Starting issues 1.5 K9K Modus

[PC2CV]

I have a 2011 Renault Modus 1.5d with the K9K engine.

In the mornings it takes a fair bit of churning over before it starts, about 25 or so seconds before it is running.

First thing i did was replace the glow plugs which made no difference.

It was suggested that the primer bulb grenade could go bad, and to do a leak off test.

I bought a cheap leak off test kit on ebay for twenty quid, the pipes dont give the best connection which i may attribute to the slight variance in injectors because repeating the test with the pipes moved about seems to yeild similarly inconsistent results.

The primer bulb seems to look a bit perished, some cracks and wet spots. Wondering if it being bad would cause it to be slow to get started?

If it is the primer bulb the fuel lines are the hard plastic type and seem very hard to remove from the old bulb, any particular way to remove it? Does it have to be the exact same type? Old peugeots use a rubber one on the XUD and even the earliest examples still have good primer bulbs.

Also with regards bleeding the system im working from a workshop manual it refers to a bleed screw, just wondering where exactly that is located?

There is this but its not really a screw and i dont know how to use it:

[admiral51]

Have you tried priming the engine in the morning before starting it ?
It does sound like air is getting into the system and draining fuel back to the tank and the long starting time is where the system is priming itself and self bleeding.

[PC2CV]

I fitted a new primer bulb and replaced the plastic lines that go to it, in addition to that there is a new filter.
seems to start up much more promptly now.

[admiral51]

Congrats simple cheapish fixes are always the best.

Did you need to bleed the system or just prime it using the bulb once replaced along with the lines ?

Sorry was late in replying to OP

[PC2CV]

I just primed the bulb until it became firm
The replacement bulb was a rubber type bought from the local motor factors along with some rubber fuel hose. £12 all in.

The startup is now down to about 3 seconds at the very max as opposed to the 20-30 seconds before.

[admiral51]

What a cracking result normal service resumed