How much fuel do you have in the tank? When I had less than a quarter tank it was a b*stard to start, in tank fuel pump was knackered
The original factory pumps, at least the ones prior to 1999, had a fairly strongly sprung NRV in the pump. It is difficult for the injection pump to suck fuel past it if the tank is low. In trying to do this the injection pump sucks air past the O'rings on the filter. Lots of problems. New OEM pumps do not have an NRV in them or at least the VDO supposedly genuine ones don't. So the engine will run happily if the pump fails. Loss of power maybe evident though. Maybe no NRV because after 1999 the lift pump also runs on cranking as opposed to earlier vehicles were the pump only ran with glows or when engine was running. So if you fit a new lift pump without an NRV to a pre 1999 vehicle it maybe worth considering fitting a primer bulb just before the filter. Handy for priming the system and also acts as a NRV.
