The car cuts out at idle and while crusing.

The cutting out is it sudden and total.While I'm driving I always worried and looking for someplace to pull over.

Priming pump 40 secs to start does nothing other than drain battery, wont start.

To get started again, have learned to
1) turn ignition off
2) Wait more than 60 secs with the key in my hand
3) turn ignition on and start
4) Then is now possible to start and drive, but continues to cut out w/o warning

Computer disclosed no error codes

I would check for a good connection at the fuel shutoff switch on the IP.Unplug it and shoot some electrical contact cleaner on both the switch and plug and then reattach.

You might want to eyeball the clear plastic fuel lines at idle and see if you have any air bubbles while running as well.

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2005 Pathfinder LE
2001 E55
1998 M3
1982 320i

I too am now having same problem & wondered if you ever resolved & isolated the cause. Prior to mine doing exactly what you described, it would start roughly only on the day's first start, then run fine the rest of the day. At the dealer when trying to reproduce the problem (since no error code showed,) they replaced the fuel filter & the following week everything was fine. The next week after driving 500 miles, the following morning,after 15 minutes the engine died. It restarted & made it another 100 miles, & a few subsequent starts afterwards without any problems. In the afternoon,after an 1 1/2 hr driving it died & would restart only to drive another 2-4 miles before dieing again. This happened 4 times & I made it to a town where I stayed 2 nights & a local import/ diesel shop trying to diagnose. This time an error code P 1480 relating to the glow plug relay switch ) but as I had a replacement from a previous time of mis diagnosing, I installed it in the car & wouldn't turn over at all. I ended up towing it home 350 miles & am tired of the guess what's wrong diagnosing. Any insights as to how your issue was resolved wouold be appreciated. FYI The glow plugs & relay switch were replaced 10,000 miles ago. Thanks, Mitch

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06 CDI diesel fitter
96 E 300 D (sold but still chuggin)
87 300d (sold)
87 300TD (sold)
01 ML 320 (what was I thinkin?)

Ubago - Your symptoms are classic for malfunction of the fuel shutoff solenoid. Mine did the same thing, merrily driving along and suddendly dead, as if key were turned off.

The shutoff solenoid is controled/monitored by a fuel/air management computer module that I beleive the forum now refers to as the K40 module. It could be the culprit sending false signals to the shutoff solenoid.

Check the electrical connection to the solenoid as previously suggested and make certain it is good. DO NOT mess with that connection too much....I did, and I got to buy a NEW engine harness that had to fly here from Germany. That plug is tight AND delicate.

Mitcheew - The OBDii codes are very missleading for those of us who are not techs. That code probably means that on one of your failed attempts to start that the glow plugs didnt come on and that fault was recorded. On prior posts I think I remeber you claiming to have air in some of your fuel lines. That needs to be resloved first, if indeed my memory was correct. The O-ring sizes have been posted recently if you wanted to only replace them rather tahn the lines themselves.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

The K40 module is a simple relay module which supplies power to all of the systems in the box under the hood (and a few other things). It replaces the OVP previousely used, but it does not sense the voltage. The IFI computer senses the voltage and shuts down the power at the K40 if necessary.

K40 failures will stop your engine, but not because of a false signal.

Thanks for clarifying Matt.

The fuel/air management module would be the front most module in the sealed box under the hood as I recall.

Has been a few years since I replaced that one.

K40's have suffered cracked solder joints as they get more age on the them resulting in failure? Am somewhat surprised I've not had to do that one as with my miles mine should have expirienced more expansion/contraction cycles than those 98/99's who have aready replaced theirs with lesser mileage.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

k-40 relay was the first thing that came to my mind. Check out my post on k-40 relay if you like. (search for all my posts and you should be able to find)

Good luck.

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Neil
1997 E300D - naturally aspirated
280,000 miles (as of November 2015)