Thread: Before I kill it with fire...

Hello all,

I have a 2004 SE V8 Disco. Fantastic vehicle (when its going). This may be a tad long winded so I apologise in advance, however I'm hoping someone else has had similar issues and might point me in the right direction...

Symptons; Every so often the the vehicle refuses to start, but runs perfectly up until you turn it off and try to start it again. Moving from Park to Neutral ect does nothing. If I remove the fuel pump relay it will usually fire up and then I just quickly put the relay back in and all is good with the world. Sometimes that relay doesn't fix it so you have to move a couple and swap them (same amps) and then it will fire up, and all is good with the world. Always starts first thing in the morning or if you leave it for a fair while.

Recently though, it has started to flash the M S lights on the dash, and every so often if you're idling along in traffic it will stall and then by playing around with the relays i will start again, drive perfectly ect ect. A precursor to the auto going into limp mode is a hesitation as if the vehicle has lost all electrical power. It's only for half a second and then it goes fine again but sometime in the following minutes the M S lights go on, I pull over turn the vehicle on and off again (if it starts) and all is good with the world.

Attempts to fix it; I have pulled the fuse box apart and contact cleaned everything. It was good for about a day (200km) before symptoms returned. I have checked and cleaned the battery terminals, I have put a 2nd hand xyz switch in after cleaning but that just made the gear indicator on the dash play silly buggers. Car didn't drive any better. I then put the old xyz switch back in it, the gear selector is better but neutral and drive don't show up on the dash. After doing this the car was good when I drove all around town, but on my first 100km trip the symptoms have returned.

It is bloody frustrating, and getting very sick of my condescending Toyota driving mates. I'm thinking maybe both the xyz switches are past their best but I'd like to be more confident before spending $800 on a new part. When it's going, it's faultless. Revs cleanly, drives fantastic. Very rarely stalls when I'm moving but it has started to do it more. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Dave

Originally Posted by V8Disco

...Always starts first thing in the morning or if you leave it for a fair while....

That one there possibly points to a heat related issue. Cold first thing in the morning and cools down when left. If so, does this point to a fuelling issue (vapour lock?) or maybe a temp sensor issue? Just spit balling......