Hi Guys
I am new to this forum.
I have a 2002 TD5 with 155,000 kms. Also a Disco 1 V8 on Gas
My problem is that the TD5, is difficult to start.
I have been looking at many of the threads relating to air in the fuel system.
I have a few questions if any one can point me in the right direction.
I will first list the sequence of events leading up to the issue and then the symptoms to date. The TD5 would normally start first kick, never more than 1 turn and away it would go.
Then one morning I noticed that after a normal start it hesitated for a second just after it started (the engine shuddered like a lack of fuel ). I thought that is odd!
Ok for the next 2 months this hesitation after starting would occur randomly, usually after a night sitting.
Then I put it in for a service (with Land Rover Dealer) and they mentioned that the Fuel Pressure Regulator (FPR) was leaking.
They replaced the FPR and on return my TD5 began to get hard to start ( more than 1 turn of the motor to start and sometimes I had to put foot flat to the floor.
I took it back but they said it was the fuel pump as the dealer checked the pressure and during driving they said it occasionally dropped a little (marginally they said).
Mind you I had just had the fuel pump replaced 5 months earlier. Not convinced I took it to the person who replaced the fuel pump. He said the pump was good but the return pressure was low.
He replaced the fuel air bleed valve in the fuel filter return line and new filter.
It only got worse after that. I decided to have a look. The return line fitting was leaking so I replaced the copper washer and tightened it up, bleed the fuel system of air by turning on pump and pumping the throttle 6 or so times till the orange engine symbol light appeared on the dash and let the pump cycle until the squealing pump ( air bubbles in the line causing the pump to cavitate, I think) quietened down and I couldnt hear air bubbles circulating through the fuel rail at the front of the car and then listening at the fuel filter until the air bubbles sound disappeared there as well. This took 5 cycles of me turning the ignition to position 2 pumping the throttle 6 times and letting it cycle the pump 4 or 5 times. Once the pump finished cycling I repeated the cycle 5 times. I now thought the issue had been air in the system that needed to be thoroughly bleed.
I thought!!!!! the issue was fixed but over a few days the car became harder to start and the pump got louder and the gurgling and air bubble sound was more pronounced until it was back to being difficult to start ie run the pump for 5 mins, foot to the floor and try and start (not good for the battery or the starter motor).
So here I am, I have had a look at the injectors to see if I could see a leak (my thought was now that the FPR was replaced maybe it was holding more pressure and causing the injectors to leak. I checked the engine oil level for an slight increases none found over a 2 week period. I have ruled the injectors out but may still replace o-rings and seals. I then took the pump out and checked the filter clean no foreign material present. Put it back.
Have checked all around fuel lines for leaks non found to date.
I have checked the ECU red plug for oil-none. The harness was replaced 6 months ago.
I know air is getting in. I know that the air forms first at the filter end and then the sound migrates to the FPR/fuel rail (head) area.
I also noticed that once the fuel pump stops it sounds like a heap of fuel with air bubbles runs back through the filter. Ie pressure relief through filter.
Questions:
1. Is the fuel system supposed to hold pressure once the pump is stopped?
2.What type of fitting and where do I need to attach to in the fuel line to measure the Low, High and return lines pressures to determine which line is leaking?
3. Can you buy fittings to attach to the fuel filter lines to measure these?
4. Has any one got some pics on how they set up the pressure gauge to measure these 3 lines?
5. Can you get air sucking into the lines or around the filter without having a fuel leak.
6. Can the fuel line slip on connections suck air in? They rotate easily by hand at the filter housing and FPR. I am surprised that these fitting can hold so much pressure and still able to rotate from side to side. At the connection.
7. Is it worth using soapy water around these fittings?
8. What could have they done when they replaced the FPR to cause this issue?
9. How small a leak could cause this, could it be so small that the fuel evaporates or gets absorbed in dirt before I can see any real signs like staining etc?
10. Could the fuel be leaking into the cylinders from the injectors or would this still show up in the sump oil?
I am a little frustrated and need some direction please.
Sorry this is so long winded! Just though if I give as much detail as possible someone could help.
Bookmarks