Defender Diesel Struggles: Stalling & Power Loss Crisis

Hey there! I had nearly identical issues with my 2008 Land Rover Discovery 3 (Diesel) last year. The symptoms match exactly what I experienced, rough running, stalling, excessive fuel consumption, and jerky acceleration. In my case, it turned out to be a faulty Accelerator Pedal Module (APM). The garage diagnosed it after running electronic tests. The APM was sending incorrect signals to the engine management system, causing all those problems. They had to replace the entire module. It wasn't a quick fix since they needed to program the new unit to sync with the vehicle's ECU. It's definitely a serious issue that needs immediate attention as it can leave you stranded or cause further engine damage. Mine started acting up at around 145K km. After the repair, the engine ran smooth as new, fuel consumption went back to normal, and all the jerking stopped. Just make sure your mechanic has experience with Land Rover diagnostics, these symptoms can be tricky to diagnose correctly without proper equipment. Hope this helps with your decision.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. The APM issue makes total sense given the symptoms. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up?

Hey again! Great to hear back from you! Yes, since you asked, I actually just checked my old invoice, and the total repair came to 205.00 € for the APM replacement, including parts and labor. Honestly, it was worth every penny! The best part? Everything's been running like a dream since then. Not a single problem with the throttle valve error that was driving me crazy before. The jerking completely stopped, fuel consumption is back to normal, and the engine runs super smooth now. It's like having a different car! I've put about 15,000 km on it since the repair, and no other issues have popped up. Just keeping up with regular maintenance now. My mechanic really knew their stuff with Land Rovers, makes such a difference when you find someone who actually understands these vehicles. Really glad my experience could help you out. Once you get that APM sorted, you should notice the difference straight away. Let me know how it goes when you get it fixed!

Thanks everyone for your input! I wanted to update you on what happened with my Defender. I took your advice and found a mechanic who specializes in Land Rovers. Turns out you were spot on, it was indeed the APM causing all the trouble! When I brought it in, they ran a full diagnostic test and picked up the faulty module right away. The repair was actually pretty quick once they had the part in stock. Cost me about the same as what you mentioned, and honestly, what a difference it's made! The engine's running smooth again, no more stalling or jerking when I accelerate. Even my fuel consumption has gone back to normal. Been driving it for a few weeks now and it feels like a completely different vehicle. No more warning lights, no rough running, just my good old Defender working as it should. Really grateful for the guidance here, saved me from going back to that first mechanic who couldn't figure it out! Think I've finally found a reliable mechanic too, which is a huge bonus. They really knew their stuff with Land Rovers. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more for someone who actually knows what they're doing!