TD5 Developed a Misfire - Help!

MartinK · Feb 7, 2009

Just done a 140 mile journey. First 100 miles were great, but about 40 miles away (on way home) I noticed a very slight misfire...just a little "pinking" on acceleration. The misfire gradually got worse, and the car was down to 45 mph (1800 revs) ascending some of the hills heading home - very slow... On downhills and flat (i.e less accelerator load) the car was smooth as usual.

The car's now reluctant to start and runs rough.

ECU harness OK (checked for oil & it's dry - I had this done a few months back anyway). No visible oil in the water...or water in the oil. No visible leaks.

Car's well serviced and has had a new fuel filter 7000 miles back. Mileage 146000, 2002 model (I have owned this vehicle from new).

I'm suspecting either (1) fuel pump, or (2) fuel pressure sensor, or (3) an injector.

Any ideas? My local garage isn't open till Monday!

martinhollings · Feb 7, 2009

i guess an injector but i would get it pluged in and find out most garages do it for about £35 and will stop you spending money in the wrong place it could be a fuel leak in a pipe or on the fuel pressure regulator

MartinK · Feb 7, 2009

With a fuel pump at £165, and a fuel pressure regulator at £65... This doesn't look cheap either way! I just hope it's nothing worse (some guy on here with similar symptoms had a cracked head!).

I'll be dropping off the Landy at my local LR Independant 1st thing on Monday, and using wifey's car for work I guess...

CharlesY · Feb 7, 2009

MartinK said:
With a fuel pump at £165, and a fuel pressure regulator at £65... This doesn't look cheap either way! I just hope it's nothing worse (some guy on here with similar symptoms had a cracked head!).

I'll be dropping off the Landy at my local LR Independant 1st thing on Monday, and using wifey's car for work I guess...

Is the fuel pump noisy and making a whining noise?

If so fit a new FUEL FILTER - it's behind the right rear wheel.
Fill the new filter with CLEAN fule before fitting it.
Prime the fuel system in the usual way stomping on the GO pedal trick.
PRAY that was the problem.

Does it start up properly after sitting overnight?

If it takes AGES to start after sitting a while suspect a leaking copper washer under one of the injectors letting gas into the fuel gallery.

Please let us know what the solution turns out to be!

CharlesY

battenberg · Feb 7, 2009

MartinK said:
With a fuel pump at £165, and a fuel pressure regulator at £65... This doesn't look cheap either way! I just hope it's nothing worse (some guy on here with similar symptoms had a cracked head!).

I'll be dropping off the Landy at my local LR Independant 1st thing on Monday, and using wifey's car for work I guess...

replacing a TD5 fuel pump is a very easy job, the hard bit is forking out the £170 quid!

MartinK · Feb 8, 2009

CharlesY, Battenberg

Thanks, I'll be having a dig around in a few minutes. It's only just got above freezing here!

When I moved the car last night, it started 2nd attempt, but was definitely running very weakly, and missing fire. I'm sure it's fuel-starved... Also, I can't hear the fuel pump at all now...I'm sure I can usually hear it "priming" when I turn the key to normal running mode before I actually crank the engine...

MartinK · Feb 8, 2009

Right. Won't start at all now. The fuel pump is not priming at all!

Checked fuse, that's OK. Going to have a dig around and see if I can get to the fuel pump. I think it's under a hatch in the boot floor.... Off for another rummage around, but looks like we've isolated the fault...

MartinK · Feb 8, 2009

Managed to get it started (took a few minutes, cranking the motor and pumping the accelerator, eventually kicked in).

Once started it ran a bit better than yesterday, I only drove ~3 miles to my local mechanic (a good independant Landie guy), and hardly any of it was uphill.

Fortunately one of the mechanics was in the workshop doing a homer.

He had a quick look, and confirmed my suspicion of the fuel pump. I left the car and cycled home (took the bike in the back).

They've got a fuel pump in stock, so I'm hoping to get the car back tomorrow afternoon...

MartinK · Feb 9, 2009

And...Fixed

Just had a call from the garage. They changed the fuel pump, and it's all as good as new.

Cost = 1 fuel pump, and 2 hours labour.

If I had had the time to wait for a spare pump mail order, and fit it myself, I would have (I'm quite happy doing the simpler jobs myself). Also I can't get the car in the garage, and don't fancy doing this outside in the snow! Job appears straightforwards (and pretty-definitely diagnosed), but it was just easier to get it done for me on this occasion.

Great! Thanks for your help guys!

MartinK · Feb 9, 2009

Got the Disco back.

Interesting is that the new fuel pump is a LOT quieter than the old one. Previously there was a whirring noise of an electric motor from the fuel tank - presumably "priming" when you first turn-on the ignition (i.e. while the glow plugs are warming up)...obviously you couldn't hear it with the engine running. Now there's a similar noise but much quieter...

Maybe the old pump's been heading for failure for a while. If you have a noisy fuel pump beware!

ouchie · Feb 14, 2009

MartinK said:
Got the Disco back.

Interesting is that the new fuel pump is a LOT quieter than the old one. Previously there was a whirring noise of an electric motor from the fuel tank - presumably "priming" when you first turn-on the ignition (i.e. while the glow plugs are warming up)...obviously you couldn't hear it with the engine running. Now there's a similar noise but much quieter...

Maybe the old pump's been heading for failure for a while. If you have a noisy fuel pump beware!

thx man heading the same way getting new pump today hope it does the trick

battenberg · Feb 14, 2009

changing the pump is easy.

you'll need just a few tools:
Long nose pliers
+ point screwdriver
Long screwdriver/Chisel
Hammer
Rags

work as cleanly as possible to avoid any contamination in the fuel sytem

Take up the boot carpet and remover the access hatch.
Remove the fuel lines and plug, they are all colour coded.
clean up the area with your rags (and a vaccum?)
put a rag on top of the pump and kneel on it.
use your chisel to knock around the ring that holds the pump in place.
Lift out the old pump, but be carefull it is spring loaded.
the seal will come out with the pump

Clean the seal (or replace) and put this back into place.
offer up the pump, it will sit proud.
put the retaining ring on the pump
put a rag on the pump and kneel on it to compress the springs.
fit the locking ring.
clean the ends, then snap the pipes back into place and the plug

switch ignition on and check for leaks

Prime fuel by switching ignition on and decking the throttle pedal 5 time quickly.
When the engine management light goes off ... your done

Start engine...

TD5 Developed a Misfire - Help!

MartinK

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