Series 3 Diesel fuel bleed / starting issue

Hi all, happy new head
(19j 2.5 NA diesel engine)
So pre Christmas I replaced the diesel return pipe and cleaned the ‘filter’ on the diesel feed pipe that sits in the fuel tank. It started first time after this and ran happily.

This morning it wouldn’t start, cranks nicely but seems no fuel getting to the engine.

Followed the bleed instructions in Haynes and eventually it started, ran fine for 5 mins, turned it off and now it won’t start at all.

The hand fuel bleed pump isn’t pushing out fuel or bubbles from the bleed screw on the filter. I’ve also loosened the fuel pump bleed screw but nothing comes out of that fuel or otherwise.

I’ve loosened the injector unions and the injector nearest the radiator did have fuel come out of it but 2nd and 4th little fuel.

I’m not sure if my hand pump bleed thing is not working or there’s another option?

I removed the return pipe at the tank end and cranked and nothing came out.

Any ideas chaps?

As nothing is coming out at the lift pump when lever operated most likely it has gone faulty or there is air getting into the pipe coming from the tank.

Thanks tottot, I’ve taken the exit fuel pipe from the lift pump off (that goes to the fuel filter) and when hand pumping / cranking, diesel comes out of the ‘spout’.

Loosened off the injector nuts and diesel dribbles out of all 4 so seems fuel is getting to the engine block. Bit out of ideas beyond this now.

If your not getting fuel or air out the pump, start at the first bleed point.
Is it pumping? Usually the hand primer wont work it at the top of the Cam, but I sure you checked this?
To confirm, Remove the feed pipe into filter housing from the lift pump and just check and bleed each stage before reaching the fuel pump.. Then just work on until you find the issue.
A tiny hole in the fuel tank pick-up pipe caused no end of issues and took a while ti find.. Never assume, start with the basics!

the tank filter can collect more debris when its sucking which later falls off giving that intermittent problem, with tank pipe in a jar of diesel that eliminates that problem, i had issues with air when changing the return pipe and it was quite important to use new aluminium washers.

there should be good spurts when priming lift pump and this should fill the filter up until it comes out of bleed screw have you primed long enough

Hi all, sorry its taken a while to thank you. Faulty lift pump was the cause in the end, as soon as I swapped it out for a new one air and fuel started coming out of the bleed screw. I've still not got it running for more than 2-3 minutes and ran out of time but there seems to be a lot of air in the system so I'll follow the bleed steps etc. While I was at it I've put a new fuel filter in which was worth it given the old one is just filthy! After all this the system should be much better and cleaner

As it is now running any air in system should find its way out after a bit unless there is still a bit of a leek some where. I have a clear section of pipe by the lift pump to check for bubbles coming up.

There is an air leak somewhere, no amount of bleeding is clearing the bubbles (either from the bleed screw or the clear return pipe from the fuel filter). Soooo my last ditch attempt to fix is the fuel feeder pipe coupling with the fuel pump, It was working fine before but when I reattached it didnt seem a great tight fit in the coupling (its not got a barb tube just into the 'nut' of the connector) - Im off to buy some new compression connectors and olives to hopefully get a tight grip/seal on the join. Failing that Im going to phone a professional for a house visit!!