TD4 poor starting

Hi guys,

New here and new to freelanders - had it for about a 4 days! Seems a great place for knowledge and sharing advice. Been having a read but cant seem to find my exact problem. I have a TD4 sport.

In the morning it does not like to start. The starter motor goes but engine does not kick in. After a few attempts I pump the accelerator and it will then start. It runs great and then starts all day, no issues, first time. Then the next morning or a good several hours later without use. same problem.

I have it booked in for a service as for peace of mind with a land rover specialist near me but any ideas to what it could be?

After reading up here I think im going to swap the fuel filter out, use fuel cleaner, give an oil change and new oil filters myself if the garage don't.

Does anyone strait up recognise the problem? Anything to look out for from the garage? I dont want them to mug me off with - you need to replace the turbo and pump for ££££ etc.

any help appreciated, thanks!

P.s ebay will be the best place for rubber mats on the cheap right?

Hi Grimlander welcome to the forum. A little about yourself will help - its why you're supposed to Introduce yourself first. We don't need to know to much, eg why you were featured n embarasing bodies or how many love children or gay lovers you have (although it does make the forum more fun) - but where you live is a good starter.

Similarly, a little about your car helps - eg age, milage!

I don't know much about diagnosing problems on diesels as I run a Rover L Series diesel Freelander, so never have to worry about problems with the engine, but I'd have thought that the glow plugs was a good start for problems with cold starting.

I wouldn't have thought fuel supply was an issue if the car runs OK once warm - but changing the pump & filter on a TD4 is almost something that should be done at the 10K service! A thourough service on a newly purchased car is a good idea. If you let people know where you live - they may be able to give you some experience on what's a good or bad garage in the area.

As for eBay being the place to find cheap stuff - I recon that's about right. You can also find some stuff worth buying on there as well. Be careful on cheap parts - its amazing how quickly people have reported cheap eBay parts failing.

Grimlander welcome to the site, you will find a wealth of info and helpful peeps here ,let eh ****e fly over your head,
back to your problem, as as has been said more info would be helpful, mileage year etc,
pumping the accelerator pedal - your wasting your time , its a fly by wire system

i think your most likely looking at new fuel pump about £130 oem, and hr tops to fit and check glowplugs, let us know what the garage comes back with

Thanks for the replies guys. Its an 06 with 110k miles. Has pulled an equipment trailer for some of its life.

Didnt use land rover specialist as wanted 350 for a basic service. Garage could not find anything. They have changed fuel filter though. It had new glow plugs a few years ago. I have changed turbo, air and pollen filter myself and put in a brand new battery.

Still starting rubbish. Starter motor is going but takes ages for engine to start. Any ideas what it can be? And can anyone reccomend a good lr or desiel specialist around Solihull?

Thanks guys!

Could be one of your injectors is on its way out - one of mine had excessive leakback which caused difficult starting after standing - but otherwise started perfectly during the day.

I'd recommend getting the injectors checked out, leak off tested and scoped for at the very least peace of mind.

I take it you are turning on the ignition waiting a few seconds about 10 in summer and then starting the engine. This will let the glow plugs heat a bit before you try to start it

Grimlander said:

Hi guys,

New here and new to freelanders - had it for about a 4 days! Seems a great place for knowledge and sharing advice. Been having a read but cant seem to find my exact problem. I have a TD4 sport.

In the morning it does not like to start. The starter motor goes but engine does not kick in. After a few attempts I pump the accelerator and it will then start. It runs great and then starts all day, no issues, first time. Then the next morning or a good several hours later without use. same problem.

I have it booked in for a service as for peace of mind with a land rover specialist near me but any ideas to what it could be?

After reading up here I think im going to swap the fuel filter out, use fuel cleaner, give an oil change and new oil filters myself if the garage don't.

Does anyone strait up recognise the problem? Anything to look out for from the garage? I dont want them to mug me off with - you need to replace the turbo and pump for ££££ etc.

any help appreciated, thanks!

P.s ebay will be the best place for rubber mats on the cheap right?

Click to expand...

As mentioned above, sounds like it might be an injector or more failing. I had a few problems with mine which was eventually solved by replacing 2 injectors.

Recommend Diesel rhino to treat the fuel.

There must be a good LR specialist around Solihull, see the sticky at the top.

Second had genuine mats are the best to get. I got mine from a breaker in Solihull area.

like i said earlier ,most likely your fuel pump is on its way out,

at over 100k its about time for a change anyway and they dont last forever, you should be able to hear it running as you switch on, sometimes a gentle tap will help if that is the case replace it asap

At that mileage it could be several things - my injectors needed replacing as did my LP fuel pump, thermostat and heater matrix..... and the turbo hoses......