TD5 engine struggling while accelerating after engine wash

Dear forum members, I hope it's acceptable that I come here and post a description of my situation and hope to get some direction or advice.

I had my car engine washed yesterday from underneath, also the whole truck from underneath. The reason being I had so much oil everywhere that they won't let me pass MOT, also my mechanic said that I should get the engine cleaned before replacing some gaskets.

Today I had a long highway drive and felt a light burning smell a couple of times. After switching the engine off, I heard a really unpleasant whining noise from the right rear part of the truck. It went away after about 15 seconds from turning the engine off. In the evening I again heard that whining noise, while driving home, but on the way it disappeared. All seemed good. Then later I drove for about 20 minutes, in the beginning all was great - no noise, but the engine seemed to work with more vibration/side to side rocking. In traffic all was OK, but then I noticed that the car won't accelerate over 35 kmh. So first and second gear were OK, but after that the car would really need persuasion to pick up speed even a little bit. I would reach 40-50 kmh and keep it, but my heart was bleeding over the vibration of the engine.. The acceleration from 40 to 50 would take about a minute or more.

I got home and decided to put the battery to charge, just in case. The reasoning was that as my alternator belt needs replacing and the engine wash could have hit the alternator, although I specifically asked them to cover it up and they promised, I thought maybe the battery was low and couldn't drive the fuel pump / injectors.. On the other hand the car would start without a pause.. just fine..

Can anyone of You suggest something from there experience? Should I go to a diagnostics shop? I try to avoid the dealer and the independent LR guys here, as they make a huge deal out of anything - long waiting lists and unsubstantiated prices (imho).

I watched several videos on youtube about this and googled for forum threads, but my problem is quite specific, because the whining noise of the pump (presumably) disappeared, only then the vibration and lack of power appeared.

Thanks to all who reads this

Hi,

To me this sounds like your pump has just died.

If you turn the ignition on an you hear the pump running?
try disconnecting the fuel line at the FPR and see how much diesel flows out. If you can measure the pressure at it.

Cheers

Thanks, Neilly, will do that in the morning..

Stock_90_TD5_SW said:

Thanks, Neilly, will do that in the morning..

Click to expand...

Worthwhile downloading the RAVE workshop manual,

Cheers

Neilly, thanks again! I checked the pump in the morning.. how stupid of me.. I was so happy not to hear the whining, that didn't notice that there was no pump sound at all. Today I double-checked and with the battery fully loaded, there was no sound

It is 99% likely whay You said: the pump is dead; although before doing that I will check the fuses and relays with my mechanic to be 100% sure. I had already an appointment with my mechanic to replace the cover gasket, the oil pump sprocket bolt and the lower gasket, also the front round gasket, which all leak.

My question is: how was that possible that I could drive around yesterday without the fuel pump working? Was it inertia, like some fuel already being in the system and pulling itself further? Is that bad for the engine to drive with the fuel pump not working? Can I drive to the mechanic or do I have to take it on a trailer?

Thanks again for all help

After reading lots of forum posts (especially on Disco td5 fuel pump issues) I now knowthat it's pretty common to have the truck running at 25-50% power with the pump gone.

The only question forme now isifthis is electrical (fuse/relay) or pump itself. This we will find out next week. Most likely it is the pump and a super hard job of exctracting the tank is on its way. I've got a pretty rusty area under the truck and the bolts are most likely to be cut off :|