npinks wrote:

-5c this morning and my glow plug light came on for about 1 sec and started to crank after 5 sec

Auto defrosting drivers side window is great too, (just park car next to combi boiler exhaust vent )

Sounds like a plan. You're okay thought as your HSE has quick clear screen. Mine doesn't!!  Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

npinks wrote:

-5c this morning and my glow plug light came on for about 1 sec and started to crank after 5 sec

Auto defrosting drivers side window is great too, (just park car next to combi boiler exhaust vent )

Top tip for winter - get some tumble dryer venting tube, over the combi boiler outlet and into the car engine bay Sounds a bit dangerous actually, skip that lest remark and replace with ''clean the garage out''

"clean the garage out"

But where will we park our lawnmowers and wheelie bins???

Jimmy, I have had the same experience as you, with the following differences (Written with a capital letter / number)

jimmy wrote:

tried to start my 2 year (2,5) old FL2 diesel this morning, temp was about -7 (-8)C (and maybe during the night it was - 9C). It's gararged in a "carport" - which means it's covered on 2 (3) sides and a roof - and open on 2 (1) sides.

(It had it's 2nd (3nd) service last week - so should be in top condition).

And I let the glowplugs prewarm (as usual) for about 10 secs more than necessary.

It started - ( almost immediately ) but only after about 15 cycles (and the HDC warning showing a few times)

What do you reckon - the struggle to start was just because of the low temps ?

my Fl2 is suffering a bit at the moment here in Germany. Car is eiether in a car port (but protected on three sides or on the drive). Just before Christmas we went to -20c and it only just started after much churning. I thought that the non-starting fault from end of 08 had been fixed by the dealer as its been starting OK. Over the last two weeks I have constant messages after starting saying HDC fault, reduced engine performance, terrrain response fault. Also a couple of times it has started and afterwards has reset the trip metre to zero and reset the trip computer. It is started and driven daily, but it is a constant battle to know whether or not it is going to start. Also after a couple of minutes the engine will idle unevenly after a couple of mimutes for 30 secs or so, usually as the heated front windscreen switches itself off (surely this can't be normal??) By contrast my 1 yr old Ford Focus diesel started instantly in the same weather. That said once it has been started once and run for a minute or two it will fire again instantly.

Also on the terrain response it is lucky dip at the moment as to whether it has switched itself back to "snow and ice" when the car is restarted after being switched off with it on that setting or switching itself back into snow and ice when it has been disengaged before switrhing off the ignition.

Do we think there is some kind of charging fault with the battery or is it a question of replacing a relay or two (as suggested in numerous posts on battery discharge)? Do we think the fault messages are related to this? Any thoughts if there is some kind of glow plug problem? The car goes in for a service in a couple of weeks so it would be good to give the dealer a heads up as you can guarantee that no faults will be recorded in the memory and I don't want fobbing off. Be aware that one key fob as been replaced as it stopped communicating with the car (any co-incidence?) and the PTC recall has been actioned.

Any help gratefully accepted  Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

I'll pass on a tip from LR Experience tutor:

On cold days, put in the key and press the start button without pressing the clutch/brake. This will allow the ECU to do the system self test, get the temperatures and invoke the best glow plug strategy. Now press the clutch and hit the engine start button again.

Cheers
Chris Gone... 2013 XS TD4 Manual Firenze Red
Gone... 2008 (09MY) XS Td4 Manual Stornaway Grey
Prior... 2003 G4 Discovery 2, 1998 Disco 1 and 1997 Disco 1 Company car before that
Also gone in Nov'13, after 7.5 yrs, to new owners with time for more TLC - 1980 Series III 88
Current 2015 Discovery Sport HSE 2.0

I shall pass onto my wife to try tomorrow morning, and report back, since it is currently about -10 at night with us.  Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

Unnecessary use of "quotes" removed see Im getting clever at it

Thanks Chris B - I will give it a go and see if it makes any difference to my experiences of cold starting. It has only been -13 C here during the weekend and Freely started as it normally does about 1 sec. wait for each minus temp. When I did start up it was between -7 and -9 and it took 7 seconds from button push to start of fire up. The running sounded rough, but I am used to that now and consider it to be normal. She runs like a bird when warm though. Later this week Freely will be in her mountain resort and we expect at least -20 C so it will be interesting to try your suggestion then.  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Instructed wife on how to start car in morning, but she says she always puts key in and gets to all the lights coming on, puts seat belt on and then goes to start, so perhaps battery is terminally weak? Anyone had theirs replaced under warranty? as car is only 26 months old? Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

AndyT wrote:

gumdrop wrote:

I did have an other small problem in that the car had a problem with lack of power - however this went after I filled up - I suspect the northern France diesel I had in the tank did not have enough additive in it to stop it waxing up - any thoughts ?

If you have very little in the tank the ECU can switch to a limp-home mode which is like a very economical limited power setup. It's designed to give you more chance to get to a filling station. Happened to me once when I pushed it too far before filling up - got me there though! Maybe that's what happened?

Mine went into limp home mode after it went extremely low on fuel. Never went over 2k revs I think, and definately no turbo power. Good system when you thiunk about it.

Attracted to this thread due to very poor start this am (-4 here). in my newly serviced FL2. Poor car.  Nick Jones
Dog Behaviour Specialist
www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk