P38A Not another bad starter?

52 classic said:

Well into my third year of running a 2.5DSE with 100% reliability record and my first post here is with a problem! About a week ago I noticed that the car was getting harder to start cold or warm. Never mind, a second go at the heaters seemed to fix it. Then there was a loss of power when under load which became sufficient to really interfere with hill climbing ability.

I reckoned it was air getting in somewhere so changed the leak off pipes (the old ones were pretty brittle)
with OE spec ones, fitted a new fuel filter and checked tightness of all the clips in the engine bay. I had fitted a Syntec non return valve before the filter unit when I first bought the car.

Problem still prevails though and I'm noting that the pipe from filter to pump is constantly frothy with air. My 'friend in the trade' says the next step is the O rings in the elbows to and from the filter unit. Main dealer says the elbow with rings is NLA and the rings not sold separately. None of mine are the right size so the hunt is on to find some. Can anyone help with this and what is the probability of that being the problem?
My next (and last) idea is the pump in the tank, which is cheap enough to buy but looks a right PITA to do.
Again, what do you think are the odds? Any other ideas will be gratefully received too!

Click to expand...

52 classic said:

Well into my third year of running a 2.5DSE with 100% reliability record and my first post here is with a problem! About a week ago I noticed that the car was getting harder to start cold or warm. Never mind, a second go at the heaters seemed to fix it. Then there was a loss of power when under load which became sufficient to really interfere with hill climbing ability.

I reckoned it was air getting in somewhere so changed the leak off pipes (the old ones were pretty brittle)
with OE spec ones, fitted a new fuel filter and checked tightness of all the clips in the engine bay. I had fitted a Syntec non return valve before the filter unit when I first bought the car.

Problem still prevails though and I'm noting that the pipe from filter to pump is constantly frothy with air. My 'friend in the trade' says the next step is the O rings in the elbows to and from the filter unit. Main dealer says the elbow with rings is NLA and the rings not sold separately. None of mine are the right size so the hunt is on to find some. Can anyone help with this and what is the probability of that being the problem?
My next (and last) idea is the pump in the tank, which is cheap enough to buy but looks a right PITA to do.
Again, what do you think are the odds? Any other ideas will be gratefully received too!

Click to expand...

Mark Piercy said:

I would go with the lift pump as well. Been through all of the above last year. Occasional power loss and air in the fuel lines. Changed the lift pump after it completely failed... Luckily at home on the driveway. Fitted a VDO unit. £155 at island 4x4. But I won't have to go back in there for a good while I hope.

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