Cold start problem

I’ve a 2003 Disco td5 manual, about three weeks ago when leaving a realatives the she dicided that it would take a couple of goes before starting, this after a run of about 40 miles, and standing for about 3-4 hours, didn’t think too much of it, went on holiday towing the caravan, and gradually it has got worse, always on the first start up, it’s okay if I restart her within about an hour or so, any longer and she struggles cranks over nicely then splutters in to life a couple of times I’ve used easy start to give a helping hand pump was making some strange noises in the boot.
Took her to the garage, he’s experienced with Land Rovers, he had it for three days, and came back with there are no fault codes, fuel pressure okay nothing showing any problems, when she starts fuel pressure is good, and she runs as sweet as, only thing he could suggest was to take out the injectors and high pressure pump for testing,as he felt the issue was there, suggested bill £2000-£3000 depending if it needed a pump or injectors, when I suggested new washers and seals for the injectors, his reply was that it would not effect the starting issue, I had ordered the parts (genuine), but he did not fit them.
Battery is new 3 months old and has good cranking power, Glow plugs are all good, relays been cheeked and, no sensor problems (checked by two different mechanics).
Do we think he’s right about the pump and injectors, any other ideas welcome, anything less than quoted

Sounds very much like injector washers. Change them yourself in few hours.
Certainly not a £2-3000 Bill.!!!!
I'm sure others will post similar replies soon. Search injector seals on here and I'm sure the posts will sound very similar to your symptoms. Mine was exactly the same. Changed washers and o rings in an afternoon and been fine ever since.
Change your mechanic as well as anyone with experience with discovery engines should have said injector washers as its a very common issue with td5 engines. To say washers won't cause a starting problem proves he hasn't got a clue.
The noise in the boot you can hear is air in the fuel system being drawn in by the washers not sealing.
It will get worse and worse quickly until you change the washers.

Read this guide
http://www.discovery2.co.uk/Injector Seals.html

sounds like a air leak allowing a back siphon, and losing prime

swatts70 said:

Sounds very much like injector washers. Change them yourself in few hours.
Certainly not a £2-3000 Bill.!!!!
I'm sure others will post similar replies soon. Search injector seals on here and I'm sure the posts will sound very similar to your symptoms. Mine was exactly the same. Changed washers and o rings in an afternoon and been fine ever since.
Change your mechanic as well as anyone with experience with discovery engines should have said injector washers as its a very common issue with td5 engines. To say washers won't cause a starting problem proves he hasn't got a clue.
The noise in the boot you can hear is air in the fuel system being drawn in by the washers not sealing.
It will get worse and worse quickly until you change the washers.

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This was my gut feeling, I’ve read every where else that this could be the problem, did you go to the expense of buying the special tool to remove the injectors?

Matey sounds like a bit of a donut tbh take it elsewhere

Half a side of adjustable water pump pliers or an Allen key will work perfectly well. Read link I posted. It really is simples to do. I don't think many people go to the expense of buying a removal slide hammer.
A long allen key, about 5mm I think, will do the job fine. Just don't be heavy handed and they come out fine. My 10 Yr old helped me do mine last year as it was easier for him to sit on to of the engine to get the rear injectors, lol.

Just found a picture of my son helping to do the injector seals, that's how easy it is.

So children do have their uses!

Very good for getting the roof really clean when washing the car too

swatts70 said:

Very good for getting the roof really clean when washing the car tooView attachment 183937

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That won’t happen mine are way to old, 28 and 26

Cheers guys, think I’ve got to do it

Absolutely agree that this sounds like air getting into the fuel and that injector washers are the most likely culprit. To double check, next time it fails to start run the priming sequence (ignition on, pump the accelerator at least 5 times , MIL flashes and the fuel pump starts up), have a cup of tea and when you come back try to start it. If the issue is air slowly getting into the fuel then the priming should have removed it and it should start straightaway. If it still won't start it may be something else - crank position sensor, starter motor fault etc.
If it is air in the fuel, then bear in mind also that air can get into the system in a number of places and that the washers might not be the cause. If no joy, then change the air bleed valve on the filter next and prepare yourself for a bit of a protracted search if it is still not cured.
I also agree that your LR specialist is well worth avoiding. Injector washers are not a massive job and on a D2 pulling the fuel pump does not involve dropping the tank and associated big labour costs, as there is a cunningly positioned access hatch in the rear luggage bay. His estimate is way off the mark.
BTW I did buy the specialist removal tool. I took the first one out with a pry bar, but the next one would not budge and I did not want to force it. Very easy with the right tool.

gary has said:

he’s experienced with Land Rovers, .... only thing he could suggest was to take out the injectors and high pressure pump for testing,as he felt the issue was there....,

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Avoid that garage in the future, the td5 doesnt have a HP pump, 300tdi or other common rail engines have, that guy might be experienced with other kind of land Rovers , first of all replace the air bleed valve(WJN500110) in the rear wheel side port of the fuel filter head then run a purge and if this doesnt fix the issue then do the copper washers yourself, use only genuine