Non running Disco TD5 Auto year 2000

Three week back when we had heavy snow in Aberdeen my Disco started ok in the morning as it usually does and after getting half a mile it began to splutter. I managed to get it to the road side before it stalled completely. The AA were called who arranged for it to be taken to a local LR specialist rather taken to a stealer.

Upon arrival at the LR specalist it started ok and then stalled and could not be started upon cranking. The LR spealist a couple of days later said they would have to replace the Injector harness and engine harness as instructed from a help line that they use. Since then they replaced the fuel pump and the Disco started ok, but hen stalled after 10 mins, so that ruled out the fuel pump. They are no further forward, but now have the wiring harness in and are unable to fit it as the mechanic who deals with this has been on holiday and will be on another weeks leave next week which would mean another few weeks before they could install the harness.

I have now contacted the good old AA who will now arrange to Relay my Disco home from Aberdeen to Glasgow and I will fit the harness myself which is no problem as I have previous experience in doing this and will have the time to carry out the work anyway as I have a weeks leave.

I also have a Nanocom diagnostic unit which should help once I get it running again and monitor the fuelling. But should the harness is not the cause and I am assuming it may be a fuel issue anyway ie: pressure regulator filter or air entering the system.

The fuel filter was replaced a couple of months ago and Redex diesel injector cleaner added to a full tank of diesel fuel 1 week before the problem started.

Any further suggestion would be of a great help from Disco TD5 owners who have been through the same experience

If all else fails it will be the Viking Funeral. ( 1 gallon of petrol and a match)

Oh I say old chap that's a little drastic. Just give the vehicle to me and I can guarantee you'll never have a problem with it again. And it won't cost you a penny.


Yours helpfully


Red Pavee esq.

Viking funeral is cheaper then claim the insurance.

You can still claim the insurance. I'll just break it for bits and sell it on Ebay. But you won't need to worry about it anymore.

I should have stuck with my old faithful Trooper with 230000 miles on the clock and never missed a heart beat. It was a shame that the chassis was not as reliable as the 3.1 TD engine. And I was impressed with the Disco, but should have done my home work before buying the Disco. LR should keep it KISS ( Keep It Simple Stupid) and leave the complicated electronics to the Japs. Disco should be no Ace, Air Suspension, ABS, Traction control, ECU's and bin all the other electronic gadgets and design it for what it is intended for proper off roading.

After 3 weeks of getting p.....d of with excuses, I contacted the AA at 9.30am on Tuesday morning and they even tried to wrangle out of the recovery due to the distance from Aberdeen to Glasgow. Just quote terms and conditions and they back down and send a recovery truck. The recovery chap ;oaded up the Disco whilst I settled the bill with the garage. They had a new engine harness and injector harness so I purchased them and through them in the back of the Disco.
Anyway upon eventually getting home some 3 hours later the Discp was unloaded into the driveway where I jumped into action stripping out the battery box and set to removing the old harness. It only took a couple of hours to remove in between swearing where I had bear the pain and sqeeze my hand and arms just to remove plugs. Yippee old harness out and to my horror I found that the engine harness was chaffed in various places especially at the crotch where the harness splits at the alternator to run on the left hand side. It appears that the harness through the years rubs on the back end of the alternator and bell housing and also oil impregnated in various areas. Wednesday morning it was time to install the new harness and eventually the injector harness and all this just took a good part of the morning plus fags and tea.
It was now time to turn the key and see if it would come back into life. It started first time and felt a lot smoother on idle. Plucked up the courage took it for a drive it now has more pulling power and the vibration I was getiing when cold has gone, so next project will be to ditch the air springs for coils and the ACE system for a beefed anti roll bars.

So just a warning if you are getting misfire and have changed the injector harness check the engine harness for chaffing as exposed conductors wil short out.