What did you do today?

[LynehamHerc]

Decided to change the fuel filter on the van. Took the lid off, disconnected the inlet pipe and removed the filter. Completely different to the new one. Put it back together and it started after a rew tries. Went back to the factors and they've updated the design to a paper element instead of cotton wool.
Fitted the new one and now the fucker won't start. It happened the last time too. Fired and ran just as the battery was dying. Now it'll fire every half dozen attempts and run for three seconds then die (same as last time). The battery is now just about dead and on charge overnight.
Any advice?

To quote you on my flooding issues: "My prayers are working".

[paulplom]

I don't mind it really. It means I don't have to go to work.

[SiC]

and a new shark fin for the Saab to try and fix the terrible radio reception.

The shark fin is just for nav data (gps, cellular).
The am/fm/dab is printed on the rear window along with the defog. Bad reception is either a broken connection to the window or the amplifier module.

They even had them when there wasn't a gps/cellular capable head unit. Presumably GM figured the cost of the hole in the one pressing with a fake antenna was cheaper than two different pressings.

[Eddie Honda]

Any advice?

RTFM.

You've let shit loads of air in and it needs bleeding.

[paulplom]

Doesn't have one and I think it's because the in tank pump is fucked.

[Drum]

Decided to change the fuel filter on the van. Took the lid off, disconnected the inlet pipe and removed the filter. Completely different to the new one. Put it back together and it started after a rew tries. Went back to the factors and they've updated the design to a paper element instead of cotton wool.
Fitted the new one and now the fucker won't start. It happened the last time too. Fired and ran just as the battery was dying. Now it'll fire every half dozen attempts and run for three seconds then die (same as last time). The battery is now just about dead and on charge overnight.
Any advice?

What engine is it? There might be a way of bleeding it from the driver's seat.
I'm assuming there's no bleed screw on the filter housing.

[Hooli]

Can you fill the filter with fuel before refitting it?

[Scruffy Bodger]

On the V50 I filled the filter as best I could and then disconnected the return line, priming it on the pump a bit and then winding it until fuel emerged, reconnected and then started, apparently they are a twat to pump.

In the past on a 307 diesel of the old mans I turned up when a lad that did a few mechanicing jobs was having trouble as you are, firing, battery dyeing, wouldn't go. We were up the farm, limited kit. I raided the downstairs loo and grabbed a can of air freshener, sprayed it into the intake while he wound it over and it ran well enough to bleed itself.

[panhard65]

In tank pump being fucked is your problem there. Some of these modern diesels are a right cunt to bleed. Hook up a universal primer pump to the fuel outlet on the filter housing to drag fuel up from the tank then when you have fuel there try cranking again. A new in tank pump would actually solve most of the problems but don't do it with a full tank of fuel.

[SiC]

Possibly his Lidl oil extraction pump on the outlet pipe would be a good primer tool?