About 6 weeks ago, I'd taken the dogs out for a walk got back to the car and it wouldn't start - it would turn over but not fire.   Called the recovery service and he said fuel wasn't getting through to the engine.   Anyway, it went to the garage I always use and of course started every time, he replaced the fuel filter and warned me to keep the fuel level up very high never let it go below a quarter tank.

It's been ok since until almost 2 weeks ago and the same scenario.   I took it out, walked the dogs, went shopping, put fuel in it and came home.   Went out to the car in the afternoon & it wouldn't start.  It would turn over but not fire up.  I ran the battery flat trying to get it started, so the next day a friend came over to top the fuel up to a higher level and to start it with jump leads.  We got the car started and I used it ok that afternoon with no hitches.  The next day I took the dogs out but further afield, walked them, got back to the car and it turned over but wouldn't fire.    I called the recovery services again and whilst I was waiting, I tried again and it started.    Later that day, it wouldn't start again and it's been like that ever since.   Intermittent starting, it seems to be worse after I've used the car.  I can go out in the morning without a hitch and then by afternoon, it'll turn over but not fire up. 

I got it back from another garage yesterday (It was in for a heater problem) where a faulty fuel pump was diagnosed, I didn't think anything of it - get the part and have it fitted - but I've been told the Fiat Doblo's fuel system includes the injection system and I could be looking at mega bucks for this (I hate to say it but I've been told this is a big problem with the Doblo for the other Doblo owners!).   I've spoken to my mechanic and he says to keep I topped well up with fuel, they may be a vacumn problem with the fuel so to loosen off & tighten the fuel cap everytime I stop.  But if it is a weak fuel pump, it'll only get worse.

Is there anyone out there who can offer advice, help etc.?  Having just looked at Epic fuel pumps on the Internet I'm totally depressed.    I just haven't got that sort of money to hand and any suggestions would be welcome.

Hi there.  We had a similar problem about a month ago now.  It wouldn't fire up, called out the RAC, he got it going (unsure how) and said it was the glo-plugs (diesel).  Once it was started it was okay for the day but the next day the same thing would happen. 

Got it to a specialist diesel garage who then said it doesn't have glo-plugs but after having the car for the day found the fault.  It was the fuel pump mechanism and it wasn't keeping the pressure.  Once started, the pressure would build and it would start okay but leave it for a while ie overnight, it would lose the pressure and there wouldn't be enough to start it again.  It cost £600 to put right.  Sorry but I don't think it was the kind of reply you wanted really was it?  We only managed to pay for it as we had saved up £500 to spend going away over half term - we must ended up going for extra long walks with Misty instead!!!

Is there any way you could come up with an arrangement with the mechanic to pay in instalments or over a couple of months say?  Would that help at all?

Kerri x

Hi Just thought I would share this story with you and...
We had a similar problem with our car, it would start up we'd go out and about and get back in the car and it would not start!
We called out the RAC and he looked and grabbed my keys locked the car and then un locked it and put the keys in and hay presto the car started!!
We had the car for 6 months and did not know it had a imobiuliser (sorry about the spelling!) on it that stopped fuel being pumped through if the car had been left stationary for a while, we had to lock the car, unlock it and then start the engine!!!!
Hope you get things sorted out with your car..xxx

My car was doing the same thing a few months ago. It turned out I had a crack in the distributer cap! Christine, if you can get the part and get out to me any weekend (preferrably when it's not raining :D ) I'll ask Henry if he could fix it for you. Just give me a bit of warning, so that I can have a word with him first ;)

The van that we use for the dogs has just had the turbo go on it- we took it into a garage where they quoted £700+ - everywhere else wanted roughly the same kind of cash too :-o  To cut a long story short we sought out the part ourselves for £190 and a garage charged us £100+ VAT for fitting. 

Could you try doing something similar- perhaps contact a scrapyard for the parts then ring garages for quotes on fixing the problem?

Stacey x 

Thanks everyone!    I think, Stacey, I will see what I can source through the 'scrapies', there are more Doblo vans on the road than the MPV types so I'm sure there must be accident write-offs with perfectly intact fuel pumps!     I may come out to you though Linda, just for another opinion too, will let you know beforehand.   It's a pain - last night before bedtime, it wouldn't start.  This morning - guess what/ - its started!

I'm going to phone Lucas to see what they are quoting for Epic fuel pumps - Stacey how did you find what you were looking for?

Liv - swap you 2 cats for a fuel pump!  ;)