Ford Mondeo MK4 Petrol 2.0L Fuel Issue

[Onoff]

My 2011 Mondeo estate has sat since circa Feb this year. I've checked the tyre pressures and started it once a month and left it running for a bit. Only driven it half a dozen times on tip runs.

Needing to use it as a bit of a workhorse I drove it a couple of weeks ago and noted a juddering under braking. New front discs and pads sorted that.

Next I had the engine warning light come on. Some Reddex through it and an Italian tune up cleared it. I ran a bottle of Cataclean through it for good measure.

This latest one has me stumped though! Running on vapours I went to fill up. At the pump I can usually get circa £100 of fuel in. The other day, with the gauge showing empty, I'd barely got £5 worth in and petrol was spurting back out the filler. I persevered wiggling the pump nozzle and got £20 worth in. Gauge showing about ¼ full which is about right.

That £20 soon went so when the fuel light came on today I went to fill up. Once again got around £5 in before it spurted back out. Again I wiggled the pump nozzle and got £20 in eventually. Gauge again showing ¼ full.

A proper pita tbh.

Any ideas?

Cheers

 

[Richiew]

Blocked breather?

 

[Onoff]

Blocked breather?

Don't know, is that easy to "clean"?

 

[Richiew]

No idea. Just thinking that you can't get the fuel in if the air isn't escaping. Theory only. No experience of Mondeos at all, sorry.

 

[voipio]

Maybe try different fuel nozzle positions when filling up the tank? I've had the fuel delivery cut off way too soon, on the odd occasion, even though the nozzle went into the filler OK.

 

[addjunkie]

Breather valve maybe just remove…try, and replace with new

 

[Turbo]

Faulty fuel level sender? Telling you the tank is empty when its full.

If there is an access panel under the back seat try removing the fuel sender or pump when the gauge reads empty.

 

[Onoff]

I'm also noticing an occasional smell of fuel if that helps the diagnosis. Mileage I feel is way down and it feels a bit "restricted".

Here's hoping the Haynes manual points me to where the breather is and that if I do need a new one it won't break the bank. Just taxed the thing for another 12 months.

 

[Cobbler]

I have seen a car with a blocked breather & the tank sucked flat, it was a good while ago, the local mechanic called me over when walking past & said “this is a first, never seen it before”

 

[Blobber]

It will be sealed system with charcoal canister, I should think you've just over filled it and one of the small pipes from the top of the filler neck has gone porus, if your using E10 it's horrible stuff left sitting around unused

 

[Onoff]

It will be sealed system with charcoal canister, I should think you've just over filled it and one of the small pipes from the top of the filler neck has gone porus, if your using E10 it's horrible stuff left sitting around unused

I pretty much always use Shell V Power E5.

I note there are two "holes" at the filler. One at 6 o'clock and the other on the LHS about 9 o'clock. Not sure if they're anything to do with "breathing"? It'd be nice if it was as simple as sticking an airline down there.

 

[Blobber]

The bottom hole is just to let any water or spillages out of the filler area, the one on the left is the flap locking pin? It's a sealed system so all petrol fumes go through the charcoal canister and back into the inlet manifold to be burnt

 

[harveyp6]

I have seen a car with a blocked breather & the tank sucked flat, it was a good while ago, the local mechanic called me over when walking past & said “this is a first, never seen it before”

Wedge Austin princess' used to do that regularly. BL's cure under warranty was to fit a new tank and take a little ball valve out of the cap to stop it happening again.

 

[Onoff]

the one on the left is the flap locking pin?

I meant the "hole" with the white bit in below the pin.

 

[m_c]

I'll admit I'm not entirely sure what breathers petrol cars use for filling. Diesels are usually just a basic vent with non-return valve to stop diesel leaking out through it.
Petrols use a carbon canister, however I doubt that they have the air flow for filling, as they're only designed to soak up vapours from the tank during use, and let them be sucked into the engine.

There's usually an extra breather hose to the top of the filler neck, so I'd be having a look underneath to see if it's collapsed/kinked with age, however a quick google search shows Mk4 filler necks as a single pipe, so there must be a breather on the tank.
You're probably going to have to drop the tank for a proper look.

But another image search has this for a mk4 fuel tank parts diagram-

9170 must be a breather pipe, as the fuel pipes will attach to the sender/pump unit, so you just need to find what that pipe attaches to.

 

[Turbo]

As I said above, are you sure the tank is actually empty?

 

[Ace Paul]

As I said above, are you sure the tank is actually empty?

Smack tank with fist, see if rings like Cozzi Modo’s bell.

And/or carry a can of fuel, reset trip mileage, drive x miles as xyz mpg xxxx gallon tank

And/or. Remove fuel return off fuel rail, (run engine ) or whatever, see if you can symptom the python into 20 litre container.

Try cycles battery, If stood might be dip in voltage and locking clocks up

 

[Onoff]

Try cycles battery, If stood might be dip in voltage and locking clocks up

I did have the battery run completely flat as I'd left the dash cam on. Wouldn't even take a charge to start with. Had to jump it from a booster pack to start the car. Thereafter it appears to charge.

The thing is I filled up "normally" initially. This only taking a fiver's worth is recent.

The BiL has a diagnostic tablet. Not sure if that'd show anything?

Did half wonder if I could slip a flexible cable rod down through the filler via a petrol can nozzle with some "gasoline gauging paste" on it?

 

[Ace Paul]

Never heard that paste.

Be concerned about dropping it in and blocking pick up.

You could try ringing local stealer, only a phone call

Best to empty the tank, then refill, you know what you got then.

 

[Melvyn Best]

I hope if you need parts they are still available, I needed a front road spring for one a couple of weeks ago, none of our local parts suppliers had one, next day only. It wasn’t long ago replacing Mondeo front springs was at least a weekly event