Took mine to the local LR dealer last week after perviously posting about cold starting issues.
Seems a little better - all they did was a software update.
It now gives a decent delay after pressing start button that wasn't there before. i.e.glow plugs actually getting time to warm up. Hasn't had a real test though since it's got milder after the upgrade!

With regard to the comments about the compression ratio of turbo diesels - it's strange that when it was -11C and mine struggled, my neighbours, work colleagues and friend's turbo diesel cars all started fine.
(none of which are landrovers)

By the way, my Land Rover dealer told me that software upgrades are NOT covered by the Approved LandROver Warranty...but on this occasion they wouldn't charge me!
What use is the warranty then? They seem to do software upgrades for so many faults...

Ripon Land Rover does software updates FOC (well, included!) in every visit, service or warranty - three of the former and only two of the latter!

Mine has started fine all through last winter and this. Outside whiel working away through the last snows and even at home, -10 outside meant -7 in the garage and no problems at all. 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

yorkshirerob wrote:

Took mine to the local LR dealer last week after perviously posting about cold starting issues.
Seems a little better - all they did was a software update.
It now gives a decent delay after pressing start button that wasn't there before. i.e.glow plugs actually getting time to warm up. Hasn't had a real test though since it's got milder after the upgrade!

With regard to the comments about the compression ratio of turbo diesels - it's strange that when it was -11C and mine struggled, my neighbours, work colleagues and friend's turbo diesel cars all started fine.
(none of which are landrovers)

By the way, my Land Rover dealer told me that software upgrades are NOT covered by the Approved LandROver Warranty...but on this occasion they wouldn't charge me!
What use is the warranty then? They seem to do software upgrades for so many faults...

Sure - it was Copley Land Rover in Halifax.
I don't get a delay at all now the weather is milder....but when it was still minus whatever the slight delay meant it seemed better.

For what it's worth - a friend of a friend who is in the know (ex Land rover mechanic) recommends Guy Salmon Wakefield in terms of staff competency. Never been there myself as Copley is a lot closer but if you're in Leeds I would certainly consider them...

Best of luck

I have been having a similar problem with my Freelander 2. Won't start in the really cold mornings. Took it to a Land Rover dealer in Northern Ireland and they told me there was a problem with the ECM. Replaced it at £600. Took it home - wouldn't start the next morning.

Got the old ECM of them and took it to an independent garage to test - nothing wrong with the ECM - he thinks it's the glowplugs. Waiting to get them replaced (and get my £600 back from Landrover)!

yorkshirerob wrote:

Took mine to the local LR dealer last week after perviously posting about cold starting issues.
Seems a little better - all they did was a software update.
It now gives a decent delay after pressing start button that wasn't there before. i.e.glow plugs actually getting time to warm up. Hasn't had a real test though since it's got milder after the upgrade!

With regard to the comments about the compression ratio of turbo diesels - it's strange that when it was -11C and mine struggled, my neighbours, work colleagues and friend's turbo diesel cars all started fine.
(none of which are landrovers)

By the way, my Land Rover dealer told me that software upgrades are NOT covered by the Approved LandROver Warranty...but on this occasion they wouldn't charge me!
What use is the warranty then? They seem to do software upgrades for so many faults...

DiscoGeorge wrote:

Sounds to me like different levels of firmware

I quoted this some weeks ago.

It is a problem with many vehicle manufacturers nowadays.

Good lucK!  With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff

Come on dg there's no way you know everything about cold starting as well.  Don't put petrol in a diesel. They don't run well.

I would have thought there would be no cold starting in SA  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

npinks wrote:

I would have thought there would be no cold starting in SA

You are right about SA in general. But in the Free State in Winter temps go down to -15 I have had my fun moments in Bethlehem and Ficksburg trying to start vehicles in those temps. Without fully working glow plugs and fully charged batteries, you didn't have a chance in hell.

But I ground my teeths on cold starting and battery maintenance in the Swiss Army back in the 1970's. In those days we used NOX injection while cranking the truck engines from cold.

Once you have travelled nearly 4 Mio kilometres some experiences teach one how not to do things.  With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff

Got my Glow plugs changed today. Have been without my precious for 2-3 weeks now because of the cold. Will report back tomorrow:) Fingers crossed!!!!! FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

OH YES!!!!!!!!

4 new glow plugs and -14C today!
Started on the first push of the button without the "push start without clutch" method.
Had a good few seconds of glowing before it cranked into life!

And here is the sweet part!! My car beeing a 07 is out of warranty....
the past few months I have changed the Webasto, the front windscreen and now the glow plugs. The dealer claimed everything on warranty to Land Rover and they covered 100% of the repairs and parts!
That's like admitting they have a fault with their cars.

Now I can go back to loving my car again.
Knock on wood....... FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

Redlabel,
Good news indeed and i'm glad that you've got the delay. The two stage wont work anyway even though the glow plug lamp is 'on' in the instrument pack. This is because of the clutch switch.

Sounds like you've got a very good dealer too!! Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Result  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

redlabel - Glad you got sorted out.

My FL2 is out of warranty but there is no way the local dealer will do the work on Warranty.

I estimate the replacement of the glow plugs at £500 - £1000!!

It's going to be -10 over the next few nights - anything below -5 and it's "no go".

Time to part company with LR!! - vehicles at just under 4 years old shoud not do this.

I also agree with you redlabel LR - have a problem with the glow plugs on the early FL2's



Jackrabbit

new plugs are approx £40, fitting seems to be a little complicated due to lack of easy access but no where near that price
http://www.land-rover-parts-shop.com/en/ui...p;year=all

also read here:-
http://w3ww.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=80853 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race