W reg, 2.0 DI Just stopped and now wont start

Hi,
This is my first post and unfortunately it's not a happy one.

I recently bought a 2000 plate 2.0 DI (rover engine) Hippo, I love it and I thought it loved me. On Friday evening it decided to stop loving me whilst I was in the third lane of the M6, stranding me on the hard shoulder for three and a half hours until the RAC actually found me, apparently the M6 J30 is easy to confuse with M6 J6. Tossers.

In the three weeks driving before that night It has been faultless, pulls like a dream, no smoke, no hunting, no missing, no lack of power, only a bit hesitant to start on occasion from cold but not always.

On the M6 it gave no warning or noises, it just stopped. (It has half a tank of diesel)
When I try to start it it shows plenty of white smoke. I have removed the engine cover. I get fuel immediately to the injectors, I have pulled and re seated all the plug & sockets, tugged on all the usual cables to injectors and pump etc. Removed the Injector pump belt cover, no bits or shards of belt teeth.
I have had a brand new, up to date, several thousands of pounds laptop from a landrover specialist connected to diagnose it and It does'nt throw a single fault up (and the battery had'nt been disconnected so the ecu shouldnt have wiped its self)
The loom is fine next to the battery box so no damage there.
I new nothing of Landys before last month, so as you can see I do my home work but now Im scratching my head.
Now Im at your mercy. Relays? Fuses? Other Belts? Someone mentioned oil pump pully on timing belt can slip a tooth but not damage the engine??
I really dont want to stick this on ebay as spares or repair...
Please help, my MK2 Cav Cabriolet leaks like a mother so the Landy keeps me sane, warm & dry and I miss its wobbly, rolly polly ways.
Im In Lancashire, Rishton / Great Harwood / Clitheroe area If your local or can recommend a good place (I only know Bartrams and they are helping)
Thanks,
Big (but not wealthy) Russ.

Russjepson said:

When I try to start it it shows plenty of white smoke.

Click to expand...

Here's yer clue. That white smoke is unburnt dozzel. Therefore, the fuel injects running, therefore the ECU is alive. Yer timings slipped. Get the cover off the fuel pump drive belt and have a look to see if the tensioners let go.

It "could" be the primary timing belt so if you find nothing wrong with the fuel belt then don't mess before checking the main belt. This engine will collide valves to piston heads if the timing slips out. This is not so easy as you may have to shift the engine off its mounts to get access. Its not impossible without doing this but its bloody difficult!!

Now, assuming its the fuel belt, you might need some help in resetting it. There is a technique to do it as the belt tension sets the timing.

Check the belt first then we can determine the next step.