Range Rover's Thirsty Diesel + Check Engine Mystery

Hey there! I had very similar issues with my 2005 Range Rover Sport TDV6. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, excessive fuel consumption, strong exhaust smell, and that annoying check engine light. Took it to the garage last month. Turned out the secondary air pump's electrical connector was corroded, and the valve itself was stuck. The mechanics had to replace both the connector and the valve assembly. The secondary air system helps with emissions during cold starts, so when it fails, you get those exact symptoms. Not a super serious issue if fixed promptly, but letting it go can damage your catalytic converter, which is definitely something you want to avoid. The repair was straightforward, took about 3 hours to complete. My advice is to get it checked soon. These symptoms won't fix themselves, and they'll likely get worse over time. The fuel consumption alone makes it worth fixing. Hope this helps with your decision.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful since I've been worried about the same issue. I'm just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then? Always good to know if any other issues popped up afterward. My Range Rover's still sitting in the driveway, and I'm trying to budget for the repair. Really appreciate the insight about the catalytic converter, definitely don't want to risk damaging that!

Hey again! Just wanted to update you on my repair situation. Got it fixed last month and it cost me 95€ to sort out the cable and plug connection for the secondary air valve/pump. Pretty reasonable price, if you ask me! The best part? Everything's been running like a dream since the fix. No more check engine light, fuel consumption's back to normal, and that nasty exhaust smell is completely gone. The mechanic confirmed it was exactly what I suspected, the air valve was playing up. Really glad I didn't put it off any longer. My Rover's running smooth as butter now, and I haven't had any other issues pop up. The repair was definitely worth every penny, especially considering what it could've cost if the catalytic converter got damaged. Just between us, I'd say get yours sorted soon. The price I paid was way better than what I was spending on extra fuel consumption alone! Plus, it's such a relief not having that warning light staring at me every time I start the engine. Let me know how it goes when you get yours fixed!

Thanks so much for all the details! Your repair cost sounds really reasonable, definitely better than I expected. Actually, I bit the bullet and took my Rover to the mechanic yesterday. Funny enough, it was almost the exact same issue as yours! They found the connection was corroded and the valve needed cleaning. Total bill came to about $120, including labor. Much better than what I was imagining! The mechanic was great, showed me all the old parts and explained everything. They had it fixed in about two hours, and wow, what a difference! Already noticed the engine's running smoother, and that awful smell is gone. Honestly feeling a bit silly now for putting it off for so long. Really appreciate your advice about getting it sorted quickly. You were right about everything, the fuel consumption's already improved, and it's such a relief not seeing that check engine light anymore. Thanks again for helping me make the decision to get it fixed. Always nice to hear from someone who's been through the same thing!