P38 Diesel doesnt seem to be drawing fuel from the tank

Morning everyone.

Jumped in the Range Rover the other day only to find (for the first time since I bought it 10 years ago) the old girl wouldnt start.

Injectors were dry, so I put on a new fuel filter on.. still no luck though. So then I took the fuel filter off to see how much fuel was being pumped up to the filter. Clearly, the fuel would run back to the tank with the filter removed but even when its been pumping for a 20 seconds or so i still only get a dribble of fuel coming up to the filter head.

So where is it likely to be blocked? Is there a lift pump on the P38? If I was looking at my Di Transit thats what id suspect first. What else could be causing it?

Remove the pipe coming upto the fuel filter and turn the key. When the glow plug light comes on the in tank pump should run. If not, the pump is worn out.
Or. Open the fuel cap and have someone listen into the hole while you turn the key. There should be a humming noise from the tank.
A genuine vdo pump is expensive but a must. A britpart version is also available but at your own risk as some of them are known to fail prematurely.

+1. Lift pump has probably failed, although if it has had vegetable oil or similar in there it might be clogged up with bacterial growth. Guess you could always swap the relay as well, just to rule a bad connection there out.

Dropping the tank isn't too bad. Long afternoon of work. I just cut the rubber filler pipe and replaced it rather than muck about. It'll probably need replacing by now anyway if it hasn't been done before.

VDO price not that bad from the likes of Island.

There is a template on another thread to cut a flap under the rear seat above the lift pump. Saves dropping the tank if it needs replacing.

Gadgetz said:

There is a template on another thread to cut a flap under the rear seat above the lift pump. Saves dropping the tank if it needs replacing.

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But better dropping the tank and check/replace the brake pipes.

You should hear the pump whir, take off the pipe to filter bridge the relay and should pour out.
Can drop tank or cut huge gaping hole in your RR and feel bad forever.

Should start with dead pump but I had one clogged up

I would say unless you have done the brake pipes all ready drop the tank ando do the pipes at the same time, we did a thread on pipes a month back they rust very well indeed have a look in the thread.

+1
Or you might wish you did

Yeah, I remember Mr Grrr and his mate did a very neat job of copper brake pipes a few months ago, I did mine a while back though, not as neat but they are all solid copper now.

Veg Oil?! Pah! Perish the thought!...................... oh, my reputation has preceded me

Yes, its been running on veg for nearly 10 years, its probably the original pump, its a 25 year old car....... does it deserve a shiney new VDO lift pump? I think it does.... Thanks guys

jimllshiftit said:

Yeah, I remember Mr Grrr and his mate did a very neat job of copper brake pipes a few months ago, I did mine a while back though, not as neat but they are all solid copper now.

Veg Oil?! Pah! Perish the thought!...................... oh, my reputation has preceded me

Yes, its been running on veg for nearly 10 years, its probably the original pump, its a 25 year old car....... does it deserve a shiney new VDO lift pump? I think it does.... Thanks guys

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If you're regularly running SVO then probably worth making a decent hatch. Could well be something growing in there.

Worth adding some bactericide to the fuel from time to time. Odds on there is bacterial growth in the tank etc.

well done fellas, all sorted now...

was still a swine to do even after cutting a hole in the floor. wish id cut the hole a little wider though. also the old unions were rotten through so I replaced all that with jubilee clips and rubber pipe but it was still a bugger to get the inserts in and the pipes on.. never mind..

jimllshiftit said:

well done fellas, all sorted now...

was still a swine to do even after cutting a hole in the floor. wish id cut the hole a little wider though. also the old unions were rotten through so I replaced all that with jubilee clips and rubber pipe but it was still a bugger to get the inserts in and the pipes on.. never mind..

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What was it like in there? Clean or clogged up?

I forgot to look... the new one was there and I was in a hurry to fit it so I just whipped it out and dropped the new one in.....