fuel solenoid problems !!!

[skiprat]

I have just been for a run out to move some bits for a mate, but my beloved decided to stop running....popped the bonnet, and check the solenoid...no clicking or signs of life.
so i hot wired it to get me home.

Ok, i have been outside all morning/afternoon tinkering.

I have checked the relays and fuses associated with the fuel pump and all seems well.

Out came my little black box to check for current/voltage.....Stuck the + pokey thing into the supply wire to the solenoid found a good earth, flicked the igntion on and hey presto it showed signs of power.so i touched the feed wire against the solenoid and Nothoing  

Checked to see if the hot wire had the same level of feed and hooked it up and the bloody thing worked!!!

now surely if im getting power to the feed wire it should go, or at least click ???

Could it be the solenoid, even though it works fine with a direct feed from the battery?....are they sensative to low voltage...i.e maybe the voltage from the feed is to low to opperate it, where as the direct feed gives it a damn good kick???

your thoughts a appreiciated...


Cheers

Kris

[SteveGoodz]

What they are susceptible too is a dodgy connection on the feed wire. My previous Tdi used to cut out unexpectedly ~ normally at high speed in the outside lane on the Autobahn  :shock:  ~ and that was the problem.

Your direct feed works because if has a nice clean contact area but the proper one is full of crud.

Gotta be worth a look  :)

[beast5680]

you may find the feed wire has broken down, its giving you 12 volts but as soon as you need to draw current thru it it wont pass the current,i,ll bet if you probe the wire when its connected the voltage will have dropped off,may be worth running a replacement wire to where the original connects to,it may be there is a bad connection further up the line somewhere

[lurch_917]

i had this problem the aa said it was my fuel pump so 3 pumps later found that the conection on the solinoid was crap put a new end on and hey presto jobs a goodun

[skiprat]

this is driving me up the wall........i have power to the solenoid feed wire. but as soon as i touch it against the solenoid i loose the power??? i have looked at the haynes manual to locate the relay and checked the one it shows for the fuel pump, and ive looked at any other i could see and they all seem ok.

can anybody tell me which relay i need to be looking at so i can run a new feed as im pretty sure the fault is in the wire. but the problem for me is that the feed wire at the solenoid end is black, yet the only black wires on any of the relays i have looked at all seem to be earth wires???

cheers

kris

[Sharpshooter]

I had thison my 110. It was the ignition switch breaking up. :)

[forkarm]

Hiya skiprat, i have had this problem on a few 300tdi's.  On the one's i had trouble with it always turned out to be the alarm unit that is hidden in the dash.This unit is called the alarm spider and controls the fuel pump and the starter motor.These spider units are a common failure and Land Rover can supply a bypass plug that simply plugs into the wiring harness and cures the fault.To get to the spider you have to remove the centre of the dash(radio,cup holder,heater panel,etc)and you will find the black box secured with 2 screws.Once you find it just unplug it and plug in the bypass plug and job done.You could open up the spider and re-solder any dry joints you can see but the bypass plug  is what i use.
hope this helps.
 Paul

[forkarm]

I thought i better tell you the part number as most dealers will not know wtat you are talking about.
Just ask for AMR 4956.I think they cost about a fiver but well worth it.
Good luck.
Paul