Poor starting freelander TD4 (again)

Hi all, new to the forum and my first 4x4 purchased a few days back.

I have read through hundreds of threads on the dreaded poor starting td4 engine, white smoke, then when it eventually starts runs fine if a little lumpy.

Well I have experienced this already on my 72000 mile 56 plate Landy.

My question is all those with the problem, what actually cured it? I have read a list of things people have done but then the threads seem to end with no solution.

I am extremely frustrated and on the verge of returning the car. The dealer will no doubt offer to sort it under the 1 month warranty but my question is can it be cured? Is it worth me showing some patience or binning it? I would appreciate your help. One worried new td4 owner. Cheers

I have read through hundreds of threads on the dreaded poor starting td4 engine, white smoke, then when it eventually starts runs fine if a little lumpy.

Well I have experienced this already on my 72000 mile 56 plate Landy.

My question is all those with the problem, what actually cured it?

Click to expand...

be various reasons why a td4 might be hard to start

white smoke, then when it eventually starts runs fine if a little lumpy.

Click to expand...

knackered glow plug system ( pre-heaters )
much cranking - white smoke - lumpy idle then smoothing out when warmed up
be what happens when a diesel is started without the use of glow-plugs
the colder the outside temps the longer it takes
in winter temps it could drain the battery before it started

find out if the glowplugs are working as they should

check the wiring connection ( plug ) to the fuel rail pressure sensor
make sure the pins are clean and making good contact
( although that won't rule out the possibility of a faulty fuel rail pressure sensor )
rain water can get into that sensor wiring plug connection causing pin corrosion
and various engine faults - hard starting being just one

a faulty low pressure pump and/or dirty-passed-it's-change-date fuel filter
might also cause hard starting
although usually causes lack-of-power when demanded as well
as for white smoke as well - not sure regarding that

white smoke is unburnt diesel fuel
so figure out why it might not burn properly

a faulty injector ( or two ) could cause it

water in the fuel could as well
( when was the sedimenter last drained ? )

contaminated fuel could cause it

if the egr valve is still fitted ( ie hasn't been deleted )
i'm guessing that might cause a problem if the valve is sticking
whether it would cause hard-to-start with white smoke i'm not sure
but if you keep the vehicle and only do one modification to it
Trash the egr valve and fit a egr-delete unit
the engine will run better and you'll never have to worry about a faulty egr valve ( one less potential headache

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have a read thru this lot 'n see if anything rings-a-bell

td4 engine faults :
ROVER 75 MGZT ENGINE FAULT FINDING

about the 'maf' sensor :
Maf sensor problems.

As your cheapest option I would say try some ... Fuel Additive | Performance Additive | DIESEL INJECTOR CLEANER

Use as instructed on the label.

If that dont work then things are looking expensive. If you have the option to return the car you might want to take it.

Thanks guys. That's a really interesting link hd3.

Great... Blue smoke coming out tonight when started from cold (not used for 24 hours). White smoke then blue when pressing the accelerator. Hopefully the garage will get it sorted or it's going back.

Well, it appears that injector 3 was problematic. It's now been replaced and the car starts and runs like a dream. Happy days