Silent at start up?!

Hi all,

This could be a really stupid question so apologies in advance!

We have a 2001 Td5 with 90k on the clock. It used to make a whirring noise when the key was turned to the first position in the ignition prior to the engine starting. Recently there is no whirring, is this an issue with the fuel pump?

The car starts and runs, it has been running rough recently but today I have had the ECU out and found the plug has oil in it. Having cleaned this thoroughly the car is running much better and I have ordered a new injector harness which following other posts on here should solve that issue.

Could someone confirm if the whirring oise I used to have was the fuel pump or something else? And what has gone wrong if it is now silent?

Many thanks in advance!

You should be able to hear the pump running with the ignition on. If not you have a problem.

If I could hear the fuel pump running in my disco I'd want to know why.

Silence is Bliss

Isn't it the aircon fan on the drivers side of the dash that you can hear whiring? It's the fan that draws air in to the sample the temperature or something?

I could be completely wrong but I had been wondering what the noise was and I think that was the answer i found.

in my 2000 td5 auto. when in the car i cant hear the fuel pump either.
if i stand outside towards the rear, i can.

Orch said:

Isn't it the aircon fan on the drivers side of the dash that you can hear whiring? It's the fan that draws air in to the sample the temperature or something?

I could be completely wrong but I had been wondering what the noise was and I think that was the answer i found.

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i`ve got that noise though.

There's always a very faint whirring from the pump, maybe you're carrying less crap in the boot or have an ear infection?

I understand the abs pump can hum I haven't heard it though, looks like you will have to get the crystal ball out.

Orch said:

Isn't it the aircon fan on the drivers side of the dash that you can hear whiring? It's the fan that draws air in to the sample the temperature or something?

I could be completely wrong but I had been wondering what the noise was and I think that was the answer i found.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses so far. Regarding the air con fan I don't have aircon fitted so assume it isn't that.

Is interesting that there is a mix of noises and silence for people with Discos!

Some pumps are noisy, and some are quiet. Seems to be no reason as to why they are like that...

reilly12 said:

Thanks for the responses so far. Regarding the air con fan I don't have aircon fitted so assume it isn't that.

Is interesting that there is a mix of noises and silence for people with Discos!

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There's no pump on a TD5 thats silent !!!. If you cant hear in priming with the ignition set to position 2, then you have a problem.

If its working correctly, you will hear it for around 20 seconds before it cuts out. ( with the ignition set to position 2 ).

50 pence said:

There's no pump on a TD5 thats silent !!!. If you cant hear in priming with the ignition set to position 2, then you have a problem.

If its working correctly, you will hear it for around 20 seconds before it cuts out. ( with the ignition set to position 2 ).

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Hi there,

This is what I originally thought. If it isn't whirring any ideas what the problem actually is? As I said in the original post the car starts and runs as normal (the rough running seems to have been resolved by the clean out of the ECU plug and replacement of the injector harness touch wood), if the pump has failed or is not priming correctly surely I would be experiencing issues?

Thanks

reilly12 said:

Hi there,

This is what I originally thought. If it isn't whirring any ideas what the problem actually is? As I said in the original post the car starts and runs as normal (the rough running seems to have been resolved by the clean out of the ECU plug and replacement of the injector harness touch wood), if the pump has failed or is not priming correctly surely I would be experiencing issues?

Thanks

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Your pump must be working or the engine would be lumpy as hell with no power.

Turn ignition to position 2 and stick your head by the dtivers side rear wheel arch.

Female pumps are noisey, male are silent.

50 pence said:

Your pump must be working or the engine would be lumpy as hell with no power.

Turn ignition to position 2 and stick your head by the dtivers side rear wheel arch.

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Update - turned ignition to position 2 and practically put my head in the rear wheelarch but can here absolutely nothing yet the car starts and drives fine!

Is the car running fine ?.

reilly12 said:

Update - turned ignition to position 2 and practically put my head in the rear wheelarch but can here absolutely nothing yet the car starts and drives fine!

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Are you listening at the rear IMMEDIATELY after you put the ignition on ?.

50 pence said:

Are you listening at the rear IMMEDIATELY after you put the ignition on ?.

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Yep am literally standing outside the car, turn the key in the ignition and go straight to the driver side rear wheel arch. Am so confused, car starts and runs fine (now the injector harness has been replaced!)

The car spends its life towing horses around and my worst fear is it letting us down with both the horses on the back so try to keep it running as well as possible!

I come from the dark side as a P38 Range Rover owner and wish to add my two penneth to this post. Went with the wife today to have a look at a 2004 TD5 Discovery, the first thing I noticed when she started the car was just how noisy a pump at the rear of the vehicle was. It was still noisy whilst we test drove it and it was still going on with its self when we got back. The only thing I could think was that the vehicle was very low on fuel so maybe the pump was having to work hard to keep pressure up in the tank???
Could fuel level be a possibility for some hearing this problem and others not??

Dave