HELP !!! Fuel Filter changed - TD5 won't start !!

Hi all,

I have a TD5 MY03 Disco. I serviced the car today which was very straight forward until I came to the fuel filter.

The water sensor on the bottom of the filter broke the top 2 threads when tightening, and although it was still tight, I went to LR and purchased a replacement. The replacement appears to have 2 probes instead of the old one which has a philips screw head with a white band beneath, however I was assured that it was the correct part, and an "updated" part number.

I re-fitted the sensor and filter, but the car would not start, initially giving the "water in fuel" fault lamp on the dash.

I tried to get the pressure in the fuel system back up by cycling 30 secs on Ignition II, then 15 secs off for six cycles before cranking.. However the car did not start !

I then tried replacing the old filter and sensor, to no avail.

I then tried to "purge" the fuel system by depressing the throttle 5 times with the ignition on II and allowing it to go through its cycle.. However by this time the battery was all but dead.

The filter makes lots of wooshing and swirling noise, and you can hear fuel in the engine bay.. but whether it is at the correct pressure, I have no idea ?

The car is now sat on the drive, blocking the garage - on charge.

I'm hoping that the car will pressurise and start tomorrow.. But what do I do if it doesn't ??

HELP !!! Please !

turn the ignition on and wait for the fuel pump to stop whining. Deck the throttle pedal 5 times and the fuel pump will start again in purge mode and run for around 3 mins. Repeat this proccess 5-10 times. Then try and start it.

does it take that long to get the pressure back up ??

first time I have serviced it.. I know they run at a very high pressure compared to other engines, but it seems to be a real pain to get it up to pressure ?

Is that normal..

90spec said:

does it take that long to get the pressure back up ??

first time I have serviced it.. I know they run at a very high pressure compared to other engines, but it seems to be a real pain to get it up to pressure ?

Is that normal..

Click to expand...

Chill out. It's normal.

It's noisey cos you are hearing the air that is still in the system. You're not the first person who thought they had done something wrong. It took around 8 goes on my own TD5 when I last changed the fuel filter.

You may have tripped the inertia switch (fuel cut off switch) at the back of the bulkhead while you were getting over enthusiastic with trying to start it. Once you have charged the battery up give it a press just to be on the safe side. If it clicks when you press it it means you had tripped it.

Thanks mate, you have put my mind at rest..

How do I know when its up to the required pressure ? Should it start straight away ?

I hope my accumate can charge the battery overnight !!

btw.. I had tripped the inertia switch, but I already found that !!

90spec said:

Thanks mate, you have put my mind at rest..

How do I know when its up to the required pressure ? Should it start straight away ?

I hope my accumate can charge the battery overnight !!

Click to expand...

If you're lucky the fuel pump will quieten down to tell you it's fully purged. Sometimes this doesn't happen until after you've taken it for a run.

If it doesn't quieten down just make sure that you purge it at least 8 times to be sure it will start.

For future filter changes, fill the new filter up with fuel before fitting it and it will only need purging a couple of times.

90spec said:

btw.. I had tripped the inertia switch, but I already found that !!

Click to expand...

Good guess weren't it?

Hi Folks,

I purged the tank using the ECU 5x throttle presses on Igg II about 8-10 times and the filter finally stopped glugging and swirling. The car then started fine and after a good leg stretch feels fine !!

Think I must have had alot of air trapped in the system. I'll pre-fill the filter next time..

Thanks for all your help (especially Ratty !!)

Alex..

90spec said:

Hi Folks,

I purged the tank using the ECU 5x throttle presses on Igg II about 8-10 times and the filter finally stopped glugging and swirling. The car then started fine and after a good leg stretch feels fine !!

Think I must have had alot of air trapped in the system. I'll pre-fill the filter next time..

Thanks for all your help (especially Ratty !!)

Alex..

Click to expand...

Glad you got it sorted.

thanks for thread, here is what i learnt with help from here

DEFENDER 90 TD5 2005
1. When removing old filter, make sure you don't leave the old rubber washer like I did
2. As a result of leaving the old washer on my new filter didn't lock in and the purge process 5 presses on the throttle process obviously couldn't remove the air - i ran the battery flat cranking the engine for a long time
3. CTEC MXS 5.0 was very good at recharging the battery after cranking too much as a result of bad installation of filter / not an advert, just read up and this also has a motorcycle setting
4. When charging the battery the Day Light Running lights come on as they are directly wired off the battery! The relay detects a current in the circuit and passes currents to the light.
5. Once i had correctly fitted the new filter i reset the Inertia Switch , under the bonnet at the back on the bulkhead
6. Purge mode - press the accelerator 5 times and the engine amber light flashes while it cycles / switch the ignition off and on and repeat
Listen to the filter and the fuel pump. For me the fuel pump whine loudly like a central heating system for a number of purges, finally it calmed down and a flowing sound could be held in the filter. When the purge stops you should here a slight liquid sound sloshing.
7. Take your time and do multiple purges, it takes time, i had obviously filled the system with air, but in the end the process got the air out.
8. The engine took about 10 seconds to start firing a little and then it started properly and has been fine since

My take in this, is that if you have the filter correctly fitted, even without priming it with fuel, if you run enough purges, it shouldn't need a large amount of cranking.