fuel starvation - defender 90 300tdi

Hi everyone,

I've seen a few of the posts about this already but none have helped me out much.
My 1996 90 has a fuel starvation problem (it will go along fine on the flat for a while but loses power and almost judders to a halt on hills or past 30mph)
I've replaced the fuel filter and lift pump and recently put in £20 worth of BP diesel, which is supposed to be decent quality, but still nothing. I'm stumped as to what's wrong with it. Anyone got any ideas?

any advice is much appreciated

Air leak some where in the system [ I have a section clear pipe in my fuel line to check for this ] Or lift pump not working [some poor quality replacements about] Also may not be installed correctly with pump arm over the cam lobe.

Have you tried driving it with the fuel cap off, could be wrong but it sounds like a blocked fuel cap sucking the tank in, worth a try first.
failing that i would clean out / remove the sedimentor or as i did bypass it, again it could be a blocked sedimentor, hope one of these sorts it for you

cornish rattler said:

Have you tried driving it with the fuel cap off, could be wrong but it sounds like a blocked fuel cap sucking the tank in, worth a try first.
failing that i would clean out / remove the sedimentor or as i did bypass it, again it could be a blocked sedimentor, hope one of these sorts it for you

Click to expand...

Agreed, either of those could cause your symptoms.

Dont think the 90 has the sedimentor.
Even with a duff lift pump the car will still go reasonably okay just no top end power.
Also worth running your own positive supply to the stop solenoid to eliminate any elec faults

Have a look in the tank also.

Our 300tdi disco had a layer of slime in the bottom of the tank that was fouling the pickup. Also blow back down the fuel lines.


You have replaced the lift pump, but do be aware that the delphi ones have a gauze in them, under the dome (screw in the middle) which can get blocked. It wont be that if youve changed it, unless theres loads of rubbish in the tank.


One final thing -

Are you certain its not air? Im guessing an air restriction would cause some smoking, but possibly not, if it was minor enough?

Hi guys, thanks for the responses and sorry I never got back to you. Turns out there were large lumps of rust in the fuel lines and tank, probably from using a rusty old fuel can to refuel. A bit of Canned Air to clear the lines and a magnet on a stick to get the bits out the tank and she was good as new.