Priming diesel fuel system

Just changed a leaking fuel filter on my 56 TD4 Freelander S1. This required dropping the filter/pump/sedimeter tray and 'freeing' the old filter with a hammer and drift on the bench. Reconnected it all and tried priming the pump according to the Haynes manual. System doesn't seem to self-prime - no pump evident in the tank (only two wires for the sender). So no fuel in the lines upstream and downstream of the pump and I'm guessing I'm going to have to manually prime the system. Has anyone come up against this and does anyone have suggestions how to best do this - my thoughts are around syphoning fuel into the sedimenter / pump from a can of diesel and running the pump to get fuel around the system. Also if anyone has seen the Landrover fuel system description I'd be interested to know how the system operates without a tank pump - does it use HP return fuel as a jet pump?

You did put the filter in the right way?
Else feed pipes may not be locked in place properly....did you here them click or you could have dislodged the wires on the pump.
Mine has always self primed every time it's been off and if you can't hear the pump running I'd guess at the connection or the pump decided to go fubar.
I think there's a fuel cut off under the bonnet passenger side, just check this has'nt tripped as well.

Checked all of these. Pump ran when electrics turned on but wasn't drawing any fuel. Ended up priming filter (via inlet), fuel line to engine and fuel line from tank using a syphon kit and can of diesel. Engine started first time and runs fine.

Hi Dr Mike, and welcome to LandyZone.

I think that perhaps you tried starting the engine before completing the self-priming procedure.

After fitting a new filter - which I have done several times, or a new pump - which I have done once, the correct sequence is to turn on the ignition without attempting to start the engine - you should hear the pump run for maybe 30 secs to 1 minute then shut off - you may, or may not, also hear a gurgling sound of the fuel entering the filter.

Switch off, wait 10 secs, and then switch on again. This procedure needs to be repeated at least 4 times before any attempt to actually start the engine.

Even then the engine may fire and run a little rough before possibly stalling. You then need to repeat the turn on without starting a couple more times.

The system is self-bleeding - but not if you try starting it as well.

Caio,

Singvogel.

Mine started with no problems after a fuel filter replacement

Ian jones said:

Mine started with no problems after a fuel filter replacement

Click to expand...

mine too

Just the information I was looking for. About to change the fuel pump and filter and was quite worried about the procedure, and whether I would ever be capable of bleeding it without killing the new pump, so thanks a million

Regards

Christian