I had noticed that Perentie was not starting as well now, a few extra churns in the morning to get going then all OK for the rest of the day. I put it down to the colder mornings and maybe a battery that was reaching end of life and made a note to check this out.
We had to drop Benita’s Audi TT down to Neil Read Performance in New Milton to have the suspension looked at one morning. Perentie took a bit longer to start but soon got going – I mentally promoted “check the battery” to do later that day. The trip to New Milton was fine but Perentie refused to start after we had dropped the Audi – just turning over and not firing – Hmmmmm – fuel problem maybe?
Neil heard us struggling and came out to help, after a couple of minutes of head scratching he disappeared and came back with a spray can and asked me to crank the engine whilst he disappeared under the bonnet – after some protesting the engine fired up – albeit not exactly purring. Amazing what a dose of brake cleaner can do…………..The engine than cut out again and we repeated the procedure. I went around the block and the engine was well down on power and I could only just prevent stalling when the revs dropped.
We either called the breakdown service (I knew we would need to be towed) or try to make the 5 mile journey home. Executive decision made and off we went, with much revving to prevent stalling and good timing to ensure I did not have to stop or slow down too much as junctions we made it home – very stressful!
After a little more diagnosis and lack of starting, without the brake cleaner, I was sure that this was a fuel issue. I checked all of the pipes, cleaned the sediment filter (for the first time in a while looking at the muck that emerged), peered into the tank to ensure it was clean (it was) and bled the fuel system to a point just after the pump – still nothing – new pump anyone?
The fuel pump is easy to access, but the tag with the part number is unreadable, but I could figure out that it was a Zexel Bosch and some of the part number.
On the trail for part numbers, I started with the Australian Rover Owners Club which is a rich source of information. I soon discovered that this particular fuel pump has a small filter hidden away inside the banjo bolt on the inlet side of the Fuel pump – this must be the problem I thought…………..
I was delighted to see a blocked filter which was sure to be the source of my problem…….this was soon cleaned out and the system, re-bled. Did it start – no chance!
After a few parts searches and calls I concluded that a pump was not available in the UK, but could be ordered from Australia which was not a problem. However, I found a company that, as long as the pump was not completely past it – would re-build it for me. The pump was duly dispatched to Darwen Diesels in Blackburn. Fingers crossed the next post will tell all.
Neil Read Performance in New Milton, Hampshire provided services that you will not get in your average garage, tuning, fabrication – you name it. Great service and an all round great guy. I will be taking the Perentie there to have the addition fuel tank installed, but that is for later.
48 States of Gray 