Acts like it's out of fuel

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

shuwatch

New Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Location
12520
I have an '05 Jeep liberty, that recently began taking a few seconds to start, and now has taken to not starting at all. it turns over fine and sounds like it's out of fuel even with the full tank.

My regular service mechanic says he couldn't read any codes and caved and sent it to the dealer… They/ Jeep just said they have no codes either. It seems the high-pressure fuel pump is receiving fuel but isn't putting it out.

not sure if this is a sensor or something else… Any ideas are appreciated.
 

tjkj2002

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2006
Messages
10,612
Reaction score
39
Location
Somewhere between being sane and insane!
Diesel, sorry, for some reason I thought this was all on same.

Not even close,2 completely different diagnostic procedures for your issue for gas or diesel.


If your high pressure pump but getting proper amount of fuel and no air then the pump is bad,and sorry not cheap.

I'd be checking for any leaks prior the pump,it's a common issue for the filter head to leak on the CRD's causing issues.
 

shuwatch

New Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Location
12520
My response wasn't clear.... I thought the forum was all diesel.

I'll pass your heads up on areas air can infiltrate to the mechanic, and yes, hoping it's not the high-pressure fuel pump.
 

turblediesel

memberable
Joined
May 31, 2015
Messages
3,385
Reaction score
1,107
Location
Alaska
The high pressure pump, on the engine, usually isn't the problem.

"Air in fuel" is common in the Liberty diesel, many reasons why.

Original equipment fuel filter head, plastic, develops leaks letting air into the fuel system. Replace with an identical looking fuel filter head, metal. If the electrical connecter on the drivers side of the fuel filter head is blue you have the metal head. Scratch it with a blade if you're not sure.

There isn't a lift pump in the fuel tank from the factory so the on-engine fuel pump so it has to suck the fuel all the way from the tank past fuel line connectors that are designed to seal under pressure, they suck air. Solution is to add an in-tank lift pump or in-line electric fuel pump.

Sometimes the metal crimping attaching metal ends to rubber fuel lines can let air in.

Try using the hand pump and bleed screw on your fuel head to bleed air out of the system and see if it runs.

Also check the fuse for the glow-plugs to see if they're in the game. Seems like that would throw a code though.

Dealers don't seem to have any expertise with our little diesel so you might want to explore other possibilities.

LOSTJeeps is the best resource for info on the diesel Liberty.

Lots of great non-diesel Liberty info here.
 
Last edited:

Billwill

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
2,193
Reaction score
668
Location
White River, South Africa
Exactly what turbodiesel said^^^^^

Go to Lostjeeps and post in the section "Liberty CRD Love That Torque"

My two cents worth is the crank sensor or air in the fuel or blocked fuel filter.

I had these exact symptoms on my 2002 Export CRD caused by a blocked fuel filter...no codes posted usually for fuel problems on these CRDs.

High pressure CP3 pump seldom fails...definitely the last resort!
 

shuwatch

New Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Location
12520
The high pressure pump, on the engine, usually isn't the problem.

"Air in fuel" is common in the Liberty diesel, many reasons why.

Original equipment fuel filter head, plastic, develops leaks letting air into the fuel system. Replace with an identical looking fuel filter head, metal. If the electrical connecter on the drivers side of the fuel filter head is blue you have the metal head. Scratch it with a blade if you're not sure.

There isn't a lift pump in the fuel tank from the factory so the on-engine fuel pump so it has to suck the fuel all the way from the tank past fuel line connectors that are designed to seal under pressure, they suck air. Solution is to add an in-tank lift pump or in-line electric fuel pump.

Sometimes the metal crimping attaching metal ends to rubber fuel lines can let air in.

Try using the hand pump and bleed screw on your fuel head to bleed air out of the system and see if it runs.

Also check the fuse for the glow-plugs to see if they're in the game. Seems like that would throw a code though.

Dealers don't seem to have any expertise with our little diesel so you might want to explore other possibilities.

LOSTJeeps is the best resource for info on the diesel Liberty.

Lots of great non-diesel Liberty info here.
Thank you for some great clues to follow... you say "Solution is to add an in-tank lift pump or in-line electric fuel pump." Is that refering to what the manufacturer does in design of the vehicle, or is this a recommend retrofit fix?

The vehicle had trouble starting once before and the shop found the high-pressure pump had lost prime... the idea that air was being introduced into the line seemed important to me , but they felt satisfied having primed and gotten it to work. they suggested the air may have been introduced during low fuel.

looking forward to following up on these points, again thank you
 
Last edited:

shuwatch

New Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Location
12520
Exactly what turbodiesel said^^^^^

Go to Lostjeeps and post in the section "Liberty CRD Love That Torque"

My two cents worth is the crank sensor or air in the fuel or blocked fuel filter.

I had these exact symptoms on my 2002 Export CRD caused by a blocked fuel filter...no codes posted usually for fuel problems on these CRDs.

High pressure CP3 pump seldom fails...definitely the last resort!
I actually thought I was in that forum LOL… I will absolutely do that, thank you!

...its hard to shovel through all the pop-ups /viewing on a tiny phone
 
Last edited:

turblediesel

memberable
Joined
May 31, 2015
Messages
3,385
Reaction score
1,107
Location
Alaska
In-tank pump is best and spendy. Both are owner retrofits.

Air-in-fuel symptoms when it's running are a loss of power and the engine tries to jump off it's mounts. Happened to mine a few times late at night in the middle of nowhere at -30°. Found out why at LOST years later when I got a little internet.
 

Latest posts

Top