Diesel lift pump Defender 200tdi

[mart010]

Hello,

I think the lift pump is not functioning properly on the Defender 200tdi engine. No diesel is sucked up from the tank by the lift pump. I ordered a new one, but that didn't work either. Chance that I ordered the wrong version? I ordered parts number STC1190.

What I tested is the following.

- engine running with old pump, no diesel was pumped up
- new lift pump installed, no difference
- with a new lift pump, checked whether there is suction on the line that runs to the lift pump. I feel nothing.
- looked at whether a spacer should be put in between, but it doesn't seem like it. On the block you will see a metal one installed.

What can it be?

[reb78]

I gave up with mechanical lift pumps and fitted an electric one. No problems since 2015...

[Peaklander]

Does it work using the lever? I’ve hardly ever needed to use it but I think the lever is pushed down to operate. You may need to turn the engine over slightly, to move the operating cam lobe off the pump.

[mart010]

The lever has zero to none suction. When I detach the lift pump and try the lever I can feel some suction. But it’s not strong.

[mart010]

4 hours ago, reb78 said:

I gave up with mechanical lift pumps and fitted an electric one. No problems since 2015...

Can you point me in the right direction? What electric pump can I use?

[reb78]

52 minutes ago, mart010 said:

Can you point me in the right direction? What electric pump can I use?

Sure. This was what I did:

 

[reb78]

My choice of pump may be overkill but it all works. 

[jeremy996]

The mechanical lift pumps are never impressive performers even when working. When the pump is off the engine, if the pump will give suction when the lever is operated, the pump is probably OK. 

Are you confident that the pipework to the tank is clear? If there is a blockage, the lift pump will not overcome it. Are the filters OK for the same reason? 

As the quality of lift pumps is not great, the electric solution may be the better one long term.

[ped]

first thing i would check is that fuel can be sucked out of the tank and that th pipe isn't crushed or the pick up isn't damaged

[Sigi_H]

I once found a rag in my tank that someone must have used as a replacement filler cap. It clogged the suction line 😃

[western]

To get the priming lever to work the arm on inside must be off the camshaft lobe. 

[mart010]

Thanks for the repies! I’ve checked all the pipes and filters. They’re not blocked. I used a brake suction device to fill all the lines and filters with diesel. That helped a lot to get the lift pump up and running. Fingers crossed.

[Jocklandjohn]

Although for 300Tdi you might find this video instructive (I did!) - there's a couple of parts to it:

 

 

[Mo Murphy]

I too went electric like Rich, much better 👍

Mo

[Daan]

Interesting video. I had a lift pump fail, as in stopped pumping, which shows as the engine needing several turns before it starts. I believe one of the valves in the pump failed. The engine still ran, as the high-pressure injection pump is self-priming. I don't see an electric pump being more reliable personally, as it is always electrics that let you down in my experience.

[reb78]

3 hours ago, Daan said:

Interesting video. I had a lift pump fail, as in stopped pumping, which shows as the engine needing several turns before it starts. I believe one of the valves in the pump failed. The engine still ran, as the high-pressure injection pump is self-priming. I don't see an electric pump being more reliable personally, as it is always electrics that let you down in my experience.

I was changing lift pumps every 6-12 months. They were Delphi or Genuine. Some failed due to the diapragm splitting - thats a non running vehicle as diesel is peeing out down the engine block amd not getting to the FIP. I run a lot on SVO at 100% which possibly didnt help the diaphragm. Since fitting the electric one in 2015 I havent touched it. I wouldnt call that less reliable. 

[Snagger]

I suspect a lot of lift pumps fail because they need the spacer between them and the block side plate.  Missing that spacer would result in excessive throw of the lever and over stress of the diaphragm or lever pivot.  There doesn’t appear to be much information available on which pumps need the spacer and which don’t, hence it being so commonly omitted.

[Sigi_H]

I've been told, the difference is in the engine blocks. There are blocks with a higher mounting position, needing no spacer. No idea if it is right

 

[Snagger]

Could be.  Might also be a 200vs300 thing, or even a Tdivs12j/19j issue, as they are all similar and will bolt up the same.  This is the problem - nobody seems to know which engine should have which pump and how to tell them apart.  Part numbers should do the job, but the suppliers seem to be making the same spec for all applications.