Freelander 1 2003 td4 very difficult to start

ponythegringo · Jul 26, 2021

Hi all ,
So i have been fixing up my 2003 td4 that has been off the road for about 2 years and I have run into a problem that I need some advice about .

I have trouble starting and after changing the fuel filter , glow plugs and changing the o-rings on the FPR the problem persists .

When it gets started it runs great but it's almost impossible to get it started without easy start.
I was getting several codes on an icarsoft code reader which i'll post below and it can also read live data .

I am getting no more error codes since the FPR o-rings were changed but the starting problem is still there.

Any ideas what I can check for next to try and fix my issue are much appreciated

andyfreelandy · Jul 26, 2021

I've seen the last 2 codes resulting from dirty connections on the fuel rail pressure sensor.

Pull plug, clean green gunge off and re insert. On the end of the fuel rail, battery side.

Nodge68 · Jul 26, 2021

As Andy said. Fuel rail sensor is normally responsible for plausibility codes.

ponythegringo · Jul 26, 2021

Thanks guys , so I took off all needed, accessed the sensor and cleaned off the connectors of all the yellowy green stuff with iso-alco and some q tips but unfortunately it did not seem to have any effect on the starting issue .
It cranks and almost starts now and again but never succeeds.
Good to have crossed that off the list though .
I am currently updating the icarsoft so i can maybe read some data streams , i seem to remember there being an option to read the FPR voltages
Are there any other data streams i could try to access that might be helpful ?

andyfreelandy · Jul 26, 2021

The clue is that it starts on easy start so a fuelling issue. Check the low pressure fuel pressure and high pressure when cranking and report back. Obvs the hp will be low when engine not running but I think the lp shows OK.

andyfreelandy · Jul 26, 2021

The boost may be another fault or an old logged one but shouldn't stop the engine running IMO.

ponythegringo · Jul 26, 2021

Thanks for the replys guys, So I went into town about 10 miles and back and all went well till just before home on a hill i wanted to test the acceleration put the foot down and got an almost immediate engine light and was in limp mode i think .
I checked the code for the error and it's P1190 Fuel rail pressure plausability.
When i got home i hooked up the icarsoft and recorded the data streams at idle and at 2000rpm and then also a couple while cranking the engine after switching off.
First video is what Andy asked for I hope and the second longer one is while the engine was running.

And here is one showing the FPR voltages while cranking

hd3 · Jul 26, 2021

so I took off all needed, accessed the sensor and cleaned off the connectors of all the yellowy green stuff with iso-alco and some q tips

+

I checked the code for the error and it's P1190 Fuel rail pressure plausability.

could easily be the harness wiring as well
i.e. if the plug/socket was corroded ..
corrosion could have travelled into the wiring

LR did an 'upgrade' for sensor and harness
as water ingress to the original was a known issue

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ponythegringo · Jul 26, 2021

Thanks , I don't suppose the upgraded wiring loom would work with the original sensor?

andyfreelandy · Jul 26, 2021

I don't think the sensor was changed, some vehicles had high resistance loom leads and so the upgrade bypasses the loom with new wires.
Your data looks fairly normal to me unless I have missed sommat. How is the starting now?

ponythegringo · Jul 26, 2021

still the same , cranks over and over but won't start without easy start except for in the morning when it's been sitting overnight then it sometimes starts after about 10-15 seconds.
But not always

Alteredtech · Jul 27, 2021

The low pressure pump value is good. Don't touch it !
If the car start and you can move it I doubt that there is an electronic issue.

Don't replace any part before checking if there is no fuel leak on the high pressure pump, look twice ! Check the full fuel line !
I had a leaking high pressure pump, it very hard to start with a leaking one !

ponythegringo · Jul 27, 2021

Alteredtech said:
The low pressure pump value is good. Don't touch it !
If the car start and you can move it I doubt that there is an electronic issue.

Don't replace any part before checking if there is no fuel leak on the high pressure pump, look twice ! Check the full fuel line !
I had a leaking high pressure pump, it very hard to start with a leaking one !

does the high pressure data look ok in this video when cranking?

Alteredtech · Jul 28, 2021

Hi,

The values are correct. And the value will be correct even if a High pressure pump start leaking.

You could have a leak on an injector seal.
You could have a leaking high pressure pump.
You could have a leak anywhere in the fuel line.

So look first for a leak. It cost less than changing the plugs !

ponythegringo · Jul 28, 2021

been raining a lot today but took off the FPS cable and tried to start but same , does that mean the loom is ok ?
Also Does anyone know what pedal demand is on the icarsoft ?

I'm going to try to do an injector leak test at the weekend when i have some time .
what are best practises when using easystart, can it actually damage the engine?

Alteredtech · Jul 28, 2021

Hi,

To do an injector leak back, you need to remove the return fuel pipe, if that pipe is in very bad condition don't touch it, it can break!

If once the engine start is running good when it start, the only issue I see is a fuel leaking issue.

The basic thing to do is to check if there is no fuel leak anywhere. Did you already did that ?
Look near the injector return pipe, near the injector seal, and at high pressure pump it can leak from under.

backinblack · Jul 28, 2021

I had the same starting symptoms on my TD6 caused by the high pressure regulator which I believe is the same one used on the TD4.
Have you changed this O ring?

ponythegringo · Jul 28, 2021

Hi, yes i already changed the FPR o rings last weekend.

I guess i would have to put it up on the lift to be able to see if the highP pump is leaking will have to wait till the weekend.

hd3 · Jul 28, 2021

[edit] post deleted..
looks as if op had already tried the hpfr disconnect
[ i missed that on an initial catchup read thru ]

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ponythegringo · Jul 30, 2021

Ok so in the few days since i changed o rings on FPR and cleaned the contacts on the FPS i have been trying to get the code to come back with no success so that's a plus at least.
The engine is running really well with excellent response and acceleration , the only issue is starting it so with a newish genuine fuel pump and fuel filter plus the work done on the pressure regulator and sensor I am thinking it is either a leak on the fuel line or at the hp pump or a bad injector .
Would the engine run and accelerate so well if one of the injectors was bad?
Just trying to rule stuff out

Freelander 1 2003 td4 very difficult to start

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