Defender TD5 fuel problem

essexpete

Member
Location
Essex
Hi
Son is using an 03 reg TD5 and has had fuel problems. This also happened before the cold weather as well.
It will cut out or will not pull. They bleed it through and then it will go again but it is unreliable.
The fuel pump mounted down near the rear (LWB if that makes any difference) is very noisy.
One garage suggested a new pump and another said don't change. Also are some of the aftermarket pumps OK?

Thanks
Peter
 

Stock

Member
In the tank the pump lives and on a defender it a pita to change, simpler to cut a hole in the floor and remove it.There is also a filter on the pump inlet which cruds up a causing excessive wear on the pump (pump gets louder ).
there are aftermarket pumps available but get yourself a VDO one the were the original fitment. I recently spoke to my supplier and they told me that they would no longer stock anything else as most didn't make the warranty limit........................
 

Joe

Member
Location
Carlow Ireland
Hi
Son is using an 03 reg TD5 and has had fuel problems. This also happened before the cold weather as well.
It will cut out or will not pull. They bleed it through and then it will go again but it is unreliable.
The fuel pump mounted down near the rear (LWB if that makes any difference) is very noisy.
One garage suggested a new pump and another said don't change. Also are some of the aftermarket pumps OK?

Thanks
Peter

Any noise from the pump, normally will hear a sound like air being forced out when pump is on its way out. Otherwise I'd agree with @JWL be more inclined look at the injectors.
One thing I ve learned with TD5 while can breakdown its easy enough diagnose the problems...
 

John100

Member
It'l be the filter inside the cylinder head possibly,the fuel regulator housing has to come off, then theres an tiny o ring and a pencil filter behind that
 

essexpete

Member
Location
Essex
Bloody 'ell there are several things it could be then. The annoying thing is it was looked at and serviced by an independant who specialises but they obviously did not get to the bottom of it.
 

roscoe erf

Member
Livestock Farmer
its just a filter housing at the the rear chassis these do corrode and go porous and let in air can snap off when changing filter also check that if they changed the filter they didn't leave the old o ring on and refit a new filter so there is two o rings iyswim seen this done a few times the pump also gets noisy if this filter is blocked
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
All above advice is good. Injector seals in my experience cause bad starting in the main but will also allow Black crud in the fuel to the return which then naffs up the pump. Buy original copper seals as the cheapies aren’t always quite up to spec and not worth the hassle. Double washers under the filter is a definite easy check. New pump is certainly a cut a hole in the floor job.

Very unlikely the injectors themselves are giving trouble.
 
Last edited:
The symptoms sound just like i had a few years ago. Mine was the injector seals failing, but not so badly and it would only manifest itself as sometimes not starting instantly, and reducing its power down and down until cutting when fuel demand was highest.
Firstly, when it is playing up, if you turn on the ignition (but don't start the engine), then press the throttle to the floor and back four or five times, it starts the fuel system purge cycle. This means the pump will run on and off for five minutes. You may be able to hear the pump whine louder on and off as air goes through it. If it settles down to running more quietly as the cycle nears completion it means there is air getting into the system. Most likely through the injector seals, though as @roscoe erf suggests, it could be at the filter, or one of the hose joints on the suction side between the filter and the intank pump.
The injector washers are very easy to do, cost little, and can be done within a couple of hours.
 
Last edited:

Nearly

Member
Location
North of York
All of the above and I'll also throw a couple more into the mix.

Foot throttle potentiometer multi-plug.
The heads have been known to crack down the side of the injector and fill the sump with diesel.

But the ones already mentioned are the most likely.
Pump and filter.
Good luck.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.8%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,290
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top