Surely this can be fixed?

Here we go again with TD5 engine management fault no. 23481......and we've been here before, but I have a new symptom.
If you apply full or near full throttle on my TD5 it reverts to low range response mode where the accelerator has to be pressed much further to access the power. Also the turbo comes in more progressively...yawn yawn I know...but get this if you turn on the ignition and press the accelerator to the floor then take your foot off it again WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE,and then start it, you are in the low range response mode until you turn off the engine and turn it back on!
It is a bit of a pain, I did 410 miles in the vehicle today and it would be much better if it stayed in high range throttle mode.
I would pay for a chip upgrade if I thought it would sort it out, but I just don't know.
Anybody got any more ideas? The dealer says it's "normal" and won't help.

How old is it? Still in Warranty?

try speaking to one of the companys that do the ecu chips, they should be able to advice if a chip or re flash of the ecu could assist you as the chips and remaps can be adjusted to your driving needs. I have a chipped TD5 90 and it handles much better for general road use than my previouse TD5 with standard ECU settings. Advice shouldn'e cost anything!

To answer the first question the vehicle is still under warranty it's only a year old. However the dealer can't fix it. I wrote to Land Rover but they just referred me to another dealer. That dealer wouldn't take it on as they said it sounded like a "time job" and they only look at that kind of fault for their own customers "as a courtesy"...I kid you not.
I will talk to a chip upgrade company as suggested. There are two round here. Superchips and Hallam Brothers, who use the JE ENGINEERING chip upgrade.
Anybody used either of these?

If you have it chipped you'll invalidate the warranty. Get back onto LR and demand that they assign an engineer or dealer to carryout the work If they are unable to do so then demand that they collect the vehicle themselves and rectify the problem. your warranty is with the manufacturer not the dealers. And full responsibility for rectifying faults lies with Landrover.

Yes, i agree - dont get it chipped if you want to keep the warranty. The test kit at the dealer can ID if the ECU has been upgraded.

Take care with TD5 and tramping on the throttle at start-up time.

It has a PURGE mode that will sling HUGE amounts of diesel through the injectors (like FOUR TIMES more than maximum) to help try to clear the fuel rail of air if it gets air into it.

Moral.

Keep your foot OFF the throttle when starting any TD5.

CharlesY

redhand said:

If you have it chipped you'll invalidate the warranty. Get back onto LR and demand that they assign an engineer or dealer to carryout the work If they are unable to do so then demand that they collect the vehicle themselves and rectify the problem. your warranty is with the manufacturer not the dealers. And full responsibility for rectifying faults lies with Landrover.

Click to expand...

Excatly what I was going to say! A warranty is a waranty, no question about it, the only thing that can change that is driver abuse - "excuse me but my door seem to have fallen off because I crashed into a tree!" - which doesn't seem to be the case here.

Good Luck

I wrote to Land Rover twice, the second time asking them to collect the vehicle and return it repaired etc, and threatening to get it repaired elsewhere and sue them for the money, but they would not move. They referred me back to the dealer again, even though I had said in my letter that the dealer could not fix it. The trouble is that the dealer has informed Land Rover there is "nothing" wrong with my Defender so I cannot move further forward on it. The Defender still works though it's not as if it won't go so I gave up, as it was spoiling my enjoyment of the vehicle.
My local dealer unofficially uses "Superchips" to improve some of the Defenders that they sell.

Solicitor letter followed by a visit to trading standards then

My local dealer unofficially uses "Superchips" to improve some of the Defenders that they sell.

Well, report that to LandRover! That should stir things up.