1999 300 TDI Land Rover Defender 90 Struggle to Start

Hello i have been away in the dales and since being here my 300 has been playing up a bit and struggling to start.

Differences from home

We are about 1200 foot up on a hill side its also been exceptionally wet constant rain and cold, i put in some diesel from a local garage too, but this is the fourth time this morning its struggled to start. Hmm

When it does get going it acts all normal and no loss of power.

Just not sure whats going on really.

Its serviced every six thousand and will be due in about 700 miles, it also had timing belt done in March last year.

Video below

After it has first started and if you then stop motor does it restart straight away?
If so likely air getting into system while standing that then has to be auto bled out by the engine before it will start.
Usual issues are fuel filter seal, fuel lift pump fault or pipe work. Air gets in and fuel drains back to tank.

tottot said:

After it has first started and if you then stop motor does it restart straight away?
If so likely air getting into system while standing that then has to be auto bled out by the engine before it will start.
Usual issues are fuel filter seal, fuel lift pump fault or pipe work. Air gets in and fuel drains back to tank.

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on a tdi check the leak off pipes as well as they are just cheap push fit rubber hoses.

dag019 said:

on a tdi check the leak off pipes as well as they are just cheap push fit rubber hoses.

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90% it's this - i had the same issue about 3 months ago.. the leak off pips - follow them back look for cracks.. they wear through pretty easy in some common places.. causing the diesel to leak.. which means the longer you're cranking getting fuel to the injectors..

RustyDefender said:

90% it's this - i had the same issue about 3 months ago.. the leak off pips - follow them back look for cracks.. they wear through pretty easy in some common places.. causing the diesel to leak.. which means the longer you're cranking getting fuel to the injectors..

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The leak off pipes I did in August last year so they are basically brand new didn’t like the look of the old ones. I will have another look though

RustyDefender said:

90% it's this - i had the same issue about 3 months ago.. the leak off pips - follow them back look for cracks.. they wear through pretty easy in some common places.. causing the diesel to leak.. which means the longer you're cranking getting fuel to the injectors..

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The leak off pipes

RustyDefender said:

90% it's this - i had the same issue about 3 months ago.. the leak off pips - follow them back look for cracks.. they wear through pretty easy in some common places.. causing the diesel to leak.. which means the longer you're cranking getting fuel to the injectors..

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Thanks for this I wasn’t really sure it would be that issue as they were only replaced in August last year, but sure enough the 2nd one in from the back of the engine is absolutely soaked in Diesel.

I fitted 4mm ID silicone pipes a few years back and have never had an issue since.

ryan_1993 said:

The leak off pipes


Thanks for this I wasn’t really sure it would be that issue as they were only replaced in August last year, but sure enough the 2nd one in from the back of the engine is absolutely soaked in Diesel.

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I carry a length of leak off pipe in my tool bag under the seat, that is how common it is for them to fail!

dag019 said:

I carry a length of leak off pipe in my tool bag under the seat, that is how common it is for them to fail!

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yes!

soon as i heard the engine cranking in the video i was like.. bad memories

RustyDefender said:

yes!

soon as i heard the engine cranking in the video i was like.. bad memories

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disagree, the bad memories come from when the engine starts and blows a hole in one of a failing the pipes. It does not take long to loose a whole lot of diesel and cover the whole engine and the driveway in fuel!

dag019 said:

I carry a length of leak off pipe in my tool bag under the seat, that is how common it is for them to fail!

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The cotton covered stuff is crap. It covers the cracks.

Hicap phill said:

The cotton covered stuff is crap. It covers the cracks.

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Took me a while to learn that and swap over to just normal pipe