potential death rattle

Went to start this morning. Difficulty starting (first time ever). Did start after a few turns but accompanied by clouds of smoke. Smoke eventually cleared as I revved the engine, then ok. Just moved it to place where I can crawl underneath it to have a poke around, but wondered if these rings any bells for someone.

It is not completely out of the blue. It has felt 'off' over the last few days. Hard to put my finger on it, but almost as if driving with the brake on at times and every so often a whiff of diesel fumes in the cab.

But nothing dripping out from underneath.

I can check the hoses first, but if there is nothing wrong there having a pointer on where to look next would be useful. TIA.

First of all, check tyre pressures.

That is a serious suggestion. It may not be your starting issue, but could be you biggest one.

Presume its a TD4?

GrumpyGel said:

That is a serious suggestion. It may not be your starting issue, but could be you biggest one.

Presume its a TD4?

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Yes TD4. Ha, well one of the tyres does have a slow leak. Will do. Just started it up again and its running sweet as a nut with no smoke.

Other thing is, I did chuck some injector cleaner in the tank a couple of days ago when I filled up, and ramped it a bit in fourth on a return journey yesterday. I wonder whether it was some crap clearing out of the system.

I just poked around underneath and it all seems ok (not tempting the gods, just saying).

Could just be glow plugs I suppose, given it started ok second time. If it was starter motor it wouldn't have fired up on single turn second time, would it?

Why tyre pressure out of interest?

One thing I have found is that starter motors either work or they don't.

The battery on the other hand can give a fast or slow turn over and a slow turn over may give different levels of starting ability/sluggishness.

If it takes a few turn overs, this can overfill the cylinders and create a lot of smoke on start up. This is experience from my DI L Series, CR may be different depending on whether its opening the injectors are not.

Going by what I've seen on here, you may have some fuel leaking down into the cylinders when the vehicle is not in use. This has the ability to literally melt the cylinders away. I presume injector cleaner helps reduce this. Others may have more advice or tell me I'm being a feck-wit suggesting it.

Priority 1 - get a replacement tyre - you will feck up the IRD if you use a tyre with a slow leak. = expensive repair or vehicle write off.

MGT said:

Why tyre pressure out of interest?

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https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-1-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

The AWD system on Freelander relies on all 4 wheels/tyres being basically the same diameter. It works on the basis that if they are not all turning at the same speed, then 1 or more is slipping and it (in effect) 'locks' the transmission. Once traction is regained (ie all 4 wheels turning at same speed), then it 'unlocks' the transmission.

If you have a puncture, then that wheel in effect has a different diameter and rotates faster than the other wheels - the transmission thinks its slipping and locks the transmission. This creates wind-up in the transmission which will (quite quickly) blow the weakest point in the system - usually the rear PTO on the IRD.

Please do not ask how I know this

If it feels like the brakes are on when you are driving, this is classic wind-up.

For you to notice it in general driving, it is very serious.

Right, that's what I needed to hear. I've been playing a bit fast and loose with the tyres out of tightness. I will sort it, thanks.

MGT said:

Could just be glow plugs I suppose, given it started ok second time. If it was starter motor it wouldn't have fired up on single turn second time, would it?

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Unlikely at this time of year, unless you live near the North or south poles.
The glow plugs are only used for starting if the engine temperature is below 5°C, and even then it's up to the EDC if they're needed or not.

MGT said:

Right, that's what I needed to hear. I've been playing a bit fast and loose with the tyres out of tightness. I will sort it, thanks.

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No probs - and please don't think it was criticism, it wasn't. I've been exactly where you are.

MGT said:

Right, that's what I needed to hear. I've been playing a bit fast and loose with the tyres out of tightness. I will sort it, thanks.

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Am I being dim, as I don't understand the relevance of the thread title.

Nodge68 said:

Unlikely at this time of year, unless you live near the North or south poles.
The glow plugs are only used for starting if the engine temperature is below 5°C, and even then it's up to the EDC if they're needed or not.

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I'm only at -43.5 Lat, and it has been -5°C in the mornings during the last week. Mind you, there's an awful lot of Southern Ocean and very little else between here and the South Pole

GrumpyGel said:

I'm only at -43.5 Lat, and it has been -5°C in the mornings during the last week. Mind you, there's an awful lot of Southern Ocean and very little else between here and the South Pole

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To be fair it is your winter. Here it's summer, so glow plugs most definitely aren't used for starting.

Nodge68 said:

Am I being dim, as I don't understand the relevance of the thread title.

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No, you're not being dim, it was me over reacting.

Anyway, just taken it for a brief spin and is humming along.

I'm pretty sure now it was a clogged injector. I could be wrong, but I think it would explain why there was a smell of diesel when stop starting in heavy traffic and why it was threatening occasionally to stall when at idle. It might also explain why it felt a bit **** when driving generally. I now that's hardly a descriptive term but I don't know how you would describe the sensation of it not being quite right. It was also tending toward being a bit thirsty. But since the clouds of blue smoke it seems to be back to normal.

Its a reminder to either use premium diesel or bung some additives through on a fairly regular basis I think. Daft thing is I balked at paying £1.36 for premium diesel less than 18 months ago. My how times change.

MGT said:

I'm pretty sure now it was a clogged injector. I could be wrong, but I think it would explain why there was a smell of diesel when stop starting in heavy traffic and why it was threatening occasionally to stall when at idle.

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In my experience, it's best to use an injector cleaner before a good hard run of some duration, maybe a couple of hours or 100 plus miles.
This ensures that any dislodged debris is cleared though while the injectors are working hard.
Using cleaners on short trips can leave dislodged muck in the injector pintle, which can allow it to drain down overnight, causing a misfire and white smoke on the next cold start.

Nodge68 said:

In my experience, it's best to use an injector cleaner before a good hard run of some duration, maybe a couple of hours or 100 plus miles.
This ensures that any dislodged debris is cleared though while the injectors are working hard.
Using cleaners on short trips can leave dislodged muck in the injector pintle, which can allow it to drain down overnight, causing a misfire and white smoke on the next cold start.

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Could be exactly what happened. Looks like I also have a dead battery.
Im always relieved when something goes wrong with it. Saves me worrying about what is about to go wrong.

I spoke too soon about it being ok. Ah well, cover off tomorrow and start trying to diagnose it. I did find another thread from a few years ago that gives me somewhere to start (leaking injector maybe). Here we go again. If it's the high pressure fuel pump I don't think it is an economical repair. Haynes says you need specialist tools to get at it.

MGT said:

If it's the high pressure fuel pump I don't think it is an economical repair. Haynes says you need specialist tools to get at it

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The HP pump pulley retaining tool is under £25, and the job is about 2-3 hours, so it's perfectly economic to repair, especially as the Freelander 1 is going up in price.