Help! My Landy is running rough!

Hi guys,

I'm wondering if any 1 can help me please. My Landy has recently started to run rough and very sluggish when pulled away. I have a disco 1 tdi 300 auto and when I first bought it, it ran very well compared to my old disco and pulled very well and got up to 90 mph without a problem. Now when I first start the car in the morning it hardly wants to move untill you get up to about 50 - 60 it's bearable. When stopped at traffic lights the idle seems to go up and down slightly but if you put it in neutral it's fine for about 60 seconds then it's starts again. When you open the bonnet there is a strong smell of diesel. I've had 3 mechanics look over it and all say different things. 1 said the turbo the other said a blockage in the pipes and the other said the fuel pump.

It's an old bus and I don't want to spend hundreds having people trouble shoot it. Has any one got any ideas on what this is? I am pretty mechanically minded and am willing to try anything. I have so far replace the fuel filter and checked for any puddles and nothing apart from some drops of what is deffinitely oil which was the sump that was slightly loose.

Please help any idea is appreciated

I've got the same a 300tdi auto which I could hardly get it to move. I changed the oil and filter in the gearbox which sorted that and had a small diesel leak which was coming from the injector leak off pipes. Whether it was just co-incidence but it was a bit lumpy on start up replaced the pipes and that went. Probably completely different to your problems but worth a shot. Plus your prob gonna get a grilling on here for not introducing yourself lol

Try a fuel filter and a lift pump !! Should help ,,

i think you have answered your own question there.......if there is a strong smell of diesel i would suggest you have a leak, probably allowing air in and causing problems.......

Thank you I've just introduced myself lol. I'll try the oil and filter first as that wOnt be very expensive to start and up date you guys. The fuel filters been changed but doesn't appear to have helped at all. For some reason though there isn't any puddles on the ground and with the rain I have noticed any rainbow patches underneath

Will be in touch shortly.

Put you location in some one may be close enogh that is willing to pop round and av a look for ya.

I would say meself change the fuel pump and check all the pipes fer leaks

Why is it a problem to get air into the diesel system?

BotswanaGuy said:

Why is it a problem to get air into the diesel system?

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because air isn't diesel, would you want diesel in the air system?

BotswanaGuy said:

Why is it a problem to get air into the diesel system?

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It Starves the engine of fuel a little starvation would make it run rough a lot would make it have a lack of power or even stall or not run at all like having an empty fuell tank

fuel sedimentor full of crap?

Don't suppose any one knows of any fuel pumps fOr sales as the last time I looked they were going for about £250 I'm based in new Milton Hampshire of any ones about.

Hi guys just to let you know I have replaced some rubber fuel pipes that are located by the rocker cover as that's where the smell of diesel was coming from and also changed the oil out on the gear box which was black to be fair but nothing has changed with the running of the Landy. I've tried to look round it for any other leak and some oil appears to be dripping from the sump which I will change the gasket soon, but not sure what else to try.

Is taking off and cleaning the fuel pump worth a go? If so does any one know if it's a hard job?

the sump has no gasket,

have a look in the air pipes around the turbo and see if the intercooler is full of oil..

Hi guys sorry for taking so long to get back to you all I have started to replace the sedimentor after what has been said on here and once I drained it the stuff that came out of it was revolting so I hope this is it. The only problem not is both pipes have snapped off due to it being badly corroded. Does any won't know where I can get the pipe that connects the sedimentor to the fuel tank and the sedimentor to the fuel filter.

Hi Henson,

I don't understand what you've broken exactly or how you've done it... can you take pictures? Also as you've cleaned out the sedimenter it'd be worth changing the fuel filter for the few pounds that they cost

Henson said:

Hi guys sorry for taking so long to get back to you all I have started to replace the sedimentor after what has been said on here and once I drained it the stuff that came out of it was revolting so I hope this is it. The only problem not is both pipes have snapped off due to it being badly corroded. Does any won't know where I can get the pipe that connects the sedimentor to the fuel tank and the sedimentor to the fuel filter.

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You could just bypass the sedimentor with some standard fuel pipe from Halfords. By the way, the fuel pump that might need replacing is the lift pump on the on the side of the engine, should be 20 or 30 quid at the most.
Something you could try is to put a bit of clear pipe between the lift pump and the fuel filter to check for air bubbles

Hi I should be able to take a Picture of it tomorrow I've followed the pipes and one heads towards the fuel tank and there is an access panel in the boot under the carpet to get to it. The ther pipe heads towards the engine and I'm only assuming it goes to the fuel filter.

I will replace the fuel filter as you say it makes sense for about a fiver. As for the fuel pump I've put it on eBay and there coming up for about 200 pounds am I looking at the wrong one then if so how big is it so I can check its correct before I buy it?

LIFT PUMP
DEFENDER BEARMACH 300 TDI ENGINE DIESEL FUEL MECHANICAL LIFT PUMP ERR 5057R KIT | eBay

Thank you I'll get one of them on order. I am really struggling to get some replacement full pipes for the Landy and spoke to landrover and they can get the pipe from the tank to the sedimentor for 41.66 plus vat but can't get the pipe that goes from te sedimentor to the lift pump. I don't really want to by pass it if I can help it but has any one got any idea if you can make a new pipe at all?

Hi guys I've finely sorted the pipes out and when I first started it she ran mint very responsive and got up to speed very well . I took it for a 400 mile drive as needed to collect a bike and now it's started Erving slightly ( same problem it was doing before!) I've ordered a lift pump but will this sort it?