It just keeps getting better and better...
Thanks guys,
Yes, it's looking like the lift pump has died - bugga!
After lunch I cranked again and there was a dribble from the IP inlet banjo. Great. Tightened the banjo and cranked - spray from the injector unions - u-beauty!:) Did them up and cranked - and she started - WOO HOO!:D
But it was short-lived. After 20 -30 seconds she spluttered to a stop.:(
Dropped the filter and it was only part full. My good lady cranked while I held my hand under the filter housing - not a sausage!
I was going to say the lift pump was not very old but thinking about it, it's 5 years old - seems to be about all you get out of these. I have a new spare (always carry one these days), so I'll try that next.
Oh Yes! - and for the few seconds the engine was running, the IP leaked like a sieve! Seems to be from the triangular boss. I've just ordered the special VE sockets...
Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed...
Yep, the lift pump was cactus, kaput, fubared etc. (to use the technical terms).
I thought I was on course for a PB time for a lift pump replacement when I must have been distracted and started playing the fun game of "drop one of the bolts down into the engine mount".:o Many attempts to fish it out with a bent telescopic magnet finally succeeded. (Strangely enough the hand primer lever pump on the new pump doesn't work either??)
Next fun event was stripping the bleed screw thread in the filter head.:mad: Fortunately a longer M6 cap screw got a bit of grip and sealed OK.
So after 2 days, several skinned knuckles (despite having the spandex gloves on most of the time - except when I needed to do some 'fine' work...) and a lot of effort, I'm basically back where I started from - I have a 300Tdi that runs well but dribbles diesel from the back of the injection pump!
On the bright side, I've learned heaps, I'm not longer scared of having to remove/replace the IP and I'm pretty confident I now know exactly where the leak is now and how to fix it. And I have drained the sedimenter (just a bit of gunge and no noticeable water - regular Fuel Doctor seems to work) and have a new filter and lift pump fitted. So not a total loss. But just a little more success wouldn't go astray...
Time for a gallon or two of Red.
I'm an E-Jot (as our Irish friends might put it...)
Took the solenoid off again this morning. Hmmm, I think there should be a spring in here somewhere?
I go to the bench where I had worked on the pump the other day. And there, just off the back of the piece of cloth I had on the bench is a tiny spring, smaller than you might find in a cheap biro. So, I fit this spring into the housing between the plunger and the solenoid and try it with a battery.
Sure enough, it now goes click in and springs out when the power is disconnected. Put t back into the the car and all is well again.
Boy, wait until I find the idiot who last worked on my injection pump - I'll kick his a5se into next week...
Woo- Hoo (fingers crossed!)
After only a fortnight, my VE pump sockets arrived. First the supplier was out of stock (didn't bother to let me know...), then Australia Post took their own sweet time delivering the parcel (no wonder they're going broke...).
So I finally got around to attacking the triangular plug on the back of the pump this morning. Had to remove three of the injector pipes again, the return fuel line and throttle cable to be able to swing first a breaker bar ('cos it was bl**dy tight), then a ratchet handle.
The o-ring didn't look to bad initially but when I started to hook it off the plug, it was quite perished. New o-ring on and all back together without problems. Then cranked the old girl back into life and - Yippee! No more drips! (well, apart from the one turning the key...) Here's hoping!
If your VE pump is leaking...
Things learned during this saga:
If your pump is leaking from the front top area, it's likely to be the throttle shaft bush and seal. Not too difficult a job and can be done in situ.
If your pump is dribbling from the distributor head on the back of the pump, I suggest checking in this order:
1. Make sure the injector pipe unions are tight.
2. Make sure the delivery valves are tight in the distributor head.
3. Check that the hex head plug in the middle of the large triangular plug is tight. This small plug has a copper washer under it that can be replaced.
4. If the above doesn't stop the leaks, my next suggestion would be to remove the large triangular plug and change it's o-ring. With the right socket, it's a pretty simple job and can be done in situ (see previous post).
5. If it's still leaking, then you'll probably need to replace the large o-ring that seals the distributor head to the pump body. Dave says this can also be done in situ (and I'm sure he can) but for we mere mortals, I think this is best done with the pump out and held vertically (dist. head up) in a vice. All jobs on an injection pump need to be done with great attention to cleanliness.
I found this guy in the UK very helpful: HOME - www.diydieselshop.com. He sells parts on eBay as "allmakes-diesel-specialist" and provides detailed installation notes.
