Starting problem

I have just replaced my fuel lift pump (300TDi) as it was leaking, but now can't get engine to run more than a few seconds. Most times it hovers at around 1000rpm before dying with no throttle response. Once it revved freely with a load of smoke out the back for 10 secs or so then died.
I primed with the lever & now when I loosen the screw on top of the filter diesel comes out under pressure.

Now the battery has gone flat. Is there anything obvious I should check before going through the same procedure tomorrow and flattening the battery again?

Don't know if the new pump has exacerbated some other problem, as it was driving ok this afternoon (apart from the leak obviously!!) It did take a few seconds turning on the starter but I assumed this was because the pump was emptying while not running.

Cheers

Bump - still can't get it to run. Should have left the leaky pump in. At least the thing worked! Has nobody got any suggestions? I have checked out other threads for similar problems but can't figure why it ran ok on old pump. As soon as new one put on it won't run properly - should have been the other way round surely?

how have you bleed it ? - you've probably got air in the system now

Like this:-

"There's a primer lever on the bottom of the pump - open the bleed valve and then pump the fuel (press downwards) until it comes out of the bleed screw and then tighten it. If there's no resistance on the lever, then flick the starter and try again until the lever will work properly. Once bled, lift the lever up and it should stay there."

I have done it before without problem on my old S3 but never on the Disco. I'll maybe try again - I did try to redo it last night but diesel spurted everywhere as soon as I loosened the valve.

turning it over with the injectors cracked open slightly also works

Getting there! That got it running -still cranks over for a while though.
It now runs fine for a couple minutes but then over the next 2 minutes throttle response below 1500 rpm gradually becomes more and more ponderous until it just ticks over with no response at all.

I have bled using the pump a number of times and it does appear that there is still air in the system or does it just look that way with the pressure of the fuel coming out of the bleed valve? What is the best way to get it all out - just keep going with it?? Is there likely to be that much air in?

Each time I try it there does seem to be some improvement so maybe that's the answer.

Lots of stupid questions eh?

have you loosened off the injectors while cranking it yet ?

Came up with a graet idea - pay someone else to look at it!!

Worked a treat. Little rubber pipes between injectors leaking & bled properly - working now

If the leak offs on the 300tdi engine are working properly there is NO need to crack off the injectors.

In fact there is no need to prime the filter, I always fill the filter with fresh diesel then screw it on but I did once have to do this out in the coutry and the filter was empty, screwed it on and turned the key, engine started almost instanly and primed the system itself - same with my 90.

The Bosch pumps can deal with air, once the fuel is running through the filter head the next thing is the IP. There is a bleed screw on the filter head but there is not a automatic bleeder like there was on the Lucas heads, hence why the Bosch head from the 200/300tdi's should not be used with a Lucas pump or when the fuel gets low or you go up a steep hill and draw a little air it won't be able to bleed the air.

Start the engine and leave it to idle for an hour if you can. 300's are able to clear air in the fuel by themselves. Just takes time.
Assuming of course no more air is leaking in.