TD5 Defender wont start

[96 defender]

Hi all
after i changed my fuel filter today the engine ran fine for a few minutes and then died out
the defender is an early 99 mdl and the ignition on and 5 quick pumps method does not seem work on this car so ,i tried the leave the ignition on until the fuel pump turns off method then depress the pedal to the floor to start again no luck

i have now flattened my battery so will have to wait until the morning once charged to try again

can anyone here offer any advice its driving me crazy!!! can i just manually bleed the system instead ?

cheers Sheafer

[jimr1]

Hi , I know what your going through , I had the same problem when I changed the fuel filter . My battery was also going flat , so I stopped . I phoned a mate who also had a td5 . He said turn ignition on pump 5 times , this tricks the fuel pump to keep running , do this a few times , then try to start It . For me It worked , a bit lumpy for a few seconds until all 5 cylinders were running , then settled down and back to normal . I hope this works for you !!.. Jim

[numpty]

What works for me is this .......

1) turn ignition on (you can hear the pump whirring)

2) when pump stops, turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds

3) turn ignition on again (pump should run for shorter this time)

4) when pump stops, turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds

5) repeat a couple more times.

6) after these preliminaries, foot flat on accelerator and turn key to start.

It should then burst into life.

Works for me every time with no extra drain on the battery.

[Tombie]

Turn ignition to on...

repeatedly depress throttle over and over until you hear the priming sequence commence..

Wait.

Once its done throttle at 50% and crank away..

[96 defender]

Hi all
well still no luck
i,ve tried all the methods listed here and online
she was running perfect before the oil and fuel filter change so its got me stuffed
i have also checked and i have good flow to the fuel cooler and head so i think i can rule out the pump
my battery is now flat again sheeze this thing is sure testing my patience

[gusthedog]

I've used the method Numpty outlines above many time on both my TD5's without issue. If that doesn't work you may have air in the lines or a buggered fuel pump.

[J RAD]

When I have had this problem before (earthmoving machinery, a 100 series and patrol), I have pressurised the fuel tank with an air compressor. Try cranking it with the tank pressurised. Not only will this help you push the air out, you may find if it is sucking air from somewhere. I haven't had to try this on my td5, but if your out of ideas give it a go.

[96 defender]

Gday all

i,m starting to suspect my fuel pump may be too weak to purge the lines of air as no matter how many times i run the purge cycle the pump still runs for 2 or so minutes each time and just before turning off i hear a swishing sound at the filter

i took the feed line off to the head and i have flow but its not overly strong

cheers Sheafer

[Tombie]

Just check you didnt leave the seal off the old filter on the mount when you changed them...

They have a habit of sticking!

[DazzaTD5]

As already mentioned with regards to priming and checking to make sure you havent left the old small centre seal behind in the filter mount.

Dont, what I would call over tighten the fuel filter, it only requires moderate tightening up, over tightening it will cause issues.

Ive posted this before...
To start a TD5 after running out of diesel.
Turn ignition on, depress accelerator 5 times.
The MIL will then flush, this is purge mode, once completed the MIL will turn off.
Then hold the accelerator to the floor, crank engine over.
Once it begins to start, bring the accelerator pedal up about half way until it fully starts.
There will lots of white smoke (unburnt fuel) but all will be good.

You need a good battery to achieve this.
Also once it goes into purge mode you should clearly hear the fuel pump as it cycles, if not, then yes could be the pump, but do the above first though.

Regards
Daz

PS If it starts and runs for as you say, a few minutes?? then yes sounds like fuel pump.

[numpty]

As already mentioned with regards to priming and checking to make sure you havent left the old small centre seal behind in the filter mount.

Dont, what I would call over tighten the fuel filter, it only requires moderate tightening up, over tightening it will cause issues.

Ive posted this before...
To start a TD5 after running out of diesel.
Turn ignition on, depress accelerator 5 times.
The MIL will then flush, this is purge mode, once completed the MIL will turn off.
Then hold the accelerator to the floor, crank engine over.
Once it begins to start, bring the accelerator pedal up about half way until it fully starts.
There will lots of white smoke (unburnt fuel) but all will be good.

You need a good battery to achieve this.
Also once it goes into purge mode you should clearly hear the fuel pump as it cycles, if not, then yes could be the pump, but do the above first though.

Regards
Daz

PS If it starts and runs for as you say, a few minutes?? then yes sounds like fuel pump.

That's why I use the method I outlined above as it has negligible drain on battery. ;)

[96 defender]

Gday all

well she is going again and i,m $670 lighter in the pocket

i fitted a new fuel pump and after priming she ran
i am miffed about the 5 presses on the accelerator pedal though as mine will not respond to this
maybe because of the trs ecu it has fitted ,not sure

cheers everyone for the help and suggestions

Sheafer

[DazzaTD5]

That's why I use the method I outlined above as it has negligible drain on battery. ;)

Yes thats true, its a normal method of purging air out of any common rail diesel with a fuel pump when it doesnt have a prime mode/function.

But it wont prime the injectors (neither will the purge mode), its the cranking over and over to bleed air out of the injectors that requires a good battery. This issue of course only happens when the engine has run out of fuel.

If just changing a fuel filter, then doing either method is fine.
If the engine runs out of fuel, then cranking over with a good battery (after doing the above methods) is the norm on any common rail diesel.

Regards
Daz

[DazzaTD5]

Gday all

well she is going again and i,m $670 lighter in the pocket

i fitted a new fuel pump and after priming she ran
i am miffed about the 5 presses on the accelerator pedal though as mine will not respond to this
maybe because of the trs ecu it has fitted ,not sure

cheers everyone for the help and suggestions

Sheafer

At that price I'm assuming its a genuine pump (or the VDO packaged one, same thing), its something to note that the cheap $300 ones seem to last about 3 months.

Regards
Daz