P38A Lift pump? relay? solenoid? Help!

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plumbfisher

plumbfisher

Active Member
Posts
523
Location
Berwickshire
Evenin' all,
Advice needed please... 2.5 DT
I suspected that the lift pump had given up the ghost. It was a bit difficult to start after sitting for a week (which is rare). Seemed to be all the symptoms. I changed the relay, disconnected the pipe at the outlet side of filter and tried it. Fuel coming through fine. Started up easy, as usual. Then after a run and sitting for half an hour - bother again, needed to let it turn on the starter quite a bit. Since then its been intermittent. After trying it I can sometimes hear the pump whirring. When it cuts out try again and it starts. I've cleaned the relay contacts and changed the relay (it was a bit warm). Starter motor is fine. Is there a NRV in the filter housing that might be sticking? (why does the fuel run back into the tank? If there was always fuel in the pipe then the injector pump would take over wouldn't it?)
What about the solenoid that comes on with the starter - could that be iffy?
thanks
 
Check your injector bleed off pipes it sounds they are letting air in which will let the fuel drain back to tank, if you replace it dont go for cheep stuff or you will be doing it again.
 
Thanks - I'll have a look tomorrow (I'm not going out again - I got snowed on earlier!) I did replace them a couple of years ago. Pipe I got from a place I was doing a job. It was a cheapish sort of a place right enough!
 
Yup - clear pip already fotted :) - and there were bubbles. Is this a sign that air is being drawn back in via spill off pips?
(but why no NVR at the filter?)
 
Air bubbles is a good sign the pipes are gone, I changed mine about three times they kept splitting at the ends, in the end I put small cable ties on the ends and been ok for a about four years now.
 
Everything tickety boo! Got some 3mm silicone vacuum pipe (as previously recommended by Wammers).
In between hail, snow and howling winds (we've had a lot of weather here today:eek:) replaced them all.
Much churning of starter to get the pipes full again and since then 'on the button' - starting easier than it has done for months...
Thanks once again LZ! :)


Grrrrrr said:
Older pumps had one built in at the tank end.
Click to expand...
I wonder why they stopped putting one in? (mine's 2001)
 
plumbfisher said:
Everything tickety boo! Got some 3mm silicone vacuum pipe (as previously recommended by Wammers).
In between hail, snow and howling winds (we've had a lot of weather here today:eek:) replaced them all.
Much churning of starter to get the pipes full again and since then 'on the button' - starting easier than it has done for months...
Thanks once again LZ! :)



I wonder why they stopped putting one in? (mine's 2001)
Click to expand...

Silicone? Very flash.

Think they stopped putting in in because of a) cost and b) your pumps while cranking while mine doesn't. So unless you have a leak you're unlikely to need it.
 
plumbfisher said:
Everything tickety boo! Got some 3mm silicone vacuum pipe (as previously recommended by Wammers).
In between hail, snow and howling winds (we've had a lot of weather here today:eek:) replaced them all.
Much churning of starter to get the pipes full again and since then 'on the button' - starting easier than it has done for months...
Thanks once again LZ! :)



I wonder why they stopped putting one in? (mine's 2001)
Click to expand...

Use of silicone advice has been rescinded modern diesel will make it swell. Better with proper spill pipe. Never has been an NRV fitted as standard before fuel filter.
 
Last edited:
wammers said:
Use of silicone advice has been rescinded modern diesel will make is swell. Better with proper spill pipe.
Click to expand...
and there was me, hanging on your every word! :p

Grrrrrr said:
Silicone? Very flash.
Click to expand...
it seems too flash for my own good (I've been told that before!) ;)

Back out in the weather tmoz for me then :(
Ah well at least it'll start when I go to get some proper pipe...
 
I used silicone as spill pipe on a couple of machines that use red diesel. So when i did the spills on the P38 a few years ago i also used silicone on that. After a few months it swelled and a smell of diesel could be detected. Changed for proper spill pipe and smell went away. Silicone spill pipe on the old dumper is still as good as new after several years use. Can only think it is chemicals being added to road diesel. ;);)
 
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