We tried what you suggested numerous times, all with the same result, engine starts up then dies again shortly after. Cheers Paul

Paul Chester, April 2009

trouble starting and cutting out.disconnected feed pipe from filter housing(union with bleed nipple)made up fuel pipe with union on and connected to filter housing.put pipe in full fuel can and bled system,primer now hard.started fine and runs fine.fault in tank or fuel line from tank.

ray, March 2011

Here's a big thanks to every one who suggested remedies for my starting problems on my LDV pilot van. Got a mechanic to check fuel lines coming from the fuel tank, he pretty soon identified a perished flexible hose, made the repair and on turning the ignition, the engine fired up and has run fine since. Without suggestions from more knowledgable people than myself, I would probably have been turned into a nervous wreck by now. Cheers all. Paul. P.S the van is a 51 reg vehicle

Paul Chester, April 2009

have a good look at tank unit outlet pipes where fuel pipe fits on [they rust and become porous] -does pump on filter become hard to press after you have bled it-indicating ok, or does it depress [sometimes with a slight leak] indicating faulty?

k, April 2009

Best of luck with it mate - air is being ingested into the system somehow. I don't know the LDV layout, but check out where the pipes enter/exit the fuel tank - usually at the top where they rust like hell.
Cheers!
John

John, April 2009

Cheers John. Give these a try, the fuel lines are, to the best of my knwledge, sound we ended up with diesel all over my drive so I can only presume fuel is being drawn through the system ok. the van had started to run a bit ropey for a while before we changed the filter. It then seemed to give up the ghost and refuse to start altogether. Maybe the primer pump IS faulty and drawing air into the system. Cheers Paul

Paul Chester, April 2009

OK Paul - I just thought that the fuel in the pipe to the tank may have drained back. So, it looks as if the air is being drawn into the system somewhere. With diesel engines, the fuel supply is under negative pressure, so air bleeds in, and fuel doesn't bleed out - get my drift? So, it could be the filter unit being incorrectly assembled, or the primer pump diaphragm has become porous (very common on earlier Fords). Presumably the pipe runs from / to the filter havent been interchanged? Any sign of poor fuel pipe runs from the tank? Try pumping the primer button as a friend cranks the engine.

John, April 2009