Thread: TD5 fuel pump (long post)

Replaced the in tank pump yesterday. It warned me about 2 weeks ago with screeching noises, sounded a bit like air in the pump. At 280k km I thought I had better be ready so I bought one (OEM Siemens/VDO from Island 4x4 in the UK. AU$356 inc shipping) It arrived the day before I had to drive to Melbourne so I didn't have time to fit it, so I took it with me just in case. Got to Melb ok, did a bit of running around, no probs, occasional noises. Friday morning went to start to return home, and NO pump sounds - absolute silence. Car started ok, ran ok, so given that the weather was cold and miserable and I didn't want to be changing the pump in the motel carpark, I decided to go for it, maybe the pump has magically fixed itself???. Drove Melb to Bairnsdale no worries except the engine would not rev over 2400, had another listen, no sound, pulled the fuse, no change, soooo.... Drove B'dale to home (140k) with the fuse out, gradually less and less power as I got closer to home (elevation 900m) Got over the last hill at 10 kmh and home. Yay!!! Pump windings were open circuit when I got it out, probably happened in Melb. so I can only assume the injectors are capable of drawing a limited amount of fuel from the tank. I was doing 100 kmh on the level bits of the highway too. Down to 80 on the hills. So it seems that a failed pump isn't necessarily a show stopper. I noticed that with the new pump flooring it from a standing start took the revs past 4000, I hadn't seen more than 3000 for about the past year. (auto). Cheers, Terry

Sounds like I was a bit lucky, I was towing an empty box trailer too..... Terry