A friend has a 2013 Range Rover Vogue 3.0 TDV6 258hp with a starting problem that drives him mad. Several garages, including the largest LR dealer in Norway, has tried to fix it but to no avail. Oddly, no OBD code is stored that can assist us! This is the second winter with the problem.

It starts, then stops. Or runs for 1-8 seconds, then stops. Same behaviour next time the start button is pushed. After 3-10 attempts, the car usually starts and drives fine.

• Engine will crank easily and starts fine, runs with normal RPM and engine sound. After the 1-8 second period, it stops abruptly - no rough idle, just like if the start/stop-button was pushed. Occasionally it may run 30-40 seconds, then stop.
• Problem only occurs when less than -5C, never during summer. Usually worse the colder it gets, but not always. May start fine in -20C and be totally unreliable at -12 the next day.
• Problem occurs now and then. Can start ok one week, then problems again and again.
• Pushing throttle pedal, even gently, usually makes the engine stop.
• No OBD error code is stored in the system after the problems. No engine fault lamp.
• The problem persists also after pre-heating the engine with the Webasto.
• All glow plugs are new.
• Battery is new.
• Well proven diesel-additive (prevent icing/condensation) has been tried.

We suspect that diesel for some reason is cut off, or that the engine erranously receives a "stop" message.

Videos below show the instrument panel during the startup period.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5y51dt9si9aww3s/...d.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4fbdsitm7p0luzu/throttle.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j5rbd7wmdmze1d7/...s.mp4?dl=0

Any suggestions welcome.

Lars, Norway

is there an additional battery in the rear right cubby hole...if so check it , it might be flat.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thanks, we will check as soon as possible.

A friend of mine (also in Norway) had a similar problem a couple of years ago. It turned out that it was an air hose (don’t know which one) where moist got trapped in a bend and froze solid after a cold night. The engine started OK, but as soon as it detected restricted air flow, the engine shut down. ----------
2014 tdv6 (ex. 2004 td6, 1997 2.5 dse)

Icing of the MAF would also cause this, there was an issue on the TDV6 early on with MAF icing caused by cold wet air, there was a software fix (presumably to increase the current across the resistor) - I'd hope that if this also applies to the TDV8 the dealer would have checked the software level.

Very interesting info - we are extremely thankful. Will look into all suggestions. Car is a TDV6 so the MAF icing problem may well be the case. Also the air hose problem is interesting. It reminds me of a problem I had with a otherwise very dependable Rover 75 V6 where a engine ventilation tube froze in a bend. I fixed this by covering the exposed tube with insulation foam.

Car indeed had a secondary battery (bit embarrassing that we did not know about it, but even more embarrassing for the authorized LR garage). It was old and we have replaced it now. We just have to wait for cold weather again and then we will post any findings.

If the MAF is icing, the measured values for air temperature and airflow will not be plausible, if you have any diagnostic tool that can read the values, it will show if icing is the problem or not.
The TDV6 icing issue was fixed late 2006 so it should be programmed out in your case, it may be worth checking the air intake ducting for leaks or splits as these can cause an unexpected loss of pre-warmed air.