Trouble Starting - no codes - dealer can't figure it out!

[Rob Blood]

My LR3 is not starting consistently. Sometimes it takes two or three tries to start and today it took about 20 minutes to get started (repeated attempts.) Sometimes the engine cranks and cranks but does't start and sometimes it starts, and dies right away.

It eventually starts after trying and trying. Dealer replaced the throttle and gas peddle set up thinking that there was an impropper mix of air in the gas when starting...

The dealer is struggling because there are no faults or codes.

Any suggestions? We thought it was happening more when the temps changed but not sure about that.

Sometimes we have absolutely no problem starting it and sometimes it can be a 20 minute process?

Any suggestions would be greatly apprecaited!

 

[nashvegas]

sounds like crank position sensor

which is what happened to my old 2003 D2 -- not sure how LR3 works but they are intermittent when they fail sometimes resulting in crank but no start or start and then die. might be worth asking

 

[dragan]

I’m sorry for your problem but i think you need to figure this out by yourself. Dealer will be not able to help you without code or you need to tell him what is the problem. My car was six months in the shop for simple oil leak, they were unable to find where it was coming from, and they keep replacing my power steering pump. I have to go underneath car and find leak myself, take to the shop, and show them where it is coming from. My advise is ask someone else (independent shop) what can be before they replace half of your engine while they don’t know where is the problem. If you have anybody who works on the car little bit longer with more experience he might be able to help you.
thanks

 

[ryan-in-oregon]

Is this still under warrenty?? If so take the loaner and let them fight it. If not I would start by checking for fuel and spark It has to have those three (air also) if so then start looking at everything else.......(I start simple and work my way up) Miles would also help to tell the health/age of the componets on your rig...

 

[Rob Blood]

Thanks -- not still under warrenty -- I have about 56,000 -- it's a 2005 LR3. I'm on the North Shore of Boston and don't have a great independent mechanic around to work on it. I take it to Land Rover Scarborough in Maine since they have treated me well in the past. Any other thoughts?

Thanks, Rob

 

[ryan-in-oregon]

Thanks -- not still under warrenty -- I have about 56,000 -- it's a 2005 LR3. I'm on the North Shore of Boston and don't have a great independent mechanic around to work on it. I take it to Land Rover Scarborough in Maine since they have treated me well in the past. Any other thoughts?

Thanks, Rob

Like I said in my last post Fuel (Pump working?, Fuel Filter Clean, Fuel Pressure reg working). Spark (with the coil on plug setup you need only to check one plug (Complete failure is unlikely and if one fails you still have 7 others to kick it over), If you have no spark at any cylinder you need to work your way up the system. What tells it to spark (Crank position sensor) and test that componet next. Personally going by your description it sounds like a fuel pump to me but again I'm not in front of it.

 

[Rob Blood]

Like I said in my last post Fuel (Pump working?, Fuel Filter Clean, Fuel Pressure reg working). Spark (with the coil on plug setup you need only to check one plug (Complete failure is unlikely and if one fails you still have 7 others to kick it over), If you have no spark at any cylinder you need to work your way up the system. What tells it to spark (Crank position sensor) and test that componet next. Personally going by your description it sounds like a fuel pump to me but again I'm not in front of it.

Ok -- I should also mention that once it has started, it has no problem running at all...however, once when I was driving on the highway I lost acceleration and had to pull off the road. When I pulled off, the engine died. However, I was able to start it right up and have not had that problem repeat. Thanks, Rob

And of course the dealer can't replicate the problem -- so I suppose I should leave it for a few days...

 

[dragan]

I guess those new cars are high tech and everything is operated by the computer, i’m wondering if the computer has anything to do with your car. Second you might need to try to drive your car with spare key, your key might be bad and doesn’t give signal to the car so the car can’t start or he loses the signal during driving, and engine tries to cut off.

 

[Rob Blood]

Any other thoughts - I'm bringing it in tomorrow!