300 tdi auto wont start

hi there im having alot of trouble with a 1996 n reg 300 tdi auto import disco.

it was running fine then went a bit rough eg fuel starvation but managed to make it home. the next day it started no problem but cut out soon after. When i try and start the engine, it cranks fast but does not fire. its getting fuel as far as the lift pump but not to the injector pump.

im stuck any info would be great

ps the solenoid on the back of the pump has not got a black box type security thing ,it just has a single wire to the top of the solenoid

if you slacken the front banjo bolt on the injection pump does clean fuel come out when lift pump worked ,doessolenoid click if wires removed and refitted with ignition on

I'm thinking might be fuel filter

landowner said:

I'm thinking might be fuel filter

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Keep chasing the fuel - it could be a blocked pipe or a split pipe

Any leaks?

try running a wire from solenoid to battery to see if it will start

Check you sediment filter they can crack when they're full of water n crap change it for an inline filter

If it is an auto it may the Electronic diesel control unit sulking, or not getting the right signals. My experience is that the 300TDI with EDC is not as good at starting when cold as the non EDC engines.

fuel filter has to be the first thing to change

Fuel filters are fine iv had pipe off at lift pump and it's fine ,cranked engine a few times filled a pint glass of good clean diesel in seconds, it's between the injector pump and the injectors where there is no diesel. It must be electrical

The fuel filter comes after the lift pump, doesn't it?

I had similar issue but no misfiring before not starting it turned out to be a the fuel shut off solenoid valve was not getting power ive not worked out where the fault is yet it could be the alarm or simply a broken wire in the harness so to to rule those out id do what james martin suggests also connect 12v to the solenoid as another post said...... and you can also remove the spring in the solenoid as an emergency get you home fix .....according to my manual, to rule that out as being faulty.

Fuse is the 15 amp one in the fuse box in engine bay if I remember correctly,mine used to blow it for fun till I changed the fuel stop soleniod!

check electrical connection to no4 injector, I had similar fault & turned out to be duff connection

Im Having a similar problem, I have just replaced the Auto box in my 300 TDI got everything back together now the thing wont start, we seem to have intermittent fuel issues, one minute its getting fuel the next its not, but when it is we have fuel at the injectors, the engine turns, but it wont start?? it seem like it wants to but something is stopping it?

We did damage a wire, that we discovered was popping the fuse on the fuel pump we have now fixed this and the fuse is no longer blowing, and all electricals seem fine apart rom the intermittent supply of fuel?

any help or advice would be much appreciated!