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Mark.tiree

Member Since: 03 Jun 2021
Location: Argyll
Posts: 29

Hi there
Did you ever get to the bottom of your problem? I hope so and would be interested in your findings.
Cheers 2004 TD5
2004 Discovery 3

7th May 2022 8:25am

oscaryocho

Member Since: 08 Apr 2022
Location: Quimper
Posts: 20

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I last posted but I have some news.

Last time I wrote, I had an incredibly hard moment trying to start my TD5. Absolutely gutted at the time, I decided to dropdown the fuel tank to have a look inside of it and potentially replace the fuel pump if necessary.
Doing it, I accidentally broke 2 of the 4 fuel lines connector which go in the fuel pump. I had to find a way to change them and repair them in order to refit my tank...
After ordering 4 brand new aluminum connectors from Nakatanenga, I've proceeded to change the broken ones only to find out that it was a single piece from the connector all the way to the engine ; it wasn't a simple connector plugged in at the end... So to fix that, I had to cut the pipe a few mm behind the connector and remove a little bit of rubber on the outside of it, heat it by plunging it in some boiling water and then pushing in the new aluminum connector. Tightening everything with some collars, I then connected everything hoping it would work.
I've then launched a fuel system bleed by pressing the accelerator 5 times, waited all the way through and then launched a classic start procedure. It started after struggling for 3-4 seconds but it worked.
I then drove a bit to ensure everything was working correctly and stopped the vehicle to start again and see if there was any improvements.
It started right at the turn of the key. The next days, it was firing right when turning the key and I was really really pleased by the way it was starting !

I wanted to wait a little bit before writing this just to be sure the problem was solved but as you can imagine, it did not solve the issue in its entirety...
Yesterday morning and yesterday evening, I had some trouble firing up the engine, eventually, after a few seconds it started but it was gurgling a bit, like it was lacking some fuel to work properly. After struggling for 10 seconds half started, it ran fine.
The thing is that when the engine is hot, I don't really have this issue, it only appears when the engine hasn't run for a few hours. At least it seems to, I don't really have enough perspective on the issue as of now to be sure it only appears when the engine's cold.

I did pretty much everything I could do and think of to solve this issue but there is one last thing I can try and it is the replacement of the injector washers. I don't think I'll have time for this in the following weeks so i don't really know when I'll be able to do this at the moment...

I'll keep you updated as much as I can no matter what !

If you have any idea on the situation, I'd be glad to hear from you !

Thanks everyone !

10th May 2022 9:14am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey

That suggests that air is getting into the fuel system somewhere. I suspect that if you did the priming procedure before starting when it's cold then it will start straight away. It's difficult to know where to point at as the likely problem area. It could be the injector seals but given that you've disturbed it recently, it could also be one of the joints at the tank, or even the fuel filter housing. It'll be a process of elimination, I'm afraid. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

10th May 2022 9:56am

oscaryocho

Member Since: 08 Apr 2022
Location: Quimper
Posts: 20

Hi man, yes I was thinking about it too. In my opinion, it coud well come from the washers because, when the engine's hot and freshly stopped, the bubble don't have the time to settle into the fuel line whereas when the vehicle is stopped for several hours, bubbles can come in the lines.

Since it was already here before changing the pump, I would suggest it would come from the washers and not from the fuel lines. I'm not really happy having to do this operation but it is the only way to ensure the problem is not coming from there...

10th May 2022 11:05am

oscaryocho

Member Since: 08 Apr 2022
Location: Quimper
Posts: 20

Hey guys, weird things happen these days… as I mentioned in my last posts, it began having trouble starting again, today I had pretty severe power losses if this word is still appropriate to use. In fact, sometimes when driving at very low speeds and putting some gas, the engine starts to lack fuel (at least it seems like) and it gurgles for seconds before getting back to normal, which becomes pretty scary as it puts pressure on mechanic parts such as the gearbox if I don’t press the left pedal…
So, I’m pretty lost and I’m asking myself several questions :
- could the fuel regulator be at fault ?
- for a few days now my oil temperature jauge has stopped working properly, it bounces when it works but sometimes it stays at zero, could it have any impact on the issue I have ?
- how much times does it usually takes for air bubbles to leak from injectors to fuel lines when this kind of problem occurs (when injector washers are faulty)? 1min ? 5min ? More ?

The hard start occurs pretty much every time, wether it is sunny and hot or cold and rainy, when engine hot or cold, it doesn’t really matters.
However, what seems to happen every time I tried it, when turning off the engine and turning it back on less than 10 seconds after, it starts first turn of the key.

I don’t know if this piece of info will be relevant or not but, when I open the tank to fill it, there’s a ‘pshhit’ sound making me believe that everything around the tank is sealed off like it should be.

I’m more than tired to have to deal with this issue, I really want it to end, the car has become so unreliable I don’t even take pleasure driving it anymore…

I still have to change the injectors washers and then I’ll know if it is the source of my issue !
Thanks 🙏

12th May 2022 6:36pm

Honeyman

Member Since: 02 May 2022
Location: Haarlemmermeer
Posts: 58

2011 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Sumatra Black

The sound when you open the tank may indicate that the breather pipe is blocked - creating a partial vacuum in the tank during driving & making it harder for the fuel pump to keep up until the tank pressure can equalize again (via the filler cap?). That can lead to fuel starvation. Maybe worth a look?

12th May 2022 6:49pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5416

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Do you think the “ppshht” noise is air going in or air coming ut?

13th May 2022 7:53am

oscaryocho

Member Since: 08 Apr 2022
Location: Quimper
Posts: 20

Thanks for your answers, it's pretty hard to tell if the cap sucks air in or if it blows it out, I would think it blows it out rather than the opposite but I might be wrong.

I'll need to disconnect the breather in the evening to check your theory @Honeyman, it could well be the cause !

Other than that, this morning, when leaving my house I struggled a lot to start, turning the ignition on, the starter was working completely fine but there was not any combustion happening, like there was only air coming into the cylinders. it seemed really weird so I took the time to launch an air bleed cycle hoping it would help but it didn't... after roughly 15min of non stop trying launching the car, it started and I've been able to drive til work. On my way, one thing caught my attention, a misfire happened, I don't know if it is the exact word to use but it sounded like a piston that didn't quite work properly, only once though, it didn't happen again after that. The orange engine symbol appeared briefly on the dashboard and then disappeared.

Also, every time I have the engine gurgling when driving, the orange symbol appears, quite logically. It didn't happen this morning but it tends to happen pretty frequently.

13th May 2022 8:34am

oscaryocho

Member Since: 08 Apr 2022
Location: Quimper
Posts: 20

So after searching again on other forums and for different parts, I've found out that the FPR ( fuel pressure regulator) could cause some trouble sometimes.

The usual pressure should be 400 Kpa or 4bar but in the cases I've found, the pressure wasn't maintained and it was as low as 3 bar, causing some trouble at low speeds, low response from gas pedal and hard to start symptoms.
I haven't been able to check my pressure at the moment since I don't have any software nor OBD connector.

I'm now curious and I think i will be doing more research about it sometimes soon !

Other than that, I've booked an appointment with a Defender specialist for a big check up before the vehicle safety inspection, France is known to be really harsh on this kind of controls so I prefer proceeding to a preliminary inspection during which I'll ask for more details about everything we mentioned on this topic !

I'll keep you updated on the situation !

16th May 2022 4:21pm

Poki

Member Since: 11 Aug 2022
Location: Rotorua
Posts: 1

Hi! Oscaryocho, I share your frustration. Low fuel, hot starting problems etc We have had the same symptoms since 2018 from the replacement of a fuel filter. I hadn't bled it properly and it's dogged us ever since. There was an improvement after having the injector seals replaced, but not solved. Have changed the fuel filter housing, fuel new pump, starter motor, MAS, battery, crankshaft sensor, new extended CPU harness and CPU relocated up high, inline fuel filters. Had every mechanic from UK, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Canada & Mexico looking at it, without solution.
It's in the workshop now for a serious overhaul. Will let you know if we find the cause. Meanwhile never give up...

Keep us posted.

11th Aug 2022 4:09pm

oscaryocho

Member Since: 08 Apr 2022
Location: Quimper
Posts: 20

Hi Poki, thanks a lot for your message !! It's been a while since i didn't post any update on here but to be honest, even though i didn't give up, i didn't try to do anything since the last post, I don't have the time to open up the engine to replace the injector seals right now and I hope I'll be able to do it in the next month or so ! What you say worries me a bit cause there is a problem somewhere, wether it's on your car or mine but, although the issue seems simple, the cause is really weird and hard to find, it's frustrating... Oh and also, I didn't quite take the time these past two months cause the car was starting up fine, cranking for 1-2 seconds but not more than that so it was pretty comfortable. With that said, last weekend it started doing some weird stuff again, like not starting or cranking 15-20 seconds before starting up... I'm really over this rn... Hope I'll find the issue some day soon !! I'll be waiting for your feedback on the serious overhaul !!
Have a great one !
Cheers

12th Aug 2022 8:21am

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