16v horrible fuel line access...

themildbunch · Post by **themildbunch** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:13 pm

Hi

I raised my 16v from the garage for the first time in a long time today but noticed a nasty fuel leak dripping down around the rear suspension arm..

I'd changed the fuel filter a while back but as the car is SORNed at the moment it hasn't seen the light much..

What I found was that the leak was coming from what I think is a non return valve positioned on top of the subframe above the fuel filter and pump.. I must have dislodged this pipe or the rusty hose clip when I did the filter..

Access to this is a nightmare - By removing the rear exhaust, spare wheel and charcoal canister tube I managed to remove the nearest hose clip and refit a new one but the one at the back I could get a small 1/4" socket on but the nut of the clip sheared off!!
I'm pretty sure the leak is from the easier one but now the nut has sheared I'm getting worried.. If you take the rear wheel and brake backplate off your can see what looks like a nut holding this valve onto it's mounting plate but there's no room to get anything on it..

Here's a picture of the area - you can just about see the valve in the middle..

Can this valve be removed without major disassembly?

thanks

adrian

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:52 am

pulse damper I'm guessing?
It's very easy to drop one side of the subframe and that makes access a good sight easier.
Sadly, I dont have any spare dampers any longer, although I know several people that have by-passed it..
Personally I wouldn't.. but...

prm · Post by **prm** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:01 am

I don’t think???-- It’s a valve; it could be a fuel pump pulsation chamber.
There maybe a non-return inside but never removed one.

Fluid pulsation chambers are usually fitted after an oscillating pump to dampen and stabilise the output flow prior to any pressure regulators, such as the unit on the fuel rail.

Regards

prm · Post by **prm** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:03 am

Snap Doc, we both must have finished work at the same time.

Regards

themildbunch · Post by **themildbunch** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:33 pm

Thanks for that... that makes perfect sense.. I'd never have thought dropping the subframe would be easy?!
Car's on ramps at the rear.. is it best to put the side in question on an axle stand at the rear sill jacking point then lower that side?

Post by **docchevron** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:30 am

If the sills in good nick then yes, but bear in mind the subframe drops awfully close to the sill, so if you have the jaw of the axle stand sticking inboard of the sill the subframe will most likely strike it on the way down...

Tis only 3 bolts a side that hold it to the car..

themildbunch · Post by **themildbunch** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 1:50 pm

Any one have a spare pressure damper!.. inlet pipe on this had shared.. I think it's available still... waiting on dtm in bristol.
Going to bypass it for now so I can get the car going. Still gives me a chance to wire brush and kill the surface rust all over that area...

sdelasal · Post by **sdelasal** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:21 pm

Not that I need to, but I was mulling this over, when 'dropping the subframe' do you have to disconnect hydraulic lines or are they all out of the way?

themildbunch · Post by **themildbunch** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:23 pm

Umm.. not sure, haven't actually tackled this yet... I bypassed the pressure damper for now.
The damper is still available new 38+vat..
It actually looks like it can be removed without messing with the subframe. Only problem is someone has mashed the 19mm nut holding it onto the bracket. Otherwise a socket on a wobble bar should undo it easily as long as the brake backplate is removed. Will post the picture soon...

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 1:27 am

Yeah it's possible to replace without disturbing the subframe, but dropping it does make it a little easier!

The F-R pipes all run to the N/S of the car and you can drop the subframe a fair bit without wrecking the pipes.
Obviousley if you're dropping the subframe more than a few inches then yes, best to disconnect the pipes before you start...

Kevin B · Post by **Kevin B** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:00 pm

The damper is still available new 38+vat..

I suggest that you make a visit to the scrapyard, as the exact same item can be found on a Peugeot 405 Gti. The only difference being this item is located under the bonnet, and hence is usually in pristine condition when compared to the same item from a Bx.
You might also find this component on other Peugeot cars of the same era.

Some years ago I experienced the exact same problem as the OP, and had to bypass this device for a while, until I found a good s/h item which I then fitted to the Bx, but this time I relocated it to under the bonnet as per Peugeot practice, voilla job done.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:37 pm

KevinB, that sounds like a top tip, is there any chance you could take some piccies of where you fitted it in the engine bay, might prove useful to club members & could possibly become a sticky or techy link for the future