Fuel pumps on 2.5 DSE

Just got my P38 back after prolonged lay up due to a cracked cylinder head (made worse by the appointed garage for the warranty arguing with the insurers about fitting a new or recon cylinder head), and as I picked up RR the mechanic tried to convince me that intermittent problem with engine not firing up after two to three seconds was due to an electrical fuel pump sited near the engine not priming the fuel injection system.
(At least thats what I think he said, as the conversation was all in Italian)
Does such a thing exist?, as most times the engine fires up fine, and when running there is no problem with pick up when accelerating.

Yes mate, there is a lift pump situated inside the tank that is supposed to prime the system. When this has failed, you will have to crank it over for a few seconds to get it to fire up. Mine had this problem, which eventually knackered the starter motor as it was having to work harder than it should have. When running there was no bother though.

The in tank pump is around £85 but requires the tank to be dropped inorder to fit it.

Kind regards
Jonathan

As far as I understood he said the lift pump in the tank was fine, and the tank was almost empty, so from what I remeber of threads I've read before if the lift pump in the tank goes, you get real problems when the tank is less than a third full.

Mine was displaying the signs even when I had plenty of fuel in the tank. There is only two pumps, one in the tank which takes fuel up to the filter, then exits the filter, and down to the fuel injection pump on the side of the engine that feeds the injectors.

Try using a meter to check the pump and relay etc, or try disconnecting the fuel line at the filter, crank it over and see if you get any fuel output?

Jonathan

The problem with the pump is usually the pick up tube cracking on the pump assembly. If the fuel level is low, air gets drawn in to the sytem causing poor starting. Try keeping the fuel level above half a tank and see if that makes a difference. If it does then suspect the in tank pump. Being a Range Rover owner the only Italian I have needed is "quanto costo ?"

rewmer said:

The problem with the pump is usually the pick up tube cracking on the pump assembly. If the fuel level is low, air gets drawn in to the sytem causing poor starting. Try keeping the fuel level above half a tank and see if that makes a difference. If it does then suspect the in tank pump. Being a Range Rover owner the only Italian I have needed is "quanto costo ?"

Click to expand...

Useful phrases are "che succede" ( what's going on)
"e pronto" (is it ready)

to which the usual answer is " sere pronto dice giorni" (ready in 10 days or so)

rewmer said:

The problem with the pump is usually the pick up tube cracking on the pump assembly. If the fuel level is low, air gets drawn in to the sytem causing poor starting. Try keeping the fuel level above half a tank and see if that makes a difference. If it does then suspect the in tank pump. Being a Range Rover owner the only Italian I have needed is "quanto costo ?"

Click to expand...

is there a part number for this pick up tube?or any sizes?
has anyone got any experience in cutting through the floorpan from inside the car to access the pump - just thinking ahead.

this starting problem to me seems a bit sudden- i normally let the tank go near empty everytime before refilling, just on this occasion it got to a quarter and it is struggling to start.

and finally has anyone ever had to replace the o rings inside the fuel filter housing where the feed pipes are located? this apparantly is another area or air getting in as well as the leak off pipes.....

i am not convinced it is the leak off pipes or the o rings as the fuel coming out of the filter is full of bubbles...and once started it runs ok

can glow plugs last only 1 year? ( Bosch ones fitted)