My patrol is a Sep 2007, 3.0Lt CRD Wagon.
Lately, every now and then after the vehicle sits in the garage overnight or somewhere for an extended period, the car starts and then just stops, as if it ran out of fuel. Sometimes it just restarts and sometimes I have to prime it. In monitoring this situation, it is usually happening when the fuel is below half a tank. After priming it there is no problem running around town, then it my not happen again for a day or two.
I first thought it was the fuel pump, then that would explain how it runs ok around town.
The mechanics at Diesel Power Service determined that air was leaking into the system somewhere.
The mechanics have check/replace some of the old fuel hoses and connections, the problem still persists occasionally. The mechanic search his history book and said he had a problem similar to this a while back. The cause was determined to be the pickup tube in the fuel tank which he says is in two halves? A top half and bottom half connected by a gasket. I thought the fuel pickup in the tank was a straight tube. Anyway, they said that the gasket can deteriorate between the split of the tube and air can get in that way. My assumption is if it is in the tank, that would be a lot of air and I would have been able to just prime it or have further trouble driving it around town.
Another source from a friend suggested it may be the primer pump as it can get hairline cracks that you cant see. The primer pump has never been replace in the life of the vehicle. So I replaced the primer pumps with a genuine part from Nissan ($200.00) . This looked like the solution because the problem didn't occur for five days. Then is happened again. So I am back to the pickup tube which will require dropping the tank.
Has anyone had this type of problem with their Patrol especially those around the 2007 era? If so, what was your solution to the problem? Have I overlooked something?
Any solutions, advice or direction is greatly appreciated as I am at a wits end.
Thanks everyone.