Range Rover L322 3.6 TD V8 Cold start issue

Charles Banbury

Active Member

Posts

114

Location

Oxfordshire

• Dec 16, 2017

• #1

Hi everyone. Quick question if someone has a moment. My L322 3.6 is amazingly reliable and in the last year it has been a fantastic car. However, in the very cold weather recently it has struggled to start in the mornings. I have had to warm the plugs for about 4 cycles of the key and then the car fires up and runs roughly for about 2 seconds before returning to a smooth burble. I am assuming that I need new glow plugs? is this a very expensive job at a specialist such as Mark Smith in Bicester? They do all the maintenance and servicing on the car. The L322 has 140k on the clock. many thanks for your help.
Merry Christmas,#
Charles

 

Wazzajnr

Well-Known Member

Posts

2,391

Location

Chorley

• Dec 16, 2017

• #2

I had exactly the same on my merc v6 diesel, had the plugs changed and it was no different. New battery solved it. There was enough capacity in the battery to turn it over well but the voltage when cold was slightly down so the plugs didn't get as hot as they should.
I would try a new battery first as it's a cheaper option and either way you then know it's good

 

Mick Guilbert

Well-Known Member

Posts

466

Location

Gloucester , abit near the Forest of Dean

• Dec 16, 2017

• #3

As above I would try new battery or even jump leads to a veh with good battery first and see what happens.

 

Charles Banbury

Active Member

Posts

114

Location

Oxfordshire

• Dec 16, 2017

• #4

Thanks for that advice. It could be the case as my alternator was replaced last month due to low power output. This had resulted in a flat battery on 3 occasions so it could have knackered the battery.
Many thanks.

 

Wazzajnr

Well-Known Member

Posts

2,391

Location

Chorley

• Dec 16, 2017

• #5

Charles Banbury said:

Thanks for that advice. It could be the case as my alternator was replaced last month due to low power output. This had resulted in a flat battery on 3 occasions so it could have knackered the battery.
Many thanks.

Click to expand...

For a hundred notes or so and 10 minutes to do, it's worth doing this first.

 

Gwe

Member

Posts

30

Location

durham

• Dec 17, 2017

• #6

def try battery. removing glow plugs can be a can of worms

 

Charles Banbury

Active Member

Posts

114

Location

Oxfordshire

• Dec 17, 2017

• #7

Thanks everyone for your, as ever, expert advice. I connected my battery pack to the car battery this morning to boost the output. This had a significant effect on the starting after only one cycle to the heaters. So looks like thats solved and a new battery tomorrow. Many thanks once again.
With regards,
Charles.

 

brianp38dse

Well-Known Member

Posts

20,065

Location

heathrow

• Dec 17, 2017

• #8

Its the first rule of range rovers make sure the battery is A1 before checking anything else.