300tdi not starting

Buddha790 · 2025-08-15T12:43:10+0100

Last Week i was driving along my my 1994 Defender 300tdi just cut out. I initially thought i had ran out of fuel (gauge hasn't worked properly for years). After filling with fuel, it still wouldn't start. Engine turns over but doesn't fire up.

So far i've changed the stop solenoid
fuel filter
air filter
lift pump

Starter still turns engine over, but engine doesn't start,

Any ideas?

D1Nut · 2025-08-15T12:53:04+0100

Apply 12v positive directly to the wire going into the injector pump. Not a common fault but an easy place to start

Anaconda · 2025-08-15T13:09:04+0100

Yes but do you have fuel getting to the relevant places?
Checked the cambelt?

Anaconda · 2025-08-15T13:10:35+0100

D1Nut said:
Apply 12v positive directly to the wire going into the injector pump. Not a common fault but an easy place to start

Doing this will rule out electrical fault on the vehicle. To stop the vehicle you will need to pull the wire off manually.

SteveMarquis · 2025-08-15T13:57:22+0100

Buddha790 said:
Last Week i was driving along my my 1994 Defender 300tdi just cut out. I initially thought i had ran out of fuel (gauge hasn't worked properly for years). After filling with fuel, it still wouldn't start. Engine turns over but doesn't fire up.

So far i've changed the stop solenoid
fuel filter
air filter
lift pump

Starter still turns engine over, but engine doesn't start,

Any ideas?

I had similar on my '94 300TDi and it turned out to be a fuel additive foil from the top of the bottle covering the fuel feed tube. I think I detailed it at the time here, so a search should reveal the fix.

Power just vanished and we stopped.

lynall · 2025-08-15T14:49:52+0100

17mm spanner and crack any injector pipe union, then crank it over and let us know what you are getting

300tdi not starting

Buddha790

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D1Nut

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Anaconda

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Anaconda

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SteveMarquis

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lynall

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