Thread: Just joined and hoping to diagnose problem

Have been a Landrover Discovery owner for 14 years (2000 Discovery TD5). Have done about 195K and have generally been happy owner. Over last few years it has been mostly garaged only taken out to drag stuff to dump or surfboards carting although did trip from Sunshine Coast to Whitsundays a couple of years ago.

Not sure on forums where to post about working out problems.

Discovery has been pressed into more service due to change around of cars etc. We have two intermittent faults the first that has been going for sometime. Sometimes when starting the car the M and S transmissions lights will flash. Switch car off start up again no problem, drive for few days and even 200km and then problem again.
This was diagnosed last year as faulty inhibitor switch and replaced with second hand one. Fixed problem for a while. Then recurred.
Battery died and replaced which improved things.
Second problem which is much more recent which may or may not be related is that the engine will suddenly die with no power (but steering and brakes still powered). First time occurred. Stop and restarted. No lights flashing or anything.
Has occurred 3 more times but these times accompanied by a lot of smoke from exhaust and burning smell. All have occurred with 5 mins from home. Car not overheated and fuel in tank. Car restarts and drives normally afterwards with no smoke and normally acceleration. Have driven nearly 500km between 2nd and 3rd event.
Serviced by local mechanics who have changed fuel filter and oil filter between 2nd and 3rd event. No problem found.

I am guessing electrical problems or fuel pump but this is based on a complete lack of mechanical knowledge (human physiological problems are my area of knowledge)

Many thanks in advance from the learned people here.

Mods please move post or suggest forum to post if this is the wrong area.

Hoping to keep Discovery going for a good few years but rather concerning when car suddenly loses power!!

Originally Posted by grayarea

Will be disappointed if it is the inhibitor switch as cost $400+ for a second hand one last year. Has done less than 10K since then.

Re checking oil on engine loom will have a look but as mentioned in original post very unmechanical.

Will get mechanics to look at hose as seems best suggestion so far.

Many thanks for all replies as will have saved a load of time and effort.

Will keep posted as to progress.

I had the same or similar problem about 12 mths ago, engine would stop, by the time I got out opened the bonnet, kicked the tyres a few times, take the key out and lock the vehicle then open it again get in and it would start and not happen again for a few weeks or so, had a diagnostic done at the Land Rover service centre they installed a new harness, has not happened since. $1,200 ouch!