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

If it was any of the above then you will have Fault-Codes... Maybe the fuel pressure regulator at worst!

Because it will rev to 2k the pump should be fine (famous last words)...

[AndycX5]

Haha yeah that's what I thought, if the pump had gone and there was still the small amount of fuel in the lines to get me to the end of the road but not enough to start it back up :/

[AndycX5]

Disconnected the earth from the battery last night and reconnected it this morning and still not starting :(

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Apologies... Thought it may clear some "Mickey-Mouse" codes.

There is NO recall on the 3.0d X5, is yours the M57 or M57TU?

Try leaving the ignition on for at least 1 minute, this method tries to purge air from the post fuel heater...

(Have you done ANYTHING since it was ok?)

Still dragging thru TIS as we speak !

[G4VHD]

As above..

Taking battery off on modern cars will don nowt except rest your clock etc.

you really need to get it code read.

It sounds like it went into limp mode for some reason..

[AndycX5]

Sorry Jack been out for the day, it is the 181hp m57 and the only thing i had done a couple of day's prior was fit 'error free' xenon white sidelight bulbs. I was told it could'nt be that but i put them back to standard just incase it was them

[AndycX5]

I think that's what i will have to do Gav, hopefully it's not going to cost a fortune to fix :huh:

[G4VHD]

Get the codes read and post results here mate..

We will tell you how to fix

Just sounds like a sensor/electrical fault

[AndycX5]

Will do thank's for the help

[AndycX5]

Turned out to be a blocked diesel line, all sorted now though. Cheer's

[G4VHD]

Nice one

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Woohoo!, cheap fix I hope