Disco 1 300TDI strange behaviour

Hello all

i have a 1997 300TDI disco which has developed a strange loss of power. When started from cold it really seems to struggle to get going and then after 2-3miles will cut out completely. It restarts after a bit of cranking and then runs absolutely fine.
Theres no smoke that I can see coming from the exhaust and it feels like its running out of fuel and won't rev until it cuts out. Then with a bit of cranking (usually starts on first crank when its running properly) it fires up again like its been struggling for fuel then runs fine.

I've done a bit of hunting around about the problem and I am guessing that it might be the lift pump??! Would that sound about right to you gents? the sediment filter has been removed prior to my ownership.
My other thoughts were possibly a blocked filter but why does it run fine after its been restarted??

Cheers

Bodge on the sedimenter job letting air into fuel line?
Never hurts to change the filter, could be slowly letting through enough fuel to start after cranking it, but supply doesn't meet demand long term.
Clean injectors?

Lift pump

Wot he said ^^^^^

haigy said:

Lift pump

Click to expand...

+1, buy a decent one - less than £20 for delphi / bearmach

and IMHO, put the sedimenter back in.

Cheers folks will start with the lift pump and filter

If sedimeter bin bypassed then leave it off and check pipes ok.the fefenders dont have them

Ok so I have replaced the lift pump and its no better.
The only thing that did change before I swapped the pump is upon restarting it has stopped running better. Now it doesn't run well hot or cold!
It still feels like a fuel starvation problem as in it coughs and splutters and struggles to restart.

Any other ideas and is there anyone near to Tamworth that could help me diagnose it??

Cheers

Check the pipes where they come out the tank - they can rust/rot and allow air in..

Disco1BFG said:

Check the pipes where they come out the tank - they can rust/rot and allow air in..

Click to expand...

There's an access hole through the boot floor which allows you to get at the top of the tank, unfortunately because of its crap design it also fills up with all sorts of detritus and rusts the pipework to and from the engine

Marmaduke said:

There's an access hole through the boot floor which allows you to get at the top of the tank, unfortunately because of its crap design it also fills up with all sorts of detritus and rusts the pipework to and from the engine

Click to expand...

Amen to that! but at least the tank is "plastic"

Disco1BFG said:

Amen to that! but at least the tank is "plastic"

Click to expand...

Tell me about it, mine is just starting to weep in my tratter

Also check the leak-off pipes, they become brittle and split letting air in ...

griff488 said:

Ok so I have replaced the lift pump and its no better.
The only thing that did change before I swapped the pump is upon restarting it has stopped running better. Now it doesn't run well hot or cold!
It still feels like a fuel starvation problem as in it coughs and splutters and struggles to restart.

Any other ideas and is there anyone near to Tamworth that could help me diagnose it??
Cheers

Click to expand...

Was the fuel level low in the filter when you changed it ?

griff488 said:

Ok so I have replaced the lift pump and its no better.

Click to expand...

Have you hooked up the fuel lines to the new lift pump correctly, it is possible to hook them up outlet to suction and vice versa, will defo play up with the way it runs.

Dippypud said:

Also check the leak-off pipes, they become brittle and split letting air in ...

Click to expand...

and cost next to nothing to replace with life time of vehicle silicon off fleabay.