Just got my first Landy but it won’t start, I FIXED IT YAY

Hey there everyone, I have just procured my first Land Rover TD4 Freelander, I’m not sure if it’s a Freelander 1 or whatever but I’m so excited, it’s an amazing machine and is going to be lots of fun (once I get her running), so yes I need help please . It’s a Freelander TD4 on an 04 plate FY54 ??? to be accurate and I bought her knowing that she didn’t start every time but did sometimes, so…. After towing her home (because obviously the seller lied to me) I checked your forums and have replaced 3 glow plugs as they were dead for a start, she still don’t want to start, next I guess is the sensor for the flywheel (crank shaft sensor?), through the drivers side wheel arch as I have LPF and HPF sensor values on the OBD2 device I have plugged in when I crank the engine so I assume they work ok, I have just read about the glow plug circuits and fuses which I will check in the morning but the glow plug lamp illuminates in the cab for 3 seconds and then goes off so I assume after reading the posts that this is normal ?

There is quite a noise from the fuel pump (at the rear middle of the cab) for about 30 seconds when cranked and I have an OBD2 reading for the throttle so can only guess that these two things are also working,

Does anyone have any magic up their sleeve or fairy dust in their pocket that can fix this quickly and cheaply as I am now desperate to get her going after a week of buggering about with the help of minions who just move tools around and hide the nuts and bolts from me when I’m working hard to take off the air intake and associated pipes and sensor cables.

Thanks for all the info already here, I have lots more ideas now than before but and extra help will be gratefully accepted (as long as you leave the tools, nuts and bolts alone and let me do the donkey work).

Hello and welcome to LZ
Best to ask over in the freelander section of the forum.
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/land-rover-freelander.9/

Welcome, sounds like you know end of a spanner from the other. Good luck

Welcome to the zoo toolbag of information.
Worth popping over to the Freelander section for a better outcome.

Did you buy this as a project car. Could be worth getting a diagnostic tool to iron out other issues if long term keeper.

doriz said:

Welcome, sounds like you know end of a spanner from the other. Good luck

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Thank you and I have had a few nails in my time so have an extensive toolkit as well as an OBD2 handheld thing as well as a big hammer lol, I checked the voltage on the 100amp fuse that relates to the glow plugs and that has 13.75v as well as dismantling the rear of the drivers side to access the fuel pump which seems to be operating (it’s filling the sludge catcher thing), so I guess it’s getting to the engine but I can’t find where the fuel actually enters the injectors, any ideas or photos would be welcome

saxavordian said:

Welcome to the zoo toolbag of information.
Worth popping over to the Freelander section for a better outcome.
View attachment 252884
Did you buy this as a project car. Could be worth getting a diagnostic tool to iron out other issues if long term keeper.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply, I have an OBD2 tool but nothing is showing on it so today i I ordered a crank sensor and a cam sensor, hopefully these will sort it out, if they don’t then I’ll be asking more and looking at your suggestions I bought it to get running as fast as I can as I currently have no car, my Zafira turned into a flaming melted mess a couple of months ago so i been looking for something since and this popped up for a few hundred quid so here I am lol

brianp38dse said:

Hello and welcome to LZ
Best to ask over in the freelander section of the forum.
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/land-rover-freelander.9/

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Thank you for your welcome, I will post a note over there shortly

Welcome to LandyZone

Welcome to the forum

Hello again and thank you all for your welcome notes and advice. This is what I have done so far and it still won’t start.

1. Replaced 3 glow plugs as they were not glowing, all four now light up like a Christmas Tree and stop working after about 20-25 seconds, I purchased Bosch plugs at £10 each.
2. Checked the rear wheel arch fuel pump, reservoir and filter, all seem to be doing their job and fuel is appearing at the injectors.
3. Cam Shaft sensor replaced. £20
4. Crank shaft sensor replaced. £13
5. High pressure fuel regulator serviced and the rubber and plastic rings were replaced. £12.50.
6. Charged the battery on every step above to give it chance to turn over quickly.
7. Used a whole can of “Easy Start”(bit by bit obviously) and she does run but then stops.


Bear in mind that I have done these jobs one by one and have had to strip the manifold and ancillary pipes to gain access as well as the starter motor on the crank sensor replacement and rebuilt the parts to see if the thing would start.

I have now purchased the high pressure pump repair kit as the OBD2 machine when connected to the gearbox computer only has 29.5 on the fuel rail, I read that it needs 35psi or more so the only thing left is the pump rubbers and seals. This is a job for a garage to be honest, it has an auto gearbox and I have to find the engine locking point befire I remove the pump and yes I will mark it all up before I remove anything that has to do with the timing in the car.

I am posting again to give an update and to also ask if anyone has any other ideas as to why this beautiful machine won’t start.

the guy I bought it from said it just got lazier and lazier at starting until it would not go at all for him.

magazine any advice would be gratefully received and if you have any free parts please post them here lol

thanks