TD5 in "limp home mode"

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Jens

Member
Posts
30
Location
Reykjavik, Iceland
Hi

My 00' Defender seems to go into "limp mode" when I start it up. It won't rev above 1500 or 2000 would that would be my guess as i donut have a rev counter. It's almost impossible to drive, no power and misfiring. When I try to rev it up it, the ECU gives off a click sound as if it keeps it for getting above 1500

I though I located the problem, because the wires on the sensor assy on the fuel filter was ripped off somehow. I replaced it with a new one, but it didn't seem to make a difference at all. It's still difficult for it to start, little pulling power, and sometimes stalls. etc etc.

There is a tiny bit of oil in the red plug that goes into the ECU, could that be the issue? I know it's a well known problem with the loom leaking, so I should properly get it changed too. It just seems too little to make it a problem, but I could be wrong.

I have checked and cleaned the EGR, it seems to work fine, disconnected the MAF without luck, checked for clocked air filter, checked earth connections, fuse boxes and what not.

Is there some faults codes on the ECU that needs to be cleared after I fixed the fuel sensor?

I'm pretty lost, so any advice is much appriciated.
 
Hi

My 00' Defender seems to go into "limp mode" when I start it up. It won't rev above 1500 or 2000 would that would be my guess as i donut have a rev counter. It's almost impossible to drive, no power and misfiring. When I try to rev it up it, the ECU gives off a click sound as if it keeps it for getting above 1500

I though I located the problem, because the wires on the sensor assy on the fuel filter was ripped off somehow. I replaced it with a new one, but it didn't seem to make a difference at all. It's still difficult for it to start, little pulling power, and sometimes stalls. etc etc.

There is a tiny bit of oil in the red plug that goes into the ECU, could that be the issue? I know it's a well known problem with the loom leaking, so I should properly get it changed too. It just seems too little to make it a problem, but I could be wrong.

I have checked and cleaned the EGR, it seems to work fine, disconnected the MAF without luck, checked for clocked air filter, checked earth connections, fuse boxes and what not.

Is there some faults codes on the ECU that needs to be cleared after I fixed the fuel sensor?

I'm pretty lost, so any advice is much appriciated.

The wires on the fuel filter are for the water sensor. The sensors play up for a past time which is why the wires are often left disconnected. Having them disconnected will have no effect on your engine.

It could be the oil in the injector loom that's the issue, It could be something else. Ideally you want it plugging into a Nanocom, Hawkeye or similar to see what comes up.

Does the fuel pump sound noisey? Has it had a new fuel filter recently? Have the injectors been tampered with recently?
 
No noise from the fuel pump, no tampering with the injectors, and no new fuel filter recently.

Could it just be the fuel filter?
I will change that tonight, if that doesn't do the trick I will have to go to shop and get it plugged in for a test. Hopefully that will tell whats wrong.

Thanks
 
No noise from the fuel pump, no tampering with the injectors, and no new fuel filter recently.

Could it just be the fuel filter?
I will change that tonight, if that doesn't do the trick I will have to go to shop and get it plugged in for a test. Hopefully that will tell whats wrong.

Thanks

When you say 'no noise from the fuel pump' do you mean there is no noise whatsoever or do you mean it's working but just isn't noisey?

When was the fuel filter last changed? They are supposed to be done every 6k miles.
 
No noise what so ever, which is odd when I think about it know. There are usually some whining from the back when turning the key, but now it's just a little from behind the instruments.

The fuel filter was full when I changed it 5 min ago, but if the diesel doesn't get any further than that, it would explain allot of my problems.

I checked the fuel tank for sound and it was quiet as a coffin. It's my third Defender and I have never tried that before.

Could it be the pump then? Is there no chance it could just be working quietly..
 
Last edited:
Small update!

After making sure there was no noise from the fuel tank I got annoyed and gave the fuel tank a few good kick, and all of the sudden the pump was up and running again. It sounds like it's about to give up, not the high pitch like normal, but more like a scared cat inside the tank.

So I'm pretty sure it's the pump that causes the problem, now it's time to change it!
 
Small update!

After making sure there was no noise from the fuel tank I got annoyed and gave the fuel tank a few good kick, and all of the sudden the pump was up and running again. It sounds like it's about to give up, not the high pitch like normal, but more like a scared cat inside the tank.

So I'm pretty sure it's the pump that causes the problem, now it's time to change it!

That is actually the correct fault finding method and to prove it here's an extraction from the manual given to all land rover mechanics:

"If an obvious fault cannot be found but problems continue to occur, take a large object or even your foot and hit the vehicle hard. Hit it all over as hard as possible until the fault either ceases to exist or you break something. If a part becomes damaged as a result of fault finding, stick it together with duct tape or similar and continue with the fault finding as described previously."
 
Small update!

After making sure there was no noise from the fuel tank I got annoyed and gave the fuel tank a few good kick, and all of the sudden the pump was up and running again. It sounds like it's about to give up, not the high pitch like normal, but more like a scared cat inside the tank.

So I'm pretty sure it's the pump that causes the problem, now it's time to change it!

Looks like you've sussed it.;):)
 
After trying to get it up and running last night with no luck, I got a friend to tow it. It took a few tries, but I got it up and running again.

Strange thing is that the pump got the normal high pitch whine back and the TD5 is now running better than ever. Starts up faster, revs better and feels much better to drive.

It's not 2 weeks ago the starter stopped working, but I fixed that with a good knock with a hammer.

I think the lesson here is: If it stops working, beat it till it works.

Thank you for the help! It could have cost me a small fortune getting the local mechanic to solve the problem. The fuel pump properly needs replacement soon, but now I have some space to shop around and do it myself.
 
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