rjc1944 wrote:

My first thought on difficult starting at -1 would be the battery rather than the glowplugs.

Mine starts fine at -1 but this morning at -9 it didnt want to know

I am planning on connecting another battery to it tomorrow morning with jump leads to see if it is battery related or the dreaded glow plugs!!!  Black FL2
L200 Warrior

No, battery is fine. It kept turning over and over but couldn’t fire up

Past master wrote:

I'm not sure if it's possible to test the actual plugs without dismantling.

A friend was having problems starting and the workshop told him that the glowplug cables are taken individually back to a plug and socket before going to the battery junction box as one cable (which would make it impossible to test one by one, only the voltage to all four).
It is this plug and socket that is accessible from underneath (with difficulty) that the fitter used to diagnose the glowplugs resistance one by one.
I assumed he thought it easier to use this plug and socket rather than strip components out to diagnose, this is third hand info so make of it what you will.

Click image to enlarge

OscillateWildly wrote:

No, battery is fine. It kept turning over and over but couldn’t fire up

If the engine turns over, apparently normally, but does not start, i would suspect the heater plugs. I have seen my heater (glow) plug lamp on for the first time, during this cold spell. At about -5c, when you press the starter button, nothing seems to happen for a couple of seconds, and the lamp is on. Then it cranks and starts ok.

OscillateWildly wrote:

Interesting. Mine’s the same year. Please post their findings.
Thanks

EYorkshire wrote:

Past master wrote:

I'm not sure if it's possible to test the actual plugs without dismantling.

A friend was having problems starting and the workshop told him that the glowplug cables are taken individually back to a plug and socket before going to the battery junction box as one cable (which would make it impossible to test one by one, only the voltage to all four).
It is this plug and socket that is accessible from underneath (with difficulty) that the fitter used to diagnose the glowplugs resistance one by one.
I assumed he thought it easier to use this plug and socket rather than strip components out to diagnose, this is third hand info so make of it what you will.

Click image to enlarge

Past master wrote:

OscillateWildly wrote:

Interesting. Mine’s the same year. Please post their findings.
Thanks

Marshalls have checked the LR computer and say there are no software updates outstanding. They are going to check further for me. They did seem surprised at the lack of cold start delay. Will quiz them again when I pick the car up (it's staying in while they order a new horn, which they were quite surprised to find is covered under the extended warranty). It doesn't worry me unduly as it always seems to start OK anyway.

I’ve now let my local Land Rover dealership deal with it. He seemed surprised as has ‘he’s never heard of any cold starting problems on these…..’
I can’t help but feel, it will be returned with the tagline -‘we’ve had it in overnight and couldn’t find anything wrong with it sir’

Quote:

I’ve now let my local Land Rover dealership deal with it. He seemed surprised as has ‘he’s never heard of any cold starting problems on these…..’
I can’t help but feel, it will be returned with the tagline -‘we’ve had it in overnight and couldn’t find anything wrong with it sir’

That's interesting - my garage here in Stockholm told me (as I have reached about 93000 km) that it is quite common to replace the glowplugs at this time - they did mine the other day and now the car starts just ok, even after 18 hrs in -10 degrees. Out of the four, two were dead, and the two other had a very faint glow, they said. They also added that they had quite a few Freelanders coming in (my age and mileage (2008)) the last weeks (since we were reminded it was actually winter here...).

Well I am happy but 500 € poorer...  It's never too late to learn something new...

This is what Marshalls said:
"There is no software update. The early 2007 model Freelanders DO NOT HAVE THE STARTING DELAY SYSTEM. If you think you need the glow plugs switch the ignition on briefly before starting" (the latter advice has been given on the forum before).
They didn't know this initially, but checked and say that's what they found. They also said that "Freelanders don't like cold starting", which is probably shorthand for "most people's glow plugs need replacing after a few years".

thats strange as my 57SE has start delay if it is cold enough it will wait 3-4 seconds and light up the cold start before cranking over

Mines an april build 07 and it has delayed glow plug start ( went it feels like it ), sometimes at -5 no delay then at -1 short delay with glow plug light, but always seems to start ok.
LR checked it out and say - no faults found.!!

Richard FL2 07 TD4 GS Auto
Ex 02 TD4 Auto

Mines just been returned. They’ve found no fault codes recorded but have downloaded the latest power control module. It would be nice to think an official dealership would have more knowledge than a group of forum enthusiasts. The acid test will be Sunday morning when the forecast is
-2deg.
At the end of the day, as long as it eventually does start in the morning I'm not sure it’s worth the agro and time chasing the problem with wedge of cash for few days of the year it’s a problem

Yet another 07 FL2 that has a starting delay in really cold weather. Had no problems (touch wood) even though the car gets left for days between starts!