Fuel filter change.
Here’s a step by step guide to changing the fuel filter on a Td5 Defender
(the process is the same on a Discovery also I believe). The photos aren’t mine
as I never thought to take any.
The filter on the Defender
is located in the off side rear wheel
arch in front of the rear wheel. It
is protected by a metal shield (see pic on the left) which is held in place by
one fastener and three locating pins. This will need to be removed first.
(the process is the same on a Discovery also I believe). The photos aren’t mine
as I never thought to take any.
The filter on the Defender
is located in the off side rear wheel
arch in front of the rear wheel. It
is protected by a metal shield (see pic on the left) which is held in place by
one fastener and three locating pins. This will need to be removed first.
Filter
With the shield removed you can get to the filter itself.
If your vehicle has a water warning light to tell you that there is water that
needs emptying from the filter then the sensor will need to be disconnected
first at the grey plug. If you try removing the filter with it still connected then you will
break the small wires. Disconnecting the sensor (pictured below) can be a real
PITA with all the accumulated road grim, mud etc sticking the plugs together.
Large amounts of brake cleaner and swearing should see them eventually come
apart.
If your vehicle has a water warning light to tell you that there is water that
needs emptying from the filter then the sensor will need to be disconnected
first at the grey plug. If you try removing the filter with it still connected then you will
break the small wires. Disconnecting the sensor (pictured below) can be a real
PITA with all the accumulated road grim, mud etc sticking the plugs together.
Large amounts of brake cleaner and swearing should see them eventually come
apart.
Water sensor.
Next, empty the filter. This is done by turning the drain tap.
It’s a good idea to have something covering the floor as diesel will continue to leak from the pipe when the filter is removed, hitting the rear trailingarm and splashing everywhere (ask me how I know).
With the filter removed, remove the water sensor from the old filter (if fitted), unscrew the drain tap from the new filter and replace it with the sensor (which also contains a drain tap). Before fitting the new filter, fill it with fresh diesel as this will cut down the amount of time needed to bleed the system. Add a little engine oil to the rubber seals on top of the new filter and screw in to place. Reconnect the water sensor.
Bleeding the system.
Unlike the Tdi engines which will bleed themselves, you will need to bleed the Td5. This is done electronically though so it’s no biggie. First, turn the ignition key to position II so the warning lights come on and press the accelerator 5 times before the engine management light goes out. This puts the engine in to purge mode and the system will start to bleed itself. This can take quite a few minutes and you will hear the pump go through quite a few cycles. The engine
management light will flash and continue to flash until all the air is expelled from the system. When the engine management light goes out, turn the key and it should burst into life.
If you turn the engine off before going on a test drive you may find the pump sounds different, like it’s still purging. This is normal and after a test run the pump should sound back to normal.
One final tip, any towels etc, you may have used to mop up spilt diesel and decided to wash before the other half gets home to hide the evidence, don’t forget to remove them from the washing machine before you go to work or the games over (ask me how I know that too).
With the filter removed, remove the water sensor from the old filter (if fitted), unscrew the drain tap from the new filter and replace it with the sensor (which also contains a drain tap). Before fitting the new filter, fill it with fresh diesel as this will cut down the amount of time needed to bleed the system. Add a little engine oil to the rubber seals on top of the new filter and screw in to place. Reconnect the water sensor.
Bleeding the system.
Unlike the Tdi engines which will bleed themselves, you will need to bleed the Td5. This is done electronically though so it’s no biggie. First, turn the ignition key to position II so the warning lights come on and press the accelerator 5 times before the engine management light goes out. This puts the engine in to purge mode and the system will start to bleed itself. This can take quite a few minutes and you will hear the pump go through quite a few cycles. The engine
management light will flash and continue to flash until all the air is expelled from the system. When the engine management light goes out, turn the key and it should burst into life.
If you turn the engine off before going on a test drive you may find the pump sounds different, like it’s still purging. This is normal and after a test run the pump should sound back to normal.
One final tip, any towels etc, you may have used to mop up spilt diesel and decided to wash before the other half gets home to hide the evidence, don’t forget to remove them from the washing machine before you go to work or the games over (ask me how I know that too).
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