Major help needed!

Hello,
This is a desperate plea for help! I have a leek in my fuel tank on my defender and so have to change it. I took all the bits off, pipes etc, in order remove it. Obviously the nuts were seized solid so i need to get it to a garage . Trouble is, it won't start now. I put everything back how it was, oh and i changed the lift pump as well, but now it won't start .he engine turns over fine but it does nothing more than splutter and cough.

Please help, I need it for towing friday

Hello @saxon101

Assuming it is a 300tdi ?? as you do not say.
Have you tried manually pumping the lift pump? undo the bleed screw on the filter housing and see if diesel comes out, whiile manuall pumping the lift pump. BUUT make sure it is on the cam.

Also, have you checked the stop solenoid wire on the back of the pump is still connected?

Cheers

+1 on stop solenoid mine fell off during the rebuild made me scratch my head!

where is this wire?
and how do you know if the pump is on the cam?

and yes its a 300 tdi sorry

Look at the back of the FIP, see if there is a spade connector and a loose wire, If it is like mine it is a single wire. If you see one and it looks connected may be worth while pulling it off and refitting it to make sure it is OK.

Lift pump handle will be loose if it is not on cam, if needed blip the ignition to turn the engiine over a little resistance should be felt in the lift pump.

Cheers

thank you so much,i'm off to take a look now

Ok so when i operate the lift pump handle I can hear fluid being pushed around but I can't see the wire.

neilly said:

Look at the back of the FIP, see if there is a spade connector and a loose wire, If it is like mine it is a single wire. If you see one and it looks connected may be worth while pulling it off and refitting it to make sure it is OK.

Lift pump handle will be loose if it is not on cam, if needed blip the ignition to turn the engiine over a little resistance should be felt in the lift pump.

Cheers

Click to expand...

saxon101 said:

Ok so when i operate the lift pump handle I can hear fluid being pushed around but I can't see the wire.

Click to expand...

that usually means its sucking up air

oh so maybe I put the pipe in the tank wrong?

or could it be the pipes on the lift pump are mixed up?

I really should learn to stop doing things myself

saxon101 said:

or could it be the pipes on the lift pump are mixed up?

I really should learn to stop doing things myself

Click to expand...

No you shouldn't it's more fun learn more and it's cheaper even with snaggles

whilst the pipes were out of the tank, I turned the engine a couple of times to fit the lift pump; is it possible that there is a bucket of air in the system? When I first tried to jump start it (the battery was flat), it did start up. it was lumpy and spluttery but it ran. for a minute or so. since then it just caught and splutters, you can hear its trying to start, it just doesn't get there.

Silly question,

Do you have fuel in the tank? enough to get to the pick up?

Cheers

undo front banjo on the pump and pump lift pump if fuel and air keep appearing check pipes are the right way round on sender unit and lift pump

Pull the out pipe of the lift pump and see if fuel is pumped out.
Put finger on the outlet and see if it sucks or pumps, either way will do.
Work from there.

Also, just in case ,

Why did you fit a new lift pump? was the old one broken? if not then is it worth fitting the old one to make sure your New one is not a piece of rubbish



Cheers

saxon101 said:

Ok so when i operate the lift pump handle I can hear fluid being pushed around but I can't see the wire.

Click to expand...

Follow fuel from injectors to the injection pump there's a small spade on it like this
Check the connection and give wiggle. That can cause the splutter

FYI it's also handy to make a dead switch off that connection to **** up thieves too

alexc2701 said:

FYI it's also handy to make a dead switch off that connection to **** up thieves too

Click to expand...

Blimey Alex, tell the world about it............

Cheers