Disco Diesel Drama: Low Power & Starting Problems Help!

Hey there! I've got some experience working on diesels, though I wouldn't call myself an expert. This sounds very similar to what I dealt with on my 2002 Land Rover Freelander diesel. Initially thought it was something major, but turned out the error codes were just ghost readings from a previous repair. The symptoms were identical, power loss, check engine light, and occasional no-starts. The workshop cleared all the error codes completely (not just reading them), and it solved the issue. Didn't cost me anything since it was just a matter of resetting the system. The false readings were confusing the ECU. Before jumping to conclusions about cylinder pressure though, could you share: Any recent repairs done? Are you getting any specific error codes? Does it run rough when it does start? This could help narrow things down and maybe save you some unnecessary repairs.

Thanks for the detailed response! My Disco has been serviced regularly with the latest done at 66600 KM. Haven't had any major repairs recently, just routine maintenance. When it does start, it runs pretty rough for the first few minutes, then settles a bit but still feels underpowered. Haven't been able to get the error codes read yet, planning to do that tomorrow. The symptoms started quite suddenly during a cold morning start. I'll definitely try getting those codes cleared first before diving into anything more serious. Would be a relief if it's just ghost readings like in your case. Thanks for the tip!

Hey again! Thanks for that extra info about your Disco, those symptoms you're describing are ringing even more bells now. When you mentioned the cold morning start, it really clicked with my Freelander situation. After my initial ghost codes experience, I actually had a similar issue pop up again a few months later, rough idle, especially on cold starts, and that annoying power loss. But this time it wasn't just ghost codes. Turned out my fuel filter was pretty clogged up (despite regular services), and there was some water contamination in the fuel system. These diesel engines can be super sensitive to fuel quality. The symptoms are almost identical to cylinder pressure issues, which is why I initially went down that path too. Since you're getting your codes read tomorrow, here's a tip from my experience, ask them to check the fuel pressure while they're at it. It's a quick test and could save you loads of troubleshooting time. In my case, a fuel filter change and system flush sorted it right out, way cheaper than the cylinder work I was worried about! Keep us posted on those error codes when you get them. I'm really curious to see if you're dealing with something similar to what I had!

Thanks so much for sharing that experience! After reading about your similar issue, I'm feeling a bit more optimistic. Just got back from getting those error codes checked, and you might be onto something with the fuel system theory. The mechanic found codes P0087 and P0193, both related to fuel rail pressure problems. The good news is they also did that fuel pressure test you suggested, and the readings were definitely lower than they should be. Looks like I might be dealing with a clogged fuel filter too, maybe even some contaminated fuel like in your case. They're going to do a filter change and system flush tomorrow. Really glad I asked here before jumping to conclusions about cylinder problems! Could've ended up spending way more than necessary. Will definitely update once the work's done to let you know if this fixes it. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction with this one! Remember to keep your fingers crossed for me that it's just a fuel system issue, much rather deal with that than major engine work!