sorry but another starting problem. help

hi, very new to the site & to freelanders. i have a starter problem, i bought the car just over a month ago. from when i bought it, it would sometimes go first time then on other times it would turn over for 10 - 20 seconds before it would start. someone told me to turn the ignition on wait for the glow plug light to go out - turn the ignition off back on wait for the light to go out again then start it, this seemed to work. i was also told that this was due to the glow plugs - i changed them yesterday & it doesn't seem to have made a different,to start it from cold it still needs 10 - 20 seconds for it to start. i have read a number of threads, but none of them seam to be the same problem as mine. now the weather is warmer the glow plug light isn't coming on - is this normal as this i think is part of the problem. if the engine is cold say leaving it over night & the glow plug light comes on it will normally start quite quickly. if its warm outside like it has been the light doesn't come on & it's a bugger to start - once going & the engine is warm you can turn it on & off & it will start almost every time also if it has taken a long time to start the tick over is very lumpy to begin with, but this settles down quite quickly. sorry about this as it's been discused time & time again, but i could do with getting it sorted out without the use of a garage as funds are short at the moment. thanks for your time

It would be helpfully if you could tell us what model it is, first thoughts are a problem with an injector, 2nd fuel filter, when was it last changed?.
If its a TD4 then a trip to get it hooked up at a good independent, to get them to run live data, should tell you the exact fault,
In this warm weather you will not see the glow plug light come on, its normal for the TD4

sorry its a td4 2004 sport

Sounds like a leaking injector. Do a search for injector leak test which is relatively easy to do.
Another test is to spray a little Easy Start into to manifold by easing the jubilee clip which attaches the hose from the intercooler and then start it. If it continues to run smoothly then its probably an injectoer leaking back, if it stops then its fuel pump or filter.

hi, thanks for that. i'm going to try the cheap option first & replace the fuel filter the car has done over 100,000 miles & although i have got a service history i don't know when the filter was last changed. the injector leak test i have searched for this & there is plenty of people saying to do it,but i can't find anywhere its tells you how to do it. any help please.thanks again

If its starting ok when warm then not likely to be a injector leaking. Change filter and get some injector cleaner into tank if nothing improves over a couple of tanks of fuel with cleaner in then, you should be able to get it diagnosed at an independent for £30 mark.

thanks for all the info - the car came with a service history,but who knows what was done in them, i have been & bought new fuel, oil, air & pollen filters so saturday after noon before the england match i'm going to change the lot, also see if i can locate the reserse switch on the gear box at the same time - having problem with no reserve lights as well. if after the filter change the starting hasn't inproved. i'll move on the the leak test, i have contacted "chaser" who has sent me a link on how to do it - it doesn't sound to hard.i'll let you know how i get on. thanks again for all your input is has been very useful.

I have ****ed around on exactly the same problem for months.

replaced three injectors (needlessly) arch pump (needlessly) filter (needlessly) glowplugs (needlessly) and the overlay harness for the fuel pressure sensor, which sorted out the surging idle that i got from time to time, but the starting is still laboured first go of the day so i'm waiting for the sensor as well. £45 off ebay for that brand new which i thought was pretty good.

In short i'd be going straight to the fuel pressure sensor and oerlay harness.

Billy-g

hi thanks for everyones help. i changed the glow plugs a few weeks ago so today i have changed the fuel filter which was a night mare under the wheel arch - it was stuck so i had to remove the whole cradle & hammer the filter out with a piece of dowl & a mallet- greased the new one to push it in. changed the air filter & pollen filter also the oil filter & turned it over & it started first - couldn't beleave it. i'll see how it goes over the next few weeks, also put some injector cleaner in the fuel tank. just one thing for such a big car why is it so difficult to get at anything:frusty: