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I Have a 2000 (W) Disco TD5 I'm having problems with it.
It has lost power (not that there was a lot to start with) a few months ago we bought a brand new caravan on towing the caravan home the disco lost all power & would only go at 30mph no more, there didn't seem to be any accelerator pedal, (it didn't matter how far it was pressed wouldn't go any faster)
I took it to our nearest garage, who plugged it into their diagnostics computer. it wasn't showing any faults.
this went on for a few weeks. then it seemed to clear itself, but then when I accelerate sometimes it coughs & splutters, hiccups & is really hard to drive. (Hard as in, no power, power, no power, power, as quick as that)
I took it back for diagnostics, & still no faults showing.
the disco is so unreliable I have to wait for gaps big enough to get artics out at junctions/roundabout because I just don't know if it is going to go when I put my foot down.

also when I am pulling the caravan it is very slow on moving away until the turbo eventually kicks in at about 2500rpm, is there anyway of adjusting when the turbo kicks in ?
I know they say a Disco will pull up to 3500kg but to be honest mine struggles pulling 1500kg.
everybody else that uses a Disco to tow caravans & stuff say they're brilliant at it, & at the moment I strongly disagree.
thanks in advance (hopefully)

You obviously have issues with it.
Where did you take it to be checked out?
Do they do many Landrovers?

Yeh they had a disco, a freelander & a range rover in for repair.
they also changed my clutch & fuel pump when they went.

I have changed the fuel filter & water sensor, air filter twice, it's due for an oil change.

have you checked the red plug on the ecu for oil contamination, i think the boost modulator controls when it comes on boost with the disco td5, might be worth changing it, only around £20

Thanks John, Where abouts is the ecu, & the boost modulator ?

does your local garage have a nanocom or similar, alot only have OBDII readers, which will not read a TD5s ECU,
a TD5 should pull a caravan easily, theres somthing up with it IMO

phill900r said:

Thanks John, Where abouts is the ecu, & the boost modulator ?

Click to expand...

if you follow the small rubber pipe from the turbo it should lead to the modulator, its a small matchboxed sized gizmo.
on a disco i believe the ecu is under the bonnet towards the rear of the engine bay but not 100% sure as mine is a defender

Not sure what diagnostics they have tim. it could well be OBDII.
I don't know where I could find out if any garages have nanocom diagnostic equipment.

Hi John
no box near the rear, there's a silver box with loads of wires going to it, by the battery.

phill900r said:

Hi John
no box near the rear, there's a silver box with loads of wires going to it, by the battery.

Click to expand...

thats the ecu, pull the red plug off and check the plug for oil

OK John I will have a look for oil in the morning, thanks.

Have a look on the lzir map, there may be someone local with diagnostics, otherwise an Indy lr garage should have compatible kit, as should bigger garages.

Morning People. I have had a look at the red plug on the ECU, & it was absolutely covered in oil, I have cleaned all the oil off & sprayed it with a cleaning anti moisture spray. (cleans & expels moisture), also I have been investigating other causes, & found the turbo wastegate actuator, had been adjusted so much it was staying open, which probably don't help.
they also showed how to adjust the wastegate properly, (which I have done)
what a difference. I don't know which helped now cleaning the plug or adjusting te wastegate, put it pulls so evenly now, not a cough in sight. all I need to do now is try pulling the caravan when we get it out....

If it's had oil in ecu plug you need to change the injector harness

It is likely to have been the wastegate seized or miss adjusted if the turbo over boosts the ecu will cut the fuel generates a horrible kangaroo effect especially noticeable in 3rd 4th and 5th under hard acceleration going up hills etc.

A new injector loom is not that expensive to buy, I've yet to fit mine though..

You might want to clean out the little plug for the loom at the front of the engine, just below the rocker cover - that'll be awash with oil too. You have to remove the big black acoustic cover first

have you looked into blanking off your EGR
There are some threads on it

Same problem with my old Disco TD5 it ran rough from the day I got it, but I didn't know any better after moving "up" from a 300 tdi.

Sluggish and misfiring.

It started dripping oil out of the loom, so I read up on the issue and changed the injector loom. So much better afterwards and a nice motor. Shame the ABS pump failed the head gasket went and the sunroofs poured in water and the suspension airbags failed twice. Etc etc otherwise I would still have it.

The loom is £30 ish from memory, well worth doing.