high rev, wouldn't start

Spent yesterday working and was driving around, leaving the landy running whilst i loaded up, drive to next place etc etc, did this for an hour or so but when i came to the last stop, the revs increased ever so slightly whilst idle.

Thought it odd but switched off and went and did a job, come back an hour or so later and she wouldn't start. I tried again and got her started but she just died straight away, tried again, same problem.

Eventually she fired and stayed running with no issues and since then hasn't repeated the problem.

I was low on fuel so topped up at the time from my jerry can but it wasn't low enough to stop her running at all ( checked fuel tank, 1-2" in the bottom of her before refilling )

I was thinking it could've been low fuel, possible crap in the bottom of the tank etc, but the higher revving before switching off got me thinking something else.

All connections are free, no sticking throttle etc.

The engine drinks alot of oil, and seriously pumps it out the back, if you take the rocker cap off it looks like a steam engine ( with smoke though ) so i know there is an issue inside the engine, but she runs like she should for an old engine and so far not had this issue.

Is this the end for her? a sign of an engine really about to give up the ghost with high revving for no apparent reason and an unwillingness to start afterwards?

PaulWilde said:

The engine drinks alot of oil, and seriously pumps it out the back, if you take the rocker cap off it looks like a steam engine ( with smoke though ) so i know there is an issue inside the engine, but she runs like she should for an old engine and so far not had this issue.

Is this the end for her? a sign of an engine really about to give up the ghost with high revving for no apparent reason and an unwillingness to start afterwards?

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Did the engine stop as soon as you turned the ignition off, was there any overrun?

Bromsgrove Defender said:

Did the engine stop as soon as you turned the ignition off, was there any overrun?

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No overrun mate, i keep getting flashbacks to that video on the web about it though

This morning she was a little more hesitant starting, but did so and no problems so far, off for a good 100 mile run today so will see if she plays up again

i would've put it down to her usual antics with starting sometimes if it wasn't for the higher revving beforehand, checked all pipes from airbox etc and nothing loose and my rocker breather pipe is extended and slung underneath the body so no oil is getting back in via the airbox.

PaulWilde said:

No overrun mate, i keep getting flashbacks to that video on the web about it though

This morning she was a little more hesitant starting, but did so and no problems so far, off for a good 100 mile run today so will see if she plays up again

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Yeah its just that with it revving in idle then being difficult to start I'm thinking it's over fueling.

And if it's using its own oil to do that,.. with yr leak you wouldn't notice it.

BUT then I'd expect it to overrun.

I think it is probably just the quirks of an old and very worn out engine... my 19j used to behave very similarly, being difficult to start first go in any circumstances. If I were you I would speed up progress on that Tdi rebuild mate

did you put the fuel in before trying to re start it?

My 19j had similar problems.when i took the head off found all 4 plstons were cracked 2 all the way accros.amazing it would still run,that steam engine bit was just the same.

tottot said:

My 19j had similar problems.when i took the head off found all 4 plstons were cracked 2 all the way accros.amazing it would still run,that steam engine bit was just the same.

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Yeah i'm pretty certain it's a mess inside, but she still trundles along @ 70 on the motorway and never hesitates.

The problem hasn't returned at all, could've been a one off.

Hi, I have just altered my 24g from SU to efi using a 3.9 kit. runs fine and does alot of things she didn't in the past. one of them is that sometimes the idle is too high. once turning it off and restarting, things go back to normal.
please bare in mind no speed transducer or lamda sensors are installed yet. both mix and idle speed are adjusted. the "rover gauge" diagnostic shows no errors from the ECU, except from the speed transducer (loggical hah?)
any suggestions????