Defender TD5's Mystery Stutter: Throttle Body to Blame?

Hey there! I had similar issues with my 2007 Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced last time, rough idle, stuttering during acceleration, and that dreaded check engine light. Took it to the garage and turns out it wasn't the throttle body, it was actually the accelerator pedal position sensor that had gone bad. The electronics inside the pedal module were failing, causing inconsistent signals to the engine management system. They had to replace the entire accelerator pedal module. It was a pretty serious issue since it affected drivability and could've left me stranded if it had completely failed. The repair itself wasn't too complex though, basically plug-and-play once they got the right part. Hope this helps give you some direction. Just make sure whoever works on it has experience with TD5 electronics, these systems can be tricky. Mark

Hey Mark! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with the accelerator pedal sensor issue. It's really helpful to know that similar symptoms could point to different problems. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other quirks? Cheers, Alex

Hey Alex! Happy to share a follow-up! Yeah, the repair cost me exactly 265€ for the accelerator pedal module replacement. To be honest, it was worth every penny because the car's been running like a dream since then. The rough idling completely disappeared and the acceleration is super smooth now, no more stuttering at all! The mechanic explained that the fault was indeed in the throttle valve electronics, just like they suspected. It's been about 8 months since the fix, and I haven't had a single issue with it. The engine light hasn't come back on either, which is always a good sign! The best part is that my fuel economy has actually improved a bit since the repair. I guess when these sensors aren't working properly, they can really mess with how efficiently the engine runs. Let me know if you want any more details about the repair, happy to help! Mark

Hi Mark! Thanks for all the details! I bit the bullet and took my Defender to a new mechanic yesterday. You were spot on about getting someone who knows these engines well. Turns out it wasn't the throttle body or accelerator pedal in my case, it was actually a faulty fuel injector causing all the trouble. The repair cost me a bit more than yours, around 400€, but honestly, what a difference! The engine's running super smooth now, no more stuttering or rough idling. The check engine light is finally off too. The mechanic was great, explained everything clearly and even showed me the worn-out injector. Really appreciate your help in pushing me to get it sorted. Feels good to have a reliable ride again! Cheers, Alex