Starting / non-starting 300tdi. What is going on!? Part 1 

Mike looks younger with that haircut 🫣

Mike, something to ask is whether the owner has filled that tank up between it not starting and when you got to see it. If he has, then there is a possibility that he has a very common problem with the pickup tubes for these. It will look like the low-pressure lift-pump is broken (and it sounds like that is your particular diagnosis here) but the main thing is that the engine will suffer from fuel starvation at anywhere below 1/2-full tank. The problem area is the joint where the metal pickup pipe inside the tank meets the plastic flange of the tank-unit, and onwards to the plastic stub-pipe. Everytime the fuel level drops below this joint-line, the engine draws air into the joint (as it's under depression) and eventually stalls the engine out. It will manifest itself mostly as starting, because the filter and lift-pump are least able to purge the air back to the tank at cranking-speed. The fix is to remove the pickup assembly (with the gauge float/sender), either replace it with an OEM part, or use a cheap one new one and glue the pickup into the flange with a good epoxy.

My first guess would have been the leak off pipes and then the lift pump.

If the lift pump is working they will push fuel through a filter nearly completely choked with fats and wax from dodgy home made biodiesel. It's either a blocked fuel pick up/line or a weak lift pump as you suspect Mike.

I think you need to replace the giggling pin on the vinegar bell.

I just started my 300tdi first try three days ago after it sat for 9 months without running. No better feeling!

The first thing I thought of was that is either water in the fuel, or that there’s all kinds of all gelled up gunked up diesel that’s clogging up the line and the injectors. Living in such a humid environment I have to make sure I drain my water separator very diligently and regularly or I have the same problem.

Sometimes air in the fuel can cause an intermittent no start, common leakage points are transitions from flexible to solid lines in them suction side. Based on experience in general, not Land Rover specific.

Good on yer for having a go!

He shouldn't be driving it if he can't be bothered doing his daily/weekly checks such as the basics oil & water , never mind lack of basic services. Great vid by the way !

Had a similar problem before. Once a loose fitting on the lift pump, and once a small crack in the hose behind the lift pump. Every time the car was parked with the engine up, the diesel drained back in the tank. Also tested the lift pump, replaced it, but there was just nothing in the line left.When the car was standing flat or nose down no problem. Was also starting immediately after you parked it with the nose up, because it took some time for the diesel to drain back.Stil don't know why the diesel in the filter was not enough.

Thanks for the video....Your wool looks better these days than it did in covid times lol.

Marine boats get a diesel bug goes all gooee

Worth a shot to see if fuel solonoid wire/connector loose, intermittent

Check wire on solenoid is tight on its terminal. But yeah it does sound like starvation

Thumbs up mate.

Check the fuel tank pick up.

My 1995 300tdi 110 had a weird fuel-starvation issue. It ran fine around town but at higher speeds for longer runs it would die. After much investigation, I determined the white plastic "sock" filter in the tank was plugged by debris - mostly some sort of fungus goo. That would let some fuel pass, but not enough to keep up at higher RPMs or loads for long. Major PITA to drop the tank (myself in the middle of nowhere) full of diesel and clean off the filter. I later had the tank dropped, cleaned and given an anti-rust coating. Symptoms were dying engine at high loads/speeds. Short term fix was to bleed the fuel line at the filter and then reprime with the lift pump lever - good for maybe another 15km...

The car knows its now beat with you at it MIke, it just gave in and started, even with a knackered pump lol

Maybe same problem mine had, dodgy ignition switch, sometimes she'd fire, others not.