Freelander 1 Freelander TD4 Won't Start After Jet Wash

Okay, so before anyone says, yes I know jet washing engine bays isn't a brilliant idea! However, I jet washed the engine for the purposes of finding an oil leak and 15 years of crud made this impossible. Otherwise I wouldn't have risked it!

Anyway, the engine looks lovely but won't start but it does still 'try' and it does fire up on easy start.

I have had the air filter out and this is dry.

Could any of the experts on here provide any guidance on what thing(s) to try next? I'm hoping once it is going I can leave it running to let everything dry out and then get onto this oil leak!

Thanks

you might want to clean n dry all the plug/socket wiring connections to the various sensors
and .. the injector plugs
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WD40 is a pretty good water dispersant. ...the clue is in the name

blue beasty said:

WD40 is a pretty good water dispersant. ...the clue is in the name

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WD40? That says nothing

but it does still 'try' and it does fire up on easy start.

Click to expand...

i'd check the fuel-rail-sensor and maf sensor plug-sockets first ..

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As hd3 said. High pressure fuel rail sensor. These are known to have a poor seal anyway. Also check the cam and crank sensor plugs for damp.

It's quite possible you've dislodged a sensor, maybe only slightly. The fuel rail pressure sensor would be my starting point.
Or it could quite simply be the electrics are wet, and any worn wires are acting up. I'd personally stick a big fan blowing into the engine bay to help dry it out.

Hope it's something simple.
Mike

As above check all sensors, remove and maybe dry them out with the wife's or your hair dryer on low speed then quick spray with either WD40 or IPA 170.
It would of been best to have cling filmed all connectors first, only way to clean an engine is to use engine cleaner spray directed at the area's which are oily then ues a stiff brush to work it in, wash it off with garden hose with not to much power from the gun, again work in with stiff brush.

I am sure you will get it sorted following members advise good luck

SORTED!!!

Firstly, thanks to the community for so many speedy replies!

Whilst it is fixed I don't know exactly what the problem was as I tried multiple things. For the benefit of the others here is what I did to bring her back to life:

• Topped up the diesel (it was low and parked on a hill so I wanted to rule that out).
• Used the air line to remove all excess water from the nooks and crannies.
• Disconnected all the electrical connectors I could see (after engine cover removed) including the injectors and fuel rail. Then sprayed them with WD40 electrical contact cleaner (not plain WD40) from screwfix. Plain WD40 would probably do but for a few quid I got the specialist electrical version and it's a handy thing to have in the garage.
• Pressed what I assume is the fuel cut off switch. It is a red button hidden under the fuse box in the engine bay.
• Removed the aftermarket engine 'tuning' box (rolls eyes) which was on it when I bought it (certainly not my doing!).
• Locked and unlocked the doors with the fob to ensure the immobiliser is disarmed.
• As I mentioned above I previously removed the air filter to ensure it was dry (which it was).

Moral of the story don't jet wash unless you really need to. Thankfully this isn't my daily driver so I could afford to take the risk.

Off to find the oil leak on my £200 MOT failure and then she is ready for the road again which will please the Mrs. In all honesty I think we will get a

Thanks again all.

I will say that all the times I've jet washed an engine, ( yup quite a few), I've always had the engine running, at fairly high revs and if it's a petrol never spray directly on to the ignition circuit ...
also as the engine is then warm it dries quicker so no time for corrosion to build up on the electrical bits ...

I though I had an oil leak but then looked into it . It was diesel from the hp pump running down the front of the engine and washing oil of the engine that had got there over the years.