200TDI slow to start

[lewis25]

Hi All,

I have a Discovery 200tdi fitted into my 90. Just lately it takes a lot of turning over to start initially. I think it must be a fuel issue. It takes around 10 seconds of cranking before it hastily starts then stalls. Then if i fire it up again it seems all good. After that if I drive somewhere, leave it for 10 mins then start it, it starts fine! It just seems that when it is left overnight or for a long period of time it struggles to start. It cranks over nice and fast and there is no loss of power when driving.

I have checked that the fuel filter is full of fuel and that the injector leak offs seem dry. Does anyone have any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[landowner]

Could be lift pump
Wont be heater plugs because mine are not wired up and it starts instantly even when frosty.

 

[lewis25]

Could be lift pump
Wont be heater plugs because mine are not wired up and it starts instantly even when frosty.

Cheers for the reply, I did think that but the fuel filter is full?

 

[landowner]

Maybe not enough fuel pressure when cold if lift pump weak, worth checking .

 

[lynall]

Diesels can draw air but not leak diesel from the pipework, so you might have a leak after the filter head so slight that the inj pump self bleeds the air out initially and when running, but air creeps in when left to stand for a few hours.

 

[dieseldog69]

My first thoughs were pin holed pipe that can draw in air and allow the fuel to back flow to the tank, cranking brings the fuel back up and clears the airlock and leaving it lets it settle and coming back later means yor system is primed and ready to roll.

Probably best to replace all your rigid plastic fuel pipes as they will be at a bare minimum of 25yrs old if they are original so by replacing them all you can eliminate them and proceed in the knowledge that they are not the problem, fuel pipe is cheap and it's only a couple hours work from start to finish if you stop for a brew in the middle

 

[Disco1BFG]

Wot he says above ^^^

It'll be Air ingress or a fuel leak you haven't seen .... yet.

Is the timing case dry ? ( I.E. has the seal at the from of the FIP let the smoke out ?)

the injector leak offs seem dry

Presume you mean externally ? as they should have a fuel flow in them when running - and this is a common cause of air entrainment in to the system - cheap to replace though

 

[lewis25]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have ordered:
- New lift pump
- New leak off hoses
- New fuel pipes
Total cost of parts was under £30 so well worth doing. Will update this thread when its done. Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

 

[payydg]

It's very common for fuel run off pipes between the injectors to split/draw in air. Very quick change. Do that first.

 

[lewis25]

Hi all, sorry for the slow reply, i changed all as I mentioned and it seems to have cured it! Thanks for all of your help and input