P38A Not another bad starter?

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!

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...

Only way air can get into O'rings on filter is if lift pump is duff and injection pump is sucking fuel from tank. If lift pump is good fuel can leak out but air can't leak in. That would also give your loss of power.

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...

My first step would be to check the in tank pump is working, the symptoms you describe could well be caused by pump failure especially if the tank is less than half full.
Drop the fuel filter, but a bowl underneath and turn on the ignition. Wammers has posted the amount of fuel you should get out in the technical section I think. The pipe in the tank from the pump also sometimes splits letting air into the system
I doubt it's the O rings for elbows on the filter housing.

Wow! Quick replies here! Thanks gents, that all makes sense. I'll check the flow as soon as I get to the car on Monday morning but it sounds like my next project will be dropping that tank.
I'm missing the car like a member of the family. Borrowed a MK8 Transit for the weekend but it is not the same.

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.

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.

Click to expand...

Just an update in appreciation of your help one and all...... The gurus of the Zone win again. Fault was indeed the lift pump and a replacement sourced from ebay. Decided not to tackle the job myself though. I managed to keep it running long enough to reach our good local indy - Collected it this afternoon and I'm glad to say that good running and starting has been restored! After a week's gap I'm reminded how the P38 is a nice place to be!

Your more than welcome