I am working on a 98 Disco 1 that I plan on buying to replace my current one, if I can get it running. The problem is, is that it isn't building fuel pressure. It has a new fuel pump that you can hear running, while the pump is running fuel will spew out of the schrader valve on the rail but whenever it shuts off nothing comes out. On my current one fuel will shoot out after the pump stops. I am leaning towards the pressure regulator on the back of the rail allowing fuel to return to the tank but I didn't have any tools with me today. On Monday I plan on swapping fuel rails off of my current one to the one I am woking on. But, before I did that I wanted to see if anyone has had this problem before and could give me some insight before I start tearing things apart.

 

I believe there is a pressure check valve in the pump that is responsible for maintaining pressure in the rail with the pump off. The regulator is only going to control and regulate pressure going in to the fuel rail

If you aren't building pressure, it is probably the pump even though it is "new"

 

as a quick check on the regulator....you can pinch off the vac hose that goes to it......that should let the pressure build up....

 

My initial plan was to pinch off the return line before I pulled the rail. As well as throw a fuel pressure gauge on it. (If any of ya'll live in DFW I would suggest going to British Auto Specialists for anything going on with your rovers. They can fix it all, Jeff wont BS you) If it doesn't build any pressure I am going to throw my fuel pump at it. If that doesn't work Its gotta be the regulator. There isn't much more electronics in the fuel system.

 

My plan is to pinch off the return line to see if it will build pressure. If it doesn't I am going to swap fuel pumps. If it still flows fuel I am going to swap the rail. Not much else to it. This isn't an AD but if you live in DFW I would highly suggest British Auto Specialists for any of your weird rover fixes.

 

Update and Fix. I started out with the fuel pump and when I pulled it out of the tank the hose from the pump the the 90 degree elbow had been replaced with a rubber line and had disintegrated. So I replaced it with a new rubber line and it fired right up. However I dont recommend this as a reliable fix. After about 2 days it began to get hard to start so I pulled the pump again and the line had began to disintegrate again. So I just swapped pumps with my old disco which had the original plastic line in it and so far all has been good and my fuel gauge works now which is cool.

 

I had a similar situation when I put a new fuel pump in my 98 to replace an in-line external pump someone had put in the fuel line by the filter. He had run a rubber hose to the bottom of the in-tank unit without a pump. I re-used that rubber line on the new pump and it quickly split so almost no pressure was building up. I put on some good Gates fuel line and it has been good since. I've had the same thing happen on a jeep in-tank pump.