Fuel pump died in my Defender td5... again!

[bluetongue]

I had to replace my fuel pump about 3 months ago... the one that sit's on top of the fuel tank (lift pump I guess it is...?).

A little over 1300 bucks later I had a new one fitted and away I went. I got a longranger 127L tank put in at same time.

The first fuel pump lasted about 20-30 minutes of drive-time... with the testing around the suburb by the mechanic, on their dyno-test-bed and then me driving around the block just managing to roll back into their driveway.

They write that pump off to be a dodgy one and fitted a newbie on the house.

My 2000 defender has done around 112,000 k's, it's done it's fair share of forest road driving, 2 long-w/e trips to fraser, corregations, but no rock-climbing, etc. It hasn't been thrashed. It's in good nick and goes well.

Anyway, few days ago (no more than 4 full tanks of diesel at either coles or woolies), the bluddy thing died again!!

The mechanics got it out and found pieces of rust and other bits of cr#p in the bottom of the fuel pump. They checked the fuel tank and it was clean on the inside... no flaky bits of rust or corrosion. They reckon it must've got in from the bowser at the petrol station.

Not that I don't enjoy forking out another 1300+ bucks for a new fuel pump but it's literally got me buggered.

Has anyone had this problem with dodgy fuel before?

Is there any way to prevent that cr#p from getting into the tank?

Anyone know of any good tea-strainers that snugly fit down the pipe of the fuel tank?

Maybe I could pull a stocking over the nossle before I fill up the tank?... or would that contaminate it even more with synthetic fibres or some other cr#p.

So far I've had to get an nrma tow-truck - twice in the middle of surburbia. I'm a bit worried now that next time it claps out I'll be cruising down some beach close to tide-rolling-back-in or out in the woods behind the back-arse-end-of-nowhere... argh

Any ideas anyone? Are there alternative to the standard LR pump+tank setup? Or at least something that can be done so I've got a custom-made "limp" home feature?

Cheers in advance.
Scott

[noddy]

Bluetongue -- sorry to hear about your problems.

Mine is currently dying.... Or at least I think it is the fuel pump and I also have a long range tank. Kimba has done 127,000kms.

Anything below 1/4 of a tank and it will just not start. Have to go through the priming sequence and refill the tank to the top. The she will wail like a banshee for a while and be OK until I empty the tank.....(don't let the tank get empty until I can save up for a new pump).

I have been pricing new pumps and the best price I have got is around the $850. LRA quoted be $1200 8O.

As for your problem with rust etc, I have never had the problem nor heard of it, BUT my old 130 use to have gauze on the filler pipe. Slows filling a bit, but might be an option. I would be pushing for them to replace it as a faulty item or getting the rust etc and going back to your last service station.

Regards

[one_iota]

Curiously in seven years I have never had a problem with fuel...It's only a 300 Tdi..but maybe the issue lies elsewhere

[tombraider]

Originally posted by Noddy
Mine is currently dying.... Or at least I think it is the fuel pump and I also have a long range tank. Kimba has done 127,000kms.

Anything below 1/4 of a tank and it will just not start. Have to go through the priming sequence and refill the tank to the top. The she will wail like a banshee for a while and be OK until I empty the tank.....(don't let the tank get empty until I can save up for a new pump).

I've had this too.... But not quite like you!

When my 127l tank is low the pump squeals on startup.

And during running runs louder due to the hollow metal box its sitting in! Amplifying the sound.

At startup, when low, and sitting a while, the return line bleeds down.
I turn the key, the pump screams and after about ten seconds it has self primed and I click to Start and she's away.

Had the tank installed 2 weeks after purchase, been that way since (MY2001 and 130,000+ km's)

So I'm not worried too much about it.

Cheers
Mike

[bluetongue]

gday fellas...

I wish my pump had of made alot of noise.
The only warning I got was about 10 minutes... I start loosing power especially in the high revs then it stalls.

Baed on tombraiders comments, hopefully yours is ok noddy.

Although I hate to pay for another pump, I just hope I've got it fixed once and for all. Somehow I'll work out a way to keep the fuel going into my tank totally clean, but I just can't believe with all the defenders out there (... and not to mention all the diesel-driven-vehicles) that more are not getting contaminated... or maybe I was just unlucky.

Maybe it's just that... I was cursed.

First time it died (3 mths back) I was on stoney creek road here in sydney. I had just enough momentum luckily, to turn into a side street then wait for nrma tow-truck.

Second time it died I was on stoney creek road, going the opposite direction, same thing, I had just enough momentum to turn into a side street --- but get this --- directly opposite the side street where I broke down 3 months ago.

Maybe I should start praying to the good lord above....

Scott

[barryj]

Please excuse my lack of knowledge on the 2000 defender, but my previous 1997 300 Tdi had a pull up spout with a strainer in the base of it. Did they do away with this on the 2000 model.

I must admit I took it out a few times at hi flow bowsers due to foaming but it kept crap out of the tank when I used it.

Please inform me if this strainer is a lost asset in the newer models. My 1962 series 2a and 1976 series 3 Land Rovers had them as standard.

They were also great to pull up when filling with Jerry Cans .


Barry

[dhumphri]

Guys just looked on a couple of UK parts sites and I reckon you could get a pump for approx $600.00 landed - maybe even cheaper. The pump is
$199.00 pound from:

http://www.famousfour.co.uk/new_parts/part...fender&sec=fuel

Daz

[George130]

You mentioned woolies for your fuel. I stopped using woolies back when I was looking after a mates diesel merc. I got a total of 50km out of a full tank. It was full of water and other crap. That 50km took 4 seperat session of bleeding and priming the system and having to then tow the bugger home. Mate was not amused and then told me his brother had had the exact thing happen a week before from the same woolies servo. His response was please don't use woolies again.

But they are with caltex so it could have just been a coincidence.

[mark2]

Is the pump in the tank a low pressure lift pump which merely provides fuel to the injection pump? If so, fit an electric external pump for about $40 with a seperate swithch and swap the lines over if the in tank pump plays up. I have a second external pump permamently fitted in my V8 110 in case of a problem.

[disco_ute]

I once heard of a safeway servo near where i live had 8 cars die within 1k of the servo after filling up not sure if it were diesel or petrol..... but i makes you wonder...

also so far everybody that has complained about fuel pump problems in this thread has a longranger fuel tank.... i wonder if the pumps are burning out some how when the tanks are getting low???? maybe sucking in too much air??

Mick