Hi there been a member for a while but never posted before.
I have a problem with cold starting freelander 2 diesel auto.
The problem is when the car is cold mainly first thing in the morning I put the key in and no matter what the temp outside I get no glowplug indicator on dash so I wait about 5-10 seconds before pushing button to start with foot on brake obviously it will crank and try to start but splutters and knocks when it does start it starts splutters knocks and let's out grey smokes smells of diesel and hesitates misfires for about 10 seconds then runs and starts superbly.
Now I have changed the throttle body and sensor inside it still no different.
My temp gauge when running only goes a quarter of the way up.
This is doing my head in now can you pls help me?.
I had codes read by my icarsoft landrover code reader they are as follows.
P0480
P02E1
P02E9.

I rarely see the glow plug light, only in extreme cold and when I do, the car hesitates before starting to crank. My understanding is that the glow plugs are used when starting in normal temperatures you just don’t get the pause to preheat. It would appear that some of your glow plugs may have failed.
You can put those codes into a browser search and get answers related to fuel pump low voltage, airflow and throttle valve position.

I am not sure at what temp the light should come on. The plugs can be tested quite easily with a 12v supply ie your battery. A few seconds and they should, in theory, glow red at the tip. Some suggest using an ohm meter but if it is possibly your wiring at fault that will not prove good or bad.

Do I remember something on here about turning the ignition on in cold weather for a few seconds before starting it ?

Hasbury wrote:

I put the key in and no matter what the temp outside I get no glowplug indicator on dash so I wait about 5-10 seconds before pushing button to start

Maybe I am reading it wrong but you won't get a Glow Plug inidactor just by putting the Fob in the slot, it won't appear until you push the Start Button.


P0480 Radiator fan slow
P02E1 Diesel intake air flow control - Performance
P02E9 Diesel intake air flow position sensor - Circuit high

The Temp guage going up only a quarter of the way may be the Thermostat gone faulty and stuck open. 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.

Even stuck open after a decent run should still be reading about half.

Thanks for your reply guys.
According to a code reader made by snap on the codes I get apart from one all point to throttle body and sensor which I changed.
Are you suggesting chang the core plugs aswell and that should cure the problem starting issue?
I was going to do that next. Any idea what I can expect to pay or anybody in the stafford area want to lend a hand? Beer and food in it for you.

I will do a video if it helps

Sounds similar to my symptoms on the starting front. I changed all four glow plugs and fine now. Price wise, I went to a diesel specialist as I was a little worried about a glow plug snapping during removal. They had all the facilities to deal with that if it happened. I paid £400 ish which was way too much but you pay a premium for using specialist garages. Some guys on here do it with the manifold in place. Very tricky and requires patience. Glow plugs are about £15 ish plus a gasket at £25 from memory. Leaking injectors can also cause starting issues. What mileage are you at? The temperature issue you have sounds a separate problem to the starting problem.

Labradorslave.
Thanks for that I was thinking that tbh.
But nice to get second opinion.
I will get injectors checked also while its being sorted for coreplugs.
I have a feeling that the coolant temp sensor could be problem with the gauge to be fair.

She has just covered 157000 so had the belt tensioner waterpump front transfer box crankshaft pulley all changed.
Its a fantastic car (well it will be.) lol santorini black.

Glowplugs now changed and starts virtually straight away.
Mechanic removed inlet manifold and said it was full off oil and sludge so cleaned that and egr just need to blast it up road now to complete job.

You state car is black except your profile says white, that is a known problem causer.

My profile picture is of said vehicle and definitely black.
Well it was last time I looked.

You have chosen a little 'Profile Icon' below your uploaded picture of a

"2008 Freelander 2 TD4 S Manual Alaska White" FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)