02 TD5 Defender - Odd/Poor Starting

Recently ive experienced some odd/slow/poor starting on my Fender, goes like this -

Turn key - engine warning, glow plug, oil & battery lights all come on but nothing happens. Can hear the fuel pump engage but thats it.

Turn off and try again, starts to turn over but takes about 15 seconds to start.

However if i put my foot down on the throttle and turn the key starts instantly.

Its not exactly cold about 5C.

Cleaned and fitted a new injector harness as well as checking the earths and replacing where needed.

Any ideas?

by putting the accelerator down during starting your telling the ecu that you ran out of fuel so it shoves a load in, which makes me think air is getting into your fuel lines from somewhere, check around for fuel leaks, and try the purge procedure, to see if that makes any difference

Right, how do I perform the purge procedure?

How would air be getting into the system?

bankz5152 said:

Right, how do I perform the purge procedure?

How would air be getting into the system?

Click to expand...

Air can get into system from a fuel leak so check the fuel lines and joints from the engine back to the tank, it can also get in through leaking injector seals,

to purge, turn ignition on, without starting the car,
pump accelerator 6 times, car will start to self purge, whilst its doing this the engine light will flash, just leave it to run through the full cycle, it takes a few minutes and sometimes needs repeating a few times.
If you need to do it on a regular basis then air is getting in somewhere

Ok cool cheers mate. Ill start with the injectors as i replaced them.

Anyway to tell if that is where air is getting in?