Hi guys, I'm having problems starting my FL2. Ive removed inlet manifold to remove swirl flaps and glowplugs and all done. I also replaced fuel filter and used priming pump and pumped till fuel was coming out. I started the car and all was good, started first time!

I turned it off and had a look around engine bay for leaks and I found a leak on injector 3 somewhere. I think it's from the leak off pipe as I had moved it around to get inlet off!

I removed the 6mm long Allen bolt for the clamp that holds the injector for better visual access. I started the car again so I could see where the leak was coming from better. When I cranked the engine I noticed a mist of diesel sprayed up and I turned it off and realised the 6mm bolt actually is used as a plug into the cylinder!

I put everything back and now I can't get it to start! 😟 The primer pump is still plumbed in and it's hard so I know the filter is full and sorted. Anyone got any ideas? Air must have got into where the 6mm bolt goes into and has hindered it somehow!?

Thanks 🙂

wow started up with out injector clamped. You were lucky you didn't end up wearing it !
Fuel pressure may of dropped and triggered a fault. If fuel pressure is either 50bar above or below threshold the ECU automatically switched injectors of to safeguard engine from damage.
May need to have a fault code read and clear
It could just be air but who knows without seeing it , its difficult.
Did you use a genuine filter or pattern part ?
Most of the daily problems i see these days with diesel cars is patterned fuel filter. ( Can end up costing hundreds )
there will also be a keyboard warrior along in a moment to say they have never had a problem with aftermarket filters!
genuine only all the way I say Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

Oh no thats not what I wanted to hear! I probably ran it for about 10 seconds before I realised the leak. I had no idea the clamp bolt was so vital I presumed it was just a clamp to hold them in! Live and learn I suppose.

The fuel filter is a good quality aftermarket part but I see your point and might get a genuine anyway to try. I did get a HDC fault but then my battery went dead after trying it so many times so I presumed it was the low battery throwing up a fault message.

I plugged a basic reader into the OBD and it has no faults 🤔

Powerful Uk has a video on how to air bleed the injectors.

"The fuel filter is a good quality aftermarket part"

Its not until you cut them open and see the difference, even to the point of unrolling paper elements and finding the genuine ones soooo much longer.
Aftermarket often don't have bypass valves fitted to cope with different viscosity of derv depending on temperature and the quality of the fittings often allow air in where you don't want it !
Don't go cracking off injector pipes to bleed the system either especially when its running. The little secret most don't know is that later type injectors are closed by 10bar fuel rail return pressure and this will help close the injector so if you crack a pipe whilst running to bleed you run the risk of an injector staying open and hydraulically damaging a con-rod!
A little knowledge with later diesel systems is seriously dangerous.
You only get what you pay for ! Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

Use a brake bleed kit on the return line to the fuel filter to draw the fuel all the way through the system, particularly if you suspect there is air in the system.