Fuel Prob

Hi folks just took a range rover 2.5 diesel in part ex. When the gauge gets to 1/4 it struggles to start. We know there is fuel in the tank but it doesnt want to start. when i top it up again it starts no probs. Is there a fuel pick up pipe that could have fell off so its not reaching to the bottom of the tank????

Thanks

Water in the tank?

sharkey said:

Hi folks just took a range rover 2.5 diesel in part ex. When the gauge gets to 1/4 it struggles to start. We know there is fuel in the tank but it doesnt want to start. when i top it up again it starts no probs. Is there a fuel pick up pipe that could have fell off so its not reaching to the bottom of the tank????
Thanks

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Faulty gauge or sender ? how are you certain there is enough fuel in the tank
Have you checked filter to see if fuel is present
Fuel pump/sender unit is on top of the tank and tank needs to be dropped to repair

More likely the fuel pick up pipe has a pin hole in it at the 3/4 empty spot so when it gets below that level it starts sucking in air - this shoudn't effect it when it's going but when it has been standing there will be more air in the system.

odenne said:

More likely the fuel pick up pipe has a pin hole in it at the 3/4 empty spot so when it gets below that level it starts sucking in air - this shoudn't effect it when it's going but when it has been standing there will be more air in the system.

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This sounds like the problem. It will run all day but as soon as you stop it it wont start!!!

Can i get to the fuel pump from inside the back or will I have to go underneath?

It is a range rover 2.5 DT Nreg 1996

Thank you for all your help!!!!

sharkey said:

This sounds like the problem. It will run all day but as soon as you stop it it wont start!!!

Can i get to the fuel pump from inside the back or will I have to go underneath?

It is a range rover 2.5 DT Nreg 1996

Thank you for all your help!!!!

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From the above it sounds like the hot start problem, do a search on hot start fix.
As to the tank, you will need to drop it.

Your in-tank pump is most likely not working.

Test it: when you switch on the ignition you should feel the bottom of the tank vibrate for 10 secs as the pump builds pressure and switches off, or put an ammeter in place of Fuse F38 in the engine compartment fuse box.

There is no pick-up pipe, the pump sits at the bottom of the tank and pumps upwards out of the tank.

lanmjdun said:

Your in-tank pump is most likely not working.

Test it: when you switch on the ignition you should feel the bottom of the tank vibrate for 10 secs as the pump builds pressure and switches off, or put an ammeter in place of Fuse F38 in the engine compartment fuse box.

There is no pick-up pipe, the pump sits at the bottom of the tank and pumps upwards out of the tank.

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if the pump doesn't work then how is the engine running?

It's a possible candidate for the in-tank pump, I had a similar problem last year, the pump didn't fail completely, but its motor was down on power & intermittent, when the tank was full, it relied on the injector-pump 'pulling' up the fuel, but when the level went down, it was just that bit too much effort for the pump.
An easy test is to remove the feed pipe from the tank to the filter, get an assistant to switch on the ign. & watch for fuel ejecting from the pipe, it should pump foe 2 or 3 seconds, mine didn't, so a new in-tank pump cured it.

These pumps are known for cracking above the pump. this lets air into the system when the fuel level is low, causing the symptoms you have. I am afraid it is indeed a new pump and I believe the tank has to be dropped to change it.