Does this sound like a fuel lift pump issue ?

Having a little bit of an issue starting the disco 1 after leaving it a day or so, takes a while to get going ..as soon as it does though it will start as soon as i turn key the rest of the day.
The manual lift pump does nothing ..
Just a bad lift pump ?
Anything else i should check for?
Have orded a bearmach one to replace it.

I had a similar problem with my disco ,I changed the lift pump & it felt smoother but the starting issue was still there. I put a new battery on & now it starts first time.

Changing the battery was the first thing i tried (was needed anyway, not a clue how old the last battery was), but no change.

Hasnt failed to start yet, just a very uncomfortable wait not knowing if its going to.

Hoping it just as simple as replacing the lift pump.

I had similar issues. Before you do the pump, have a look at the spill off pipes. Mine were a bit perished which were difficult to see as the pipes are braided. They are only push on, and cost about 2 quid for a length you can cut to size. Are your earths all clean? Especially the braided one down near the starter motor? I stuck an extra cable on which has sorted the starting out for me.

Sounds like it's pulling air in somewhere which is letting it drain fuel back.

Pump front seal? Any fuel dribbles in the timing case?
Banjo washers all good on fuel filter housing?

If you are parking pointing up hill and it is difficult to start but starts well on level or pointing downhill, could well be lift pump (mine was) or air leak between tank and engine bay.

If starts well after first start, check/replace glow plugs - in my experience, if you've got a problem starting you may find all 4 have failed. The TDi is a relatively easy starter and one plug is often enough to get it going. Problem starts to show when all 4 have gone.

Good Luck.

Ah yes that sounds exactly like it, my driveway is slightly uphill and ive never parked it somewhere else long enough to check, ill get the pump fitted first and check again .. im sure its knackered anyway as the manual lever arm does nothing.

Ill have a look at the glow plugs

Cheers

The lift pumps dont work unless the engine is in the right position.Keep flicking the ignition until you feel resistance on the lever. Then it should pump .

If in any doubt, just the lift pump - they're only about £20 anyway.

Ive brought one already, just waiting on delivery

My 200 didn't start, thought it was the lift pump but turned out to be the actual fuel pump.....£100 for a second hand one later from ebay It was fine....the old one had died.

Hope not

Injection pumps are normally very tough unless it is leaking of couse

Went to change it today, theres nothing attached to the lift pump, that would explain why it didnt pump anything lol.

owas said:

View attachment 66708

Went to change it today, theres nothing attached to the lift pump, that would explain why it didnt pump anything lol.

Click to expand...

Well that's not right is it -might explain a thing or two !!!!!

Not entirely sure what to do now tbh

owas said:

Not entirely sure what to do now tbh

Click to expand...

All the ones I've done on TDi 200 and 300 had 2 metal pipes going to the pump for flow return.

Just had another look and I can't see the other connection. ????

Anyway, maybe it's just the picture, so something (pipe, rubber or metal) appears to have come off that inlet, so you need to find it.

Found one that looks like the inlet pipe.

Where does the pipe from the outlet bit go?

owas said:

Not entirely sure what to do now tbh

Click to expand...

buy the correct lift pump and ensure it has the olives and nuts to go with it ,it looks like youll have some pipe work to modify back to original 8mm push fit connectors are good to connect the hard plastic fuel pipes

Is the lift pump even needed?
Not yet done anything since seeing theres nothing connected to it .. but the starting problem seems to have gone, still takes a little longer on the first start, but nothing like it was.