2008 TDV8 3.6

Close to giving up after a month of failed diagnostics.

Cruising at 50/60mph with trailer, uneventful no issues for 150 miles, then suddenly rpm drops to 500 and complete loss of power with no throttle response. BUT IT DOES NOT CUT OUT.
Cruise, NOT coast, 1/4 mile into a lay-by where she sits at a very low 500rpm idle, no throttle response, until I turn her off.
Never to start again
To be clear, there were no pops or bangs grinds mechanics sounds or lumpiness in the running, just low rpm & no throttle response.

The recovery engineer, 2 auto electricians, and a mobile mechanic all raise their hands in defeat declaring “it should start & run” !

Fuel lift pump checked & good.
Rail pressure checked & good.
Air induction good.
Fuel pumped out, purged, and clean fuel added.

ps (a big PS) It won’t fire up with Easistart direct to the throttle bodies ???
pps On initial crank it may make up to 750rpm but then immediately dies.

Hoping someone can make sense of this. PLEASE

Does it start with the top turbo hoses off?

Thanks for a quick response, any help appreciated.
As stated the car has never started since the loss of power a month ago.

Are you suggesting I should attempt to start without the turbo hoses connected ?

I have very little mechanical knowledge of these cars and no idea what part the turbos might play in start up.

You need someone with proper diagnostic equipment for a Range Rover, not the generic type you find at most garages, find a good Land Rover independent garage near you and get them to take a look...

Guessing and just changing stuff by guess work will just waste money... you need someone with experience of these to understand the results they will get from an in depth diagnostic...

Good luck... Pete

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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks for your input Pete.

I have had 2 auto electricians, and a mechanic, all recommended by RR owners who have not been able to identify a cause.
My first issue with taking it to anywhere is that being a non starter there is the expense and logistics of getting it to said specialist without any guarantee of a correct diagnosis.

If I’ve got “simple” question it would be,
Why would it (or any Diesel engine) not fire when spinning over and pumping easistart down its throats ?

I’d be happy to hear any thought thru suggestions.

Lack of compression / inlet valves not opening. If the easistart makes it into the cylinder and you have sufficient compression, it will fire. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

Sounds like you need someone to do basic checks, compression would be the first as AJ suggests...  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thank you both for your replies.
Like you, my belief is that is that if a Diesel engine (any Diesel engine) is provided with a fuel source and air (atmospheric direct to the intake throttle body) it should fire.
So, if compression is the only thing missing can we explain why all 8 cylinders suffered lack of compression at precisely the same time, but continued running at a low, but smooth & consistent 500rpm ?

Beats the hellout of me !

Kevhdkent wrote:

Are you suggesting I should attempt to start without the turbo hoses connected ?

Yes. Check the oil level beforehand though

Use a suitable diagnostic device to check for crankshaft position sensor activity. Nothing from that sensor and the engine will not attempt to fire because the ecm won't know that it's turning over. The camshaft position sensor is another although there should be fault codes stored for that sensor.

Perhaps give Martin Hind at Dartford Transmissions a call & bend his ear for 2 minutes & see what he says?

Hope this helps & keep us in the loop if you don't mind. 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
BMW R1200GS
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

GraemeS wrote:

Use a suitable diagnostic device to check for crankshaft position sensor activity. Nothing from that sensor and the engine will not attempt to fire because the ecm won't know that it's turning over. The camshaft position sensor is another although there should be fault codes stored for that sensor.

GraemeS wrote:

Use a suitable diagnostic device to check for crankshaft position sensor activity. Nothing from that sensor and the engine will not attempt to fire because the ecm won't know that it's turning over. The camshaft position sensor is another although there should be fault codes stored for that sensor.

Kevhdkent wrote:

Hi, I have an engineer looking at it on Monday and will ask he check this.
if the crank position sensor was malfunctioning would it rise to 750rpm on initial crank before dying as noted above ?

The sensor is irrelevant when easy start is used, the fact that it’s not firing then suggests low compression. Reading back on the thread it would seem possible that the timing may have jumped teeth and possible valve damage? Wouldn't rev to now it won’t fire, just a thought. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

Last edited by AJGalaxy2012 on 30th Oct 2021 4:53am. Edited 2 times in total