Cold Starting Problem

I’m hoping that you might be able to help, I have just purchased a Range Rover 1991 Vogue EFI 3.9 petrol automatic on Saturday and I’m really pleased with this vehicle.
But I seem to have a problem now where it will turn over and over and over from cold then eventually start, it has started ok up until yesterday morning.
Once the Range Rover has been running for a while it will start again fine.

Since Saturday every time I started the vehicle the revs would rise upto about 1500-2000 rpm then slowly drop back to just under 1000 rpm, but now when it does get started the revs do not rise and the Range Rover coughs and splutters until it has warmed up.

I’m not a mechanic but it feels as though it needs some choke to get started.
The Range Rover was serviced before I collected it (private),

Obviously I need to try and solve this problem buy trying to change the cheapest items first as a matter of elimination, and would be very grateful for any suggestions.
I have been looking on the internet and people have suggested the Temperature senor????


Many thanks in advance
Regards
Ian

I am not to up on the LR petrols, but it does sound like it could be a fueling issue related to a dodgey temp sensor... could be completly wrong... PM eightinavee he will prob know.

Sounds like a coolant temp sensor issue,it is a black coloured 2 wire sensor screwed vertically into the rhf of the inlet manifold area.Check it is connected properly first,if it is then check its resistance - I would expect 2k ohm when stone cold going down to about 70 ohms when up to temp.(from memory,but somewhere near)
The fuel rail temp sensor is exactly the same so you can swap it to prove a faulty one if need be,left unplugged the Ecu will run a default coolant temp of about 60 c which could lead to poor cold starts and poor mpg when hot.
Have a go at this first and post back - we will get it sorted for you.

Many thanks for your reply, not sure if this points to the temp sensor but before I started the car tonight I removed the connector and the car started fine then I put the connector back on and the revs dropped and the engine started to run lumpy, could this be the answer - fingers crossed.

Thanks again
Ian

Try doing the swop with the fuel rail temp sensor,leave the fuel rail disconnected.

Just to let you know that it was the temp sensor this was about £9.00, many thanks for all your help.

Regards
Ian
P.S. Any idea about a rubbing sound from the steering coloum on the inside of the 4x4 when turning at slow speed, VERY VERY ANNOYING