The most humble way to introduce myself: My Landy Problems

Hi All,

I am from Dun Laoghaire, a 21 year old student who bought his first land rover June 2015. Since then I have undertaken a complete rebuild/restore of my 1986 LR90. I kept track of my build with https://www.facebook.com/idiotbuildsalandrover/?fref=ts

In September 2016, I put a 300tdi into it, it had not since been running from when I undertook the rebuild. I had it running and driving but it was extremely low on power. the status of my components were:
1. Tank/hose/filter - all brand new
2. lift pump - aftermarket, new (not delphi)
3. injector pump/injectors - original to the engine, sitting for unknown amount of time, injector 3 blowing on injector
4. Turbo - " "
5. Glowplugs - 2 workin, 2 sheered off. Electrics - new relay and harness,
6. battery and starter - working and original have battery on trickle charger.

It turned out the low power was due to a faulty injector pump. It was rotten inside. a complete rebuild was done by a bosch service point. Injectors were tested to be fine. Results in solving the problem. Car was driving fine. A little hard to start when cold. when hot works fine.

Come october, the car will not start. I think it is because the temperature has dropped to about 5-7 degrees. On the warmest days it was about 15 degreees, car still won't start. The suspected problems were;
1. Water in fuel - drained tank and 5 litres of fresh diesel added.
2. Cold engine as glow plugs not working. - Ether/Easy start was tried and it muttered a few times but no start.
3. Cold battery - added a jump start from running car. Increased the speed of engine turning over.
4. Compression

I decided to sort my glow plug/blowing cylinder problem by changing the head for a in spec head with 4 clear glow plug slots. I changed this as per the land rover manual with a new correct gasket. I fitted 4 working glow plugs (new, only used for about a week in another engine.) but I am not getting a glow plug warning light on the dash. Injectors fitted with new copper sealing washers.

After this the car still would not start. I now think it may be my lift pump it does not appear to be providing enough pressure to the injector pump. I have checked this by removing the hose out from the pump and it doesn't come out with a high pressure at all. Could it also have something to do with only having <5 litres of diesel in the tank? Planning on adding more tomorrow.


Does anyone have any ideas as top what the problem may be?

Thanks

Rory

Welcome

The Discovery 300 is fitted with a Sedimenter that's located on the offside chassis rail on the inside, these over time clog and can get jellied up.
Don't know if the 90 has the same thing or not.

Welcome.
Took my lift pump off in the summer cos I thought it was faulty. Pressed the foot of it gently and a jet of diesel hit me hard in the face. Fortunately, I had my glasses on or I would have had diesel blasted behind my eyeballs.
Have you changed the filter? Are you getting 12v to the stop solenoid?

Have you bled the lift pump?

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/300tdi-wont-start-please-help-me.309552/#post-3894458

Thanks everyone for your reply! I have also been seeking answers in the above thread, I thought I should repost it in the correct place. It has some better info from me in the start. I bled the lift pump and also replaced it for an oem new part. I am getting 12v to solenoid and I here it click this is working. I have since gotten the engine to start but it runs very rough at idle.

Rory