Discovery 2 TD5 Head gasket replacement not starting

Hi Peeps...perhaps you can all help. I have just put my wifes D2 head back on after replacing the head gasket and it doesn't try to run at all, not even a cough.. just cranks without any effort. Is this usual or should it run straight away? It was allways a great starter. There is fuel going as far as the head but i'm not convinced its getting up to pressure....how could i tell, is it that it simply that it runs?

Cheers, Nick poised with matches!!!

have you purged the fuel system

Hi...i am doing the turning on ignition and pumping the the throttle 5 times, engine light flashes, leaving it. done that about five times. Do i need to be patient...been trying all day!!

Cheeers, Nick.

Re-check electrical connections, injector loom, CPS, if your happy fuel is getting to the head ok theres not a lot more to check.
Keep the battery charged up, just in case its voltage is dipping, or just use a jump start.
Mine took ages to start after the rebuild, needed a boost from another battery and lots of purges!
Mark

Hi...ok i'll keep trying. I'm used to petrol and it just starts...or maybe i have been lucky in the past!!
Battery is on charge, i'll just keep going out every so often and purging and trying.

Thanks for help, really appreciate it.

In my experience with diesels, if it dont start then it air in the system. Even the modern "self blleding" systems need help and after a head strip then theres going to be air.

Did you reset the injection plunger screws after you re-installed the injectors?

Just had one today run out of diesel Bleed through as you should would not go on key.
Gave it a very short tow and away she went.
Worth a try if your happy the rest is all correct

Hi all...didn't strip head, all was ok. just had two studs replaced, checked for flat and refitted.
i could tow all day..tis auto!

if you don't do the purge right it floods and will not start,
To bleed the fuel system using the LR method you just do the following:
1. Turn the ignition on to pos. II so you can hear the pump working - DO NOT START THE ENGINE.
2. Leave for thee minutes, then start the engine and go for a drive. It should have fully purged the system of air by now.
Hopefully

If the head has been off you need to do the bleed sequence as in doing the 5 pumps with the throttle pedal as you already have. Doing this twice should be adequate,if all is well in terms of fuel pump health and all joints sealed.Cranking the engine towards the end of the second bout of the fuel purge should have it going.If it doesn't start then either the fuel system is not sealed and bled properly - or something else is wrong.Any chance the crank sensor wires were disturbed when the pipes were dis or re-connected to the fuel pressure reg at the back of the head ? This is the one sensor around the engine that HAS to work,(To at least get it to run) and even if connected and working properly its signal can be corrupted by the starter producing internal arcing.(Made worse if battery voltage is down)
The TD5 needs a good battery voltage to fire up,too much dragging down by the starter motor and the engine ecu wont be fully awake with the result that the injectors wont get fired.

Hi all...thankyou all for help...the answer is.....the fuel pump!
Read an article about pressure and came to the conclusion that the pressure was rubbish....even though when it was parked up it worked perfectly well...so running a treat, soooo much quieter...Thanks.

I thought i would add for those searching in the future that the amount of Diesel that came out of the fuel line from the tank was significant. What was no good was if you put your finger over the end of the pipe there was not enough pressure to force fuel past your finger!!! Once the replacement pump was fitted you could actually hear the fuel moving around in the head and it took no time at all to get it running. You must do the purge and starting procedure with a fully charged battery.

Cheers, Nick.

Good update!
Good point on noise from the head, with a good pump you hear the fuel circulating in the head, worried me at first as it sounded like it was full of air, but water flowing around pipes with valves in can make the same noise with no air.
Wonder what actually fails inside the pump? If your curious, bored or just a sad, like me, it would be interesting to take a failed one apart!
Mark

I will look, but as the other love in my life (l322) has killed front prop i may have had enough of fixing cars just for now...