Off to a not so flying start- Help

WhatHaveIDone said:

Thank you, Steve. I did not Prime. I will try this before unscrewing the pump distributor screws. If this does not work, I will try to clean out the Sedimentor.

When I said "several," I mean 15 mins of constant pumping.

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Put a bucket under the filter, so you can see how much diesel you are pumping through. And there is no point in closing the bleed screws until no air bubbles are emerging. If they don't clear after you have pumped a pint or two of diesel through, check for air being sucked in as above^^^^.

Another update. I primed the system by loosening the top bolt on the diesel filter. I pumped and pumped the lever under the fuel pump. There was resistance by no noticeable activity (e.g. air bubbles or diesel) coming out of the loosened bolt on the diesel filter. I tightened the bolt on the diesel filter and proceeded to loosen the two small bolts on the injection distribution pump. I pumped the diesel pump again, but no bubbles or diesel coming out. Tried to start the car with no success. Repeated the whole process.

I then removed the sedimentor, which had a big layer or sediment at the bottom. The diesel in there was very dark (kinda like Coca Cola). I cleaned out and reinstalled. I then proceeded to repeat the above priming procedure. I saw that air bubbles were being drawn from the see thru line running from the sedimentor to the diesel pump. However, no bubbles or diesel coming out of the loosened bolt on the diesel filter. After no more noticeable bubbles seen in the see thru tube coming from sedimentor, I closed out the bolt on the diesel filter. I tried to bleed the injection distribution pump and no boggles or diesel coming out.

The car will not start. I'm thinking that there may be two possibilities (1) diesel pump is broken (not sure if this is the case though as I did see it was sucking diesel thru the line coming from the sedimentor); or (2) there is a serious blockage somewhere in the system.

Any ideas?

WhatHaveIDone said:

Another update. I primed the system by loosening the top bolt on the diesel filter. I pumped and pumped the lever under the fuel pump. There was resistance by no noticeable activity (e.g. air bubbles or diesel) coming out of the loosened bolt on the diesel filter. I tightened the bolt on the diesel filter and proceeded to loosen the two small bolts on the injection distribution pump. I pumped the diesel pump again, but no bubbles or diesel coming out. Tried to start the car with no success. Repeated the whole process.

I then removed the sedimentor, which had a big layer or sediment at the bottom. The diesel in there was very dark (kinda like Coca Cola). I cleaned out and reinstalled. I then proceeded to repeat the above priming procedure. I saw that air bubbles were being drawn from the see thru line running from the sedimentor to the diesel pump. However, no bubbles or diesel coming out of the loosened bolt on the diesel filter. After no more noticeable bubbles seen in the see thru tube coming from sedimentor, I closed out the bolt on the diesel filter. I tried to bleed the injection distribution pump and no boggles or diesel coming out.

The car will not start. I'm thinking that there may be two possibilities (1) diesel pump is broken (not sure if this is the case though as I did see it was sucking diesel thru the line coming from the sedimentor); or (2) there is a serious blockage somewhere in the system.

Any ideas?

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Have you removed the round cover and intake pipe from the fuel tank, and examined it carefully? Including looking for blockage on the gauze, if any, on the end of the pipe?

Have you used a new Delphi filter?

And have you looked into the diesel tank using a light or boroscope?
If the tank is really filthy inside, you may have to remove it, and swill petrol around inside to clean it, before refilling with clean diesel.

WhatHaveIDone said:

Another update. I primed the system by loosening the top bolt on the diesel filter. I pumped and pumped the lever under the fuel pump. There was resistance by no noticeable activity (e.g. air bubbles or diesel) coming out of the loosened bolt on the diesel filter. I tightened the bolt on the diesel filter and proceeded to loosen the two small bolts on the injection distribution pump. I pumped the diesel pump again, but no bubbles or diesel coming out. Tried to start the car with no success. Repeated the whole process.

I then removed the sedimentor, which had a big layer or sediment at the bottom. The diesel in there was very dark (kinda like Coca Cola). I cleaned out and reinstalled. I then proceeded to repeat the above priming procedure. I saw that air bubbles were being drawn from the see thru line running from the sedimentor to the diesel pump. However, no bubbles or diesel coming out of the loosened bolt on the diesel filter. After no more noticeable bubbles seen in the see thru tube coming from sedimentor, I closed out the bolt on the diesel filter. I tried to bleed the injection distribution pump and no boggles or diesel coming out.

The car will not start. I'm thinking that there may be two possibilities (1) diesel pump is broken (not sure if this is the case though as I did see it was sucking diesel thru the line coming from the sedimentor); or (2) there is a serious blockage somewhere in the system.

Any ideas?

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This is why I said they can be a cruel mistress - been there and done it .

I'd suggest taking it step by step - as Turbo's post - make sure the tank is spotless, make sure the intake pipe is spotless ... and then make sure the LP works - take it off the engine, and see if it will pump derv .... submerge it in derv, and whilst wearing rubber gloves, squeeze the lever - it should give you a good squirt for each pump stroke .... if it doesn't, it is kaput. ....

Then you can see if you can derv from the tank to the LP ....if the lines are blocked, you could blow them out with an airline ( as previously mentioned ) - but keep any crud out of the tank.....

The pipe from the fuel tank should run freely (pìss out) under syphon pressure only. Try disconnecting the pipe from the lift pump and hold it lower than the top of the tank. If it runs freely then it’s doubtful you have air entering that section or indeed a blockage. You can then concentrate on the lift pump itself.
If it won’t syphon then you know where the problem is.

Fellow Landyzoners,

I removed the fuel pipe and fuel level gizmo from the fuel tank. The metal pipe was completely clogged and the mesh at the end of the pipe was ripped. Looks like it has been sucking up gunk which caused the pipe to get clogged up and no fuel to run thru the system. I cleaned up the fuel lines and did the following:
1. Primed the system by loosening the bolt on the fuel filter. I pulled the leve under the fuel pump until fuel with no bubbles came out of the loose bolt on the fuel filter. Screwed the bolt again.
2. Loosened the screw on the fuel pump and pumped fuel until fuel flowed w/out bubbles. I screwed the bolt again.
3. Loosened the 2 little screws on the distributor pump and pumped fuel from fuel pump. I continued until fuel squirted out with no air bubbles. I then screwed the screws.
4. I tried to start the car but nothing.
5. I repeated 1-4 2 more times.
6. I loosened the 4 bolts attaching the pipes from distributor pump to injectors. I pumped the fuel pump, but there was no fuel coming out of the loosened bolts on the injectors.

My conclusion is that the fuel pump works. Also, fuel is getting all the way to the distributor pump. Not sure if there is a clog in the pipes running to the injectors.

I have not emptied the fuel tank yet.

Any thoughts would be massively appreciated. The car is starting to run out of battery as it has been sitting for almost 2 weeks.

Sounds good progress on the bleeding and finding main problem
If it’s squirting out of pump no bubbles, then don’t bother cracking off injectors
Put battery on charge overnight , get it fully charged
Has pipe pulled more crap through you can put cleaned intake pipe in clean can of diesel
Ensure the stop lever on injector pump is in run position
Are heater plugs working - try with 20 secs heater plugs then keep turning over for another 20 secs
Clutch down and full accelerator down

Are you in a position to get it towed, above should start it though will all,air gone

steve2286w said:

Sounds good progress on the bleeding and finding main problem
If it’s squirting out of pump no bubbles, then don’t bother cracking off injectors
Put battery on charge overnight , get it fully charged
Has pipe pulled more crap through you can put cleaned intake pipe in clean can of diesel
Ensure the stop lever on injector pump is in run position
Are heater plugs working - try with 20 secs heater plugs then keep turning over for another 20 secs
Clutch down and full accelerator down

Are you in a position to get it towed, above should start it though will all,air gone

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^^^ This...

I'd add:-

If at all, I would only crack one injector pipe ....

Deffo needs a fully charged battery - won't do the battery any favours - maybe even discharge to deep...

Stop lever is a good call too - you can guess how we know this

Deffo test heater plugs - and test the circuit, as required, with a load - something like a headlamp bulb, which'll draw some current and show any duff earths (etc.) ....

WhatHaveIDone said:

fuel is getting all the way to the distributor pump.

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Good! .... Some CAV FIP's have a gauze filter in the inlet ... I say some, because it seems to be anyone's guess as to which have it and which don't .... I've seen diesel bug turn this into some sort of "creature from the black lagoon" - In fact I had it happen to one of mine probably 10 years ago

WhatHaveIDone said:

Not sure if there is a clog in the pipes running to the injectors.

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Shouldn't be - but the pipes are easy enough to clean out with an air line - but super unlikely to be a problem given the fuel filter should be stopping all the crud - that and the gauze, if fitted....

I used easy start. A good five second squirt in the intake manifold and give it a turn over on full throttle.

worked for me.

WhatHaveIDone said:

Fellow Landyzoners,

I removed the fuel pipe and fuel level gizmo from the fuel tank. The metal pipe was completely clogged and the mesh at the end of the pipe was ripped. Looks like it has been sucking up gunk which caused the pipe to get clogged up and no fuel to run thru the system. I cleaned up the fuel lines and did the following:
1. Primed the system by loosening the bolt on the fuel filter. I pulled the leve under the fuel pump until fuel with no bubbles came out of the loose bolt on the fuel filter. Screwed the bolt again.
2. Loosened the screw on the fuel pump and pumped fuel until fuel flowed w/out bubbles. I screwed the bolt again.
3. Loosened the 2 little screws on the distributor pump and pumped fuel from fuel pump. I continued until fuel squirted out with no air bubbles. I then screwed the screws.
4. I tried to start the car but nothing.
5. I repeated 1-4 2 more times.
6. I loosened the 4 bolts attaching the pipes from distributor pump to injectors. I pumped the fuel pump, but there was no fuel coming out of the loosened bolts on the injectors.

My conclusion is that the fuel pump works. Also, fuel is getting all the way to the distributor pump. Not sure if there is a clog in the pipes running to the injectors.

I have not emptied the fuel tank yet.

Any thoughts would be massively appreciated. The car is starting to run out of battery as it has been sitting for almost 2 weeks.

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You will never get fuel at the injector unions using the lift pump, you need to turn the engine over.

I don't think I have ever seen a blocked injector pipe in 40 years of working on these engines.

And you are completely wasting your time using a partly charged battery. You need a perfect battery, and jump leads onto a running vehicle if possible.
Cranking speed is one of the most important factors in diesel starting.