Starting issue. Fuel system bleed

Hi all, happy new head
(19j 2.5 NA diesel engine)
So pre Christmas I replaced the diesel return pipe and cleaned the ‘filter’ on the diesel feed pipe that sits in the fuel tank. It started first time after this and ran happily.

This morning it wouldn’t start, cranks nicely but seems no fuel getting to the engine.

Followed the bleed instructions in Haynes and eventually it started, ran fine for 5 mins, turned it off and now it won’t start at all.

The hand fuel bleed pump isn’t pushing out fuel or bubbles from the bleed screw on the filter. I’ve also loosened the fuel pump bleed screw but nothing comes out of that fuel or otherwise.

I’ve loosened the injector unions and the injector nearest the radiator did have fuel come out of it but 2nd and 4th little fuel.

I’m not sure if my hand pump bleed thing is not working or there’s another option?

I removed the return pipe at the tank end and cranked and nothing came out.

Any ideas chaps?

If its like a 200tdi then the cam needs to be on a certain place for the lift pump to work, try rotating the engine.

Anaconda said:

If its like a 200tdi then the cam needs to be on a certain place for the lift pump to work, try rotating the engine.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I read in the Haynes something about the cam but didn’t understand it. There’s more pressure in the lift pump having cranked it but no air / fuel coming out of the bleed screws

I would take the pipe going from the lift pump to the filter housing off the housing and then operate the lift pump to see if fuel get to the housing.
Bare in mind my experience is only with a 200tdi.

Like Anaconda the cam needs to be at right spot or pump will not work.
i also have a 2.5 na have seen this.

Any update, did you get it sorted?

Hi all, sorry its taken a while to thank you and update. Faulty lift pump was the cause in the end, as soon as I swapped it out for a new one air and fuel started coming out of the bleed screw. I've still not got it running for more than 2-3 minutes and ran out of time but there seems to be a lot of air in the system so I'll follow the bleed steps etc as Im back working on it today.
While I was at it I've put a new fuel filter in which was worth it given the old one is just filthy! After all this the system should be much better and cleaner
So new fuel lines, new filter, new pump cant beat creating several jobs from one simple one!

Dirty fuel will kill a lot of parts.
initially I wondered why change a filter that looks good now I just change it.
injectors & fuel pump do not do well with dirty fuel.

There is an air leak somewhere, no amount of bleeding is clearing the bubbles (either from the bleed screw or the clear return pipe from the fuel filter). Soooo my last ditch attempt to fix is the fuel feeder pipe coupling with the fuel pump, It was working fine before but when I reattached it didnt seem a great tight fit in the coupling (its not got a barb tube just into the 'nut' of the connector) - Im off to buy some new compression connectors and olives to hopefully get a tight grip/seal on the join. Failing that Im going to phone a professional for a house visit!!