Help...

Hello everyone, I’m new to this forum and Range Rover ownership!

I picked up a 1999 Range Rover P38 4.0 on 1st November, it’s done just under 100k and is very clean and original.

Everything was going well, until suddenly the engine started knocking, banging, misfiring and it felt like the gearbox was slipping. The car was almost undriveable!

I limped it home and left it for a few days thinking the gearbox most of gone and the engine has had it! It really was that bad driving and sounding!

Today I thought I would have a look at the old girl, started her up and absolutely fine!? No noises, no misfiring, absolutely perfect again! I drove her round the block a few times and everything was fine, even the gearbox!

I’m completely puzzled how it went from fine to absolutely awful and I mean awful! Was showing all signs of catastrophic failure back to fine again!?

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks,
Chris

welcome

did you get it from a garage or privately?

Hi,

I bought it privately.

Was absolutely gutted when all the problems suddenly started at once, it did seem to be terminal.

Then today after doing nothing to her she’s fine!?

Can that really be the case!?

Welcome to the forum and the madness that is range rover ownership!!
Could be a million and one reasons. Compared to many cars, they are quite complex beasts that were, shall we say, not the best put together.
First things first, look in the technical archive at the top of the page and download RAVE which is the land-rover official workshop manual. You WILL need it at some point.
Second thing, if you plan to keep it any length of time, buy yourself a nanocom (diagnostics) damned expensive but will pay for itself time and again.
Third thing, if you plan to get UK garages to fix it, then pray you have an excellent independent specialist close by or that you're the sultan of Brunei.

In all seriousness, mine has been relatively trouble free. I've spent about what I paid for it on bits and my mate in Czech republic is a discovery addict so he knows the marque well and does all my spanner work very cheap. (18 quid a day!)
If well looked after, they are superb but they can also break you both financially and mentally.

do you have the proper diagnostics? Nanocom or similar?

Is this a thor or gems engine? (can't remember when they changed over)
I'm guessing thor.
There have been reports of the wiring loom to the injectors becoming brittle and breaking down. Also bad earths to the engine.
Was it wet when it was playing up?
I'd be looking at general maintenance things first.

1. General oils and filters service.
2. New plugs and leads. Get good ones they do make a difference.
3. New air filter.
4. New fuel filter (if fitted, not all have them)
5. New battery. The p38 is an electrically hungry little minx so at this time of year with heaters, headlights etc etc etc etc etc etc on, if the alternator isn't 100 %, you can soon end up with the voltage dipping and causing all sorts of problems.
Get the biggest that will fit and the best your wallet will stand.
I'm sure others will chime in but get the basics secured first.
Try to avoid britpart spares for most things. Yes they're cheap but it's for a reason.

Thanks Wazzajnr!

I have taken it to local LR Specialist, they plugged it in and it came up with lots of misfire codes, evac fault, eas sensor fault and abs fault.

They were more concerned about the banging knocking noises come from bottom of engine and that the gearbox appeared to be slipping while driving. Next step they recommend was to drop gearbox out for better look.

I tried the car today and all those problems and noises have gone and it’s driving fine again!?

Really odd, surely (hopefully) it can’t be the end of the engine and gearbox!?

I’ve only had the car just over 2 weeks but already absolutely love it!

One last thing, in the immortal words of the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, "don't panic!"
This forum is an incredible wealth of knowledge (with a huge amount of banter thrown in so grow a thick skin)
It's unlikely that you will have a problem that someone hadn't had and fixed.

Chris_P38 said:

Thanks Wazzajnr!

I have taken it to local LR Specialist, they plugged it in and it came up with lots of misfire codes, evac fault, eas sensor fault and abs fault.

They were more concerned about the banging knocking noises come from bottom of engine and that the gearbox appeared to be slipping while driving. Next step they recommend was to drop gearbox out for better look.

I tried the car today and all those problems and noises have gone and it’s driving fine again!?

Really odd, surely (hopefully) it can’t be the end of the engine and gearbox!?

I’ve only had the car just over 2 weeks but already absolutely love it!

Click to expand...

That really does sound like a power (electrical) issue to me.
I'd get a new battery and new alternator belt and then get a good auto elec to test the alternator output.
Then get all fault codes cleared and see how it goes.
By the way, what reader were your garage using?

The garage is only after your money. dont let them start messing with it,

Thanks very much.

It has recently had new Magnecore leads, champion spark plugs, new battery and full service.

Chris_P38 said:

Thanks very much.

It has recently had new Magnecore leads, champion spark plugs, new battery and full service.

Click to expand...

OK, so get the alternator belt changed and alternator output tested then check all the earth straps for security.
What battery does it have fitted?

I’m not sure what reader the garage use. I know they cleared all the faults.

I suppose I should keep using the car for now and see if it happens again.

Just so odd how it went so bad so quickly and now back to fine again, I can’t get my head round it!

Chris_P38 said:

I’m not sure what reader the garage use. I know they cleared all the faults.

I suppose I should keep using the car for now and see if it happens again.

Just so odd how it went so bad so quickly and now back to fine again, I can’t get my head round it!

Click to expand...

As I said, she's a greedy girl when it comes to electrics and the fact that you had numerous fault codes stored suggests that the voltage to a number of the ECU's was low.
Next rule for p38 ownership is don't try to overthink it. They do throw hissy fits and it's not always obvious why.
Like you said, keep enjoying it whilst the going is good and try to get as much information as possible if it happens again.
And buy a nanocom!!
It will save your bacon one day.

Cheers guys!

The battery is a exide heavy duty eg 110b 110ah

Battery sounds good, time to check the alternator, engine running lights heater everything on full at 2000rpm you should get about 14v and above.

Was it raining, damp or driven through a puddle??

Mine hates a deep puddle or a quick splash through the local ford - I am thinking Crank Position Sensor wiring is getting wet and hte signal breaking down....may pay to crawl under yours and check the same.

Saint.V8 said:

Was it raining, damp or driven through a puddle??

Mine hates a deep puddle or a quick splash through the local ford - I am thinking Crank Position Sensor wiring is getting wet and hte signal breaking down....may pay to crawl under yours and check the same.

Click to expand...

Good thinking batman!
That could also be water getting to the gearbox connections on his causing the gearbox to play up.
@Chris_P38 is yours an auto?

Yes it is auto.

I picked the car up on a Wednesday, the next Sunday was very wet, large puddles on road etc. It's been pretty dry weather since. I did go through a very shallow ford a few days after the rain. All was ok until this Wednesday. So a good week since see any real water.

I am really hoping I haven't upset Saint V8 yet!

Chris_P38 said:

Yes it is auto.

I picked the car up on a Wednesday, the next Sunday was very wet, large puddles on road etc. It's been pretty dry weather since. I did go through a very shallow ford a few days after the rain. All was ok until this Wednesday. So a good week since see any real water.

I am really hoping I haven't upset Saint V8 yet!

Click to expand...

Saint has thick skin,it comes from many years of RR ownership and landyzone membership