Range Rover L322 vogue problem accelerating on the road

Hi
Have just bought a 2004 RR vogue 4.4 petrol v8 automatic. Has been fine first few days then on a short trip I went to move off at the lights and it started spluttering and juddering in gear would not rev and crawled across the junction. Turned off and back on idle fine press the gas and it splutters again finally did about another mile of this crawl under 30 juddering as it was like I was hitting the gas then letting up surging but never picking up real speed. Went to tick over at next junction then behaved perfectly for the next half mile home. When it was home revved no problem in park/neutral. Second time this has happened intermittently on different days did a longer run in between days no problem at all. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on a cause I’m a bit of a newb to land rovers I’m afraid. No dash messages in relation other than the dreaded air susp inactive. Lights are on on the ride height indicator in standard but won’t go up or down have read a few things on that issue I’m less concerned taking it for diagnosis weekend.

Fuel starvation due to weak pump, VANOS issues, Blocked Cats, PCV Valve causing a manifold leak, or a manifold leak itself.

Have you tried turning the steering full lock to full lock and back to centre to see if it will clear the Air Suspension warning?

Diagnostics are a good idea - and is probably first port of call

Hi thanks for the reply, ok so it could be many things then, all of these I take it can produce intermittent symptoms then go away for a time?. Yes I tried the lock to lock on the suspension warning and it didn’t clear will check diagnostics if it can narrow it down but I understand it could be sensor or compress related as normal issues people seem to have ran in to

Blocked Cats, VANOS issues and Fuel starvation are probably the most likely to be intermittent - esp. if the fuel pump is getting weak.

Do you have any strange rattly noises at all which could indicate VANOS issues?

Blocked cats can come and go depending on how hard it is being driven, driven normally, you may get stunted acceleration, but not a major issue, but if you suddenly boot it, the exhaust gases can't through the blockages quick enough and can cause stuttering and misfires....common thing on the BMW the L322 is based upon!

Thanks again for your help, sorry to seem like a dim-whit but what is VANOS?

VANOS is the name for the Inlet Cam variable timing system - it is short for something really long in German!!

Basically it uses a hydraulic system to move a piston with runs in a helical gear set and alters the timing of the inlet cam depending on driving mode.

I have VANOS issue with mine, where acceleration can be stunted, then all of a sudden shes off like a scalded cat.....do some goooooooogling about VANOS issues - a reall eye opener.

The L322 is a wonderfully complex beas.

Thanks Saint appreciate you helping out a newb to all this will take your advice and check this all out, can I ask though, would I not expect to see a dashboard error on some or all of these possible issues? Or is it possible the dealer that sold it cleared them all and wouldn’t reappear for a while?

Only two that would through a check engine light, and even then one of those may not would be a manifold/PCV valve leak or Blocked Cats - as this will alter the fuel/air mixture and the ECU will query why and issue a CEL.

The others won't,....

The Blocked cats could cause misfire fault codes, PCV/Manifold leaks would cause mixture adaptive value fault codes....VANOS timing won't issue a CEL, but a fault may be logged saying something like CAM 'X' over retarded or something like that, but won't flag up a warning light.

The message centre won't display a message for such....only the CEL illuminates, or if is it is not emissions related, you won't get a CEL at all in most cases, but a fault will still be logged in the ECU - retrievable only with diagnostics.

Thanks mate appreciate that so probably worth waiting for the diagnosis for that issue too then? Should kill two birds and all that

Goldenphoenix said:

Thanks mate appreciate that so probably worth waiting for the diagnosis for that issue too then? Should kill two birds and all that

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Diagnostics is key on these animals....

It pays to get your own diagnsotics gear with these cars, else you and your local garage are going to be very friendly - they are awesome cars, but sooooo unreliable at times!

Best offer is 40 plus vat at local garage always been sound on the jag I had, looked into a diag myself but the cheaper ones have had mixed reviews if I want a decent one looking at 200 plus would you agree?

I think if I was venturing into diagnostics for the first time I would be looking at the Icarsoft range, the top of the range is about £135. Allcomms is great but will take a month to arrive and live data is very limited , Faultmate will cost more than you car is worth and support is virtually non existent now but very good, if you have loads of cash then the GAP IID.

Thanks holiday will look into it, will Icarsoft hardware give in depth data about faults for l322 04 era of RRs do you know?

I believe so but give them a call, I would say it is good value, not the easiest to use apparently but a lot for the money. I have not used one personally but I’m tempted to buy one just because it’s not locked to a VIN and covers more years than Allcomms

https://www.ultimatecarparts.co.uk/...W6RKX3eyTxSa9PSrsZhOLnpsbxX9uaJxoCPLEQAvD_BwE

Not vin locked so can be used again and again like a commercial rig?

Goldenphoenix said:

Not vin locked so can be used again and again like a commercial rig?

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As far as I know it can be used on different vehicles of the same type, as in multipleL322 vehicles
These guys are helpful on eBay

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/323197416147

Cheers all

Just curious as to why no-one has said take it back to dealer.
Don't mess with it, don't do anything to it, just take it straight back. Once they have fixed it and you have had it several months and it is no longer in warranty, then come back here and get help. However, a vehicle, bought from a dealer, showing faults after a couple of days, means a trip back to the dealer, not messing about with it yourself.

You are probably right "gold rover" I guess im just trying to put off the inevitable, I know I should but checking around the spec and extras I got for the money are un heard of so I was hoping it would be a quick and easy fix as im sure the deal will just accept it back for a full refund and carry on, looking around on auto trader etc similar spec with all the goodies would be miles away and extra mileage and then may still end up with air ride issue etc so I guess im just a little concerned about letting go to my first range (yes i know its stupid and probably costly but i dont know any better at the moment, previously had a jag had all the same it will cost you and it will be a money pit stories and yet the money pit was correct I still loved every minute in it)

But you make a solid point gold