Hello and help !

[waddy]

Hello everyone - I have a 1986 110 Defender and recently it has been playing about. I hope someone can offer some advice?

The problem seems to be when the engine is under load - it is though it is misfiring or being starved of fuel. When it is just sitting idling you can rev it and all is fine, however in 3rd, 4th and 5th when travelling it seems to lose life (doesn't cut out) and then pulls again.

I am at a loss as to what it is?! It's had a bottle of redex though it as i thought it may be blocked injectors but it doesn't seem to have helped.

I am thinking that until grandfather passed away last month, he drove it at 30mph everywhere so the engine may be 'choked up'. It hasn't been above 40mph for 10 years and now wont. It is the n/a engine, not the Tdi.

Could the loss of power under load be a compression loss; injectors; fuel line? so many options

Has anyone come across anything similar in the past?

Any help appreciated,

Mark.

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by waddy

it is though it is misfiring or being starved of fuel.
.

That is most likely exactly what the problem is. I'm guessing you have a 2.5 NA. Have you replaced the fuel filters and cleaned the water seperator. Also, check your lines for possible loose unions. It may be that air is being drawn in and injector pumps won't pull air vacuum, only fuel.

[jozg44]

Originally Posted by TerryS

That is most likely exactly what the problem is. I'm guessing you have a 2.5 NA. Have you replaced the fuel filters and cleaned the water seperator. Also, check your lines for possible loose unions. It may be that air is being drawn in and injector pumps won't pull air vacuum, only fuel.

I'd agree with all of that- I'd just add that if none of that works, the fuel lift pump (bolted to the lower right hand side of the engine [that's right as viewed from the driving seat]) might be worn or broken, thus starving the engine of fuel at high loads/speeds. If the vehicle has only been pottering around at 30 mph for years then this problem may not have surfaced before.

Jack

[waddy]

Cheers guys - I'll have a poke around in the workshop tonight if I get half a chance. Lift pump is a good call.

Are there any visual signs that it might be knackered?

[jozg44]

Originally Posted by waddy

Cheers guys - I'll have a poke around in the workshop tonight if I get half a chance. Lift pump is a good call.

Are there any visual signs that it might be knackered?

Sadly no- all the workings are internal. The only thing I can suggest is that if the priming lever on the side doesn't feel like it's doing anything when moved (i.e.- it's too easy to operate), this might mean that the internal cam is worn or something else has gone wrong- that's what happened on my Series III when the lift pump went.

Jack