Non running Disco TD5 Auto year 2000

Three weeks 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. A couple of days later the LR specialist 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 then stalled after 10 mins, so that ruled out the fuel pump. They are no further forward, but now have the wiring harness in stock 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)

hi had this problem before, it was a fuel treatment simular to redx and it went like glue in the fuel pump, it took ages to sus out, but the end result was i did not put enough fuel in the tank to diluit the the stuff

I too had added Redex diesel treatment just a few days earlier, but thought that was the cause when it started to splutter to a halt. Since the engine and injector harness have now been replaced all was ok until the fuel pump gave up a couple of months later. So much for the garage that said they replaced the fuel I think not it must have been an old one that they had. I have changed the fuel pump for a brand new unit at the Disco is running like a dream. A small leak from the fuel regulator that I noticed when carrying out a service a couple of weeks back, but the will be changed out this week when the part arrives today. No other issues so far except getting stuck in a drainage ditch up on a mountain on New Years day due to Snow and black ice. Should have fitted the offroad tyres instead of road tyres and it took 3 hours to get out.

Does the D turn over but not start?
We had a very similar scenario just after we bought ours.
I had added Forte injector cleaner (something I always do when I get a new car) and after a week the poor starting began.
I too was fooled by finding the injector loom needed replacing but did not cure the problem.
Is the fuel pump noisy? lots of gurgling?
Check your oil level, is it raised at all? check for it smelling of diesel.
Our problem was traced to the injector washers / o rings letting by. The problem seems to be triggered sometimes by adding cleaner which clears away accumulated 'junk' which then lets the fuel by.

The washers are cheep enough and LR usually have them in stock as this happens quite often.

The job is meant to be fairly easy to do although in the end I did get a local garage to do the work as I ran out of spare time, make sure the oil and filters are changed too.

It has been known that a cracked head can also cause the above problems although obviously this is a lot rarer.

Good luck

Edit
Realised this is an old thread.
Left on though as may be of help to others, I know it was driving me mad at the time!

Is Anjo saying his Disco is all sorted now?

So, what caused it and what sorted it?

CharlesY

The actual fault causing it to splutter and then eventually not fire up was on the main engine wiring loom which had chaffed throught the harness outer insulation and injector wires causing an intermittent short against the inlet manifold I changed out the injector harness aswell although it did not require replacing, but better to be safe than sorry. If your disco splutters and then runs ok and then splutters a couple of days later check the engine wiring loom where it seperates to go either side of the engine at the inlet manifold and rear of the alternator as this is where the harness will rub on. When I got the new wiring loom I could see where LR had added extra protection to the harness. Harness only takes about 4 hours to change with a bit of cursing and swearing aswell plus some work from underneath the engine to access the starter and fuel regulator plugs.

When the fuel pump failed a few months later it was silent but the Disco would still start but no power maybe this was due to it being full of fuel. Fuel pump only takes about an hour to do. Did not need to remove any panels to lift the carpet as the carpet had already been cut just behind the panels in order to lift away to gain access.

My Disco now runs OK now and runs far better than when I first bought it. And has not missed a beat since the main engine harness and injector harness have been replaced.