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M.teague



Member Since: 28 Aug 2025
Location: Kernow
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 HT Auto Coniston Green
110 td5 2002 fuel tank removal
I am replacing my rotted rear xmember with the one with extensions, i wire brushed and lubed all the nuts and bolts underneath in preperation,
Now i have loosened off the two front bolts and the two accessable through the xmember were so badly corroded that one is a lump of corrosion and the other looks suspiciously like the tail end of a rivnut, as the xmember is junk i cut access holes x2 either side of the tow hitch to have a better view and perhaps so as to be able to get a grinder in, i have been using a haynes manual and looking online,
At this stage i had a look online and cant find anything that helps, could anybody please point me towards an article or link for how to, and which order to remove the tank please, i have an inkling that if i remove the forward verticle positioned bolts then the cradle may drop at the front and the tank MAY be able to go forward an inch or so to enable a spanner to get in at the rear bolt head, between the tank and cradle/guard but i am not at all sure and dont want to put strain on the pipes or connectors, hence this post, with the rear nuts i dont want to cut them off until sure just in case they are welded studs and part of the cradle/ guard rather than through bolts,
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated
Thanks,
Post #1075284 12th Sep 2025 3:50pm
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Penfold_6290



Member Since: 22 Sep 2021
Location: Dorset
Posts: 400

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
I did this when I replaced my rear X member. First job is to empty it...make it as light as possible, then disconnect all the accessible pipes. The 4 fuel pipes attached to the fuel pump are notoriously fragile and eye wateringly expensive so be careful when you disconnect them and colour code them with tape so you know how to refit them. So what I did was put a jack at the front with a length of timber between it and the metal cradle . Undo the front bolts and lower the jack until you can get your arm in to unclip the fuel pipes. Squeeze the clips and remove by pulling straight out, don't apply any force sideways/up down as the plastic tip will break.

The tank cradle has two studs at the rear (see pic) which will need to be undone before it can be completely dropped. Bear in mind if you grind the nuts off the studs the studs will probably also be corroded beyond use so you may have to weld on some new ones. If you're welding a cross member you can do this at the same time.

When you refit you offer up the back of the cradle to the cross member, start the nuts a thread or two, man handle the tank in then raise it and secure with the front bolts. I say it like it is easy, it is not...A willing volunteer might be helpful. Be careful when putting your fuel hoses back in for the same reasons mentioned when taking them out. Might also be wise to fit a new fuel pump while the tank is out. It's a mare of a job with the tank in the truck. I have seriously considered cutting an access hole in the floor to access the top of the tank, a bit like a Disco 2 has. You can always buy an access hole cover for a boat to seal the hole afterwards, check Ebay for them.



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Post #1075290 12th Sep 2025 5:03pm
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M.teague



Member Since: 28 Aug 2025
Location: Kernow
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 HT Auto Coniston Green
Thank you,
Post #1075292 12th Sep 2025 7:51pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8408

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Those rear nuts, if you cut them off will need new threads welding on as above. Simplist way is to put an impact gun on them and remove ornshear them off. To be fair lots of the ones I have done look terrible but have always come undone.

The fuel tank fittings are a nightmare, they don't always undo very easily and they do snap the male parts off the pump. I tend to leave the pipes connected.

I do slightly different to above in that I undo the front and rear cradle bolts and pry the rear out studs out then lower the whole lot, keeping tank on cradle, front end up as pipes on it still, rear cradle drops down and access gained for xmember work. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1075294 12th Sep 2025 9:37pm
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Procta



Member Since: 04 Dec 2016
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 5361

United Kingdom 
Also drain the tank too, me and my dad ended up doing this with my 90 TD5, after we did the fuel pump change, fighting a full tank is impossible. i ended replacing the tank guard too, and my dad made me up another little pipe breather. Not sure what the story is with the 110s Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back

In the words of my Good Friend, Gary Forrest 1980 -2025
" we will work something out"
Post #1075298 13th Sep 2025 2:34am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8408

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
It's probably worth replacing the 19mm fill breather whilst your on there, they perish for a past time. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1075302 13th Sep 2025 8:29am
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M.teague



Member Since: 28 Aug 2025
Location: Kernow
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 HT Auto Coniston Green
Thanks for all the replies,
Re the fuel lines, is it possible or prudent, when the tank is down onto a support to then detach the lines from the fuel filter head rather than from the tank, i have to address some corrosion behind the filter so i will be removing the assembly in due course, also i have read about depressurising the system by removing the pump relay and running the engine before removing the lines. after refitting everything will it all need bleeding and priming, this is a bit daunting for me, is it as complicated as it sounds?,
Post #1075306 13th Sep 2025 10:19am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8408

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Td5 will bleed simply enough, ign on depression accelerator 10times within 10s to run purge cycle. Repeat until ypu can't hear air. It will run the pump for 90s iirc or so.

Removing at filter is usually simpler but feeding pipes back can be awkward and betting is male fittings on pipe ends are brittle anyway.

I would pre empty and buy some male to barb fuel fittings somif ones breaks you have a replacement to fit. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1075316 13th Sep 2025 1:37pm
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Roukmuth



Member Since: 25 Sep 2022
Location: Aurillac
Posts: 4

France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Here you will find a tutorial on how to remove the fuel tank from the Defender Td5.
I hope you find it useful.

Arrow https://meca1.co.uk/dm1-bb-pomgo110td5/
Post #1075369 14th Sep 2025 8:46am
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M.teague



Member Since: 28 Aug 2025
Location: Kernow
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 HT Auto Coniston Green
thats a great guide,
Thanks to all that have taken the time to help and reply, i will be carefully cutting an access to the pump and associated pipes and cables and proceeding with caution,
Post #1075373 14th Sep 2025 10:36am
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DefenderCan



Member Since: 25 Nov 2023
Location: Canada
Posts: 23

 2006 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Chawton White
I would remove the rear floorboard in the boot/trunk of the truck.

Simple 10mm and a few rivets, however there are about 30 or so Hulk Bolts.
The worst bolts known to man.

Unless you have the special removal tool, you can punch a notch in the head and unscrew these bolts. Refasten with a normal hex. this will be a job and will take time, but you can also address structural concerns or apply rust corrosion spray on places you couldn't do otherwise throughout the year

If you are also in the bush and your pump dies, and you have one on hand you can just pop the floorboard and there you go.... you wouldnt need to worry about the weight of the tank when refitting

Hope this is a feasible alternative...
Post #1075662 18th Sep 2025 10:15am
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