My 1994 Defender was purchased the first few weeks of July. The day it arrived, the check engine light was already on but seemed to be driving fine. Within the first 30 minutes of driving, it began to sputter a bit and then would have a really rough idle. After restarting it, it would run fine for a little while. Over the next few days of driving, it would do the same thing off and on and sometimes it would refuse to start, sometimes the check engine light would be on, sometimes it wouldn’t. Additionally, on occasion when it was sputtering my top speed could only be about 35mph followed by a strong fuel/emissions odor coming from tailpipe and a really restricted/bogged down feeling when trying to accelerate.

For starters, I did some research and read something about the fuel filter possibly being shot as well as the fuel cap not making a proper seal. I replaced both and it ran perfectly while taking it on a test drive for 30 minutes or so. Within the next few days I went on a 150 mile drive and about half way there, while driving around 70mph it bogged down, the engine light came on and the RPM’s dropped considerably. I pulled over, restarted and it was fine although when coming to a stop, the engine idle would hang at around 1200 RPM then after about 5 seconds it would drop to the normal idle speed (800-900 RPM). Once I got to my destination I replaced the spark plugs, cleaned the PCV valve and gave everything a once over. Everything continued to run OK but the engine idle was still idling high for several seconds after coming to a stop. If anything, just irritating…

From the drive home, throughout the next month or so the rover ran perfectly. Labor day weekend, the car sat for a few days and during that time it rained (the first time it rained since I got the rover). When I went to start it, immediately it was idling funny, the check engine light was on and it was stalling out several times on my 5 mile drive to work although it would start right back up. At this point I was thinking water and humidity had something to do with it. Over the next few weeks it would act the same way although sometimes it would start back up immediately, sometimes it would act as if it was flooded (strong odor again) and sometimes I’d be driving and it wouldn’t get over 35MPH with some faint black smoke from the tailpipe as well as the funky odor.

I ended up taking it to a local garage to have the computer read to see where the check engine light was getting tripped. The mechanics computer ended up dying in the midst of reading my own cars computer however he assured me it was the mass airflow sensor. I ordered and replaced it within the few next days and it was as if nothing changed. After being extremely frustrated and out $500 I took it to a local rover specialist and of course it worked fine the few days he had however it stalled out at least 3-5 times on my way there as well as the drive home.

The following weekend, I read a lot about the electronics, poor coil connection, water around the computer, relays, etc… I cracked the computer open to look for water corrosion as well as cleaned and then sealed all the connections with fresh electrical grease as everything was put back together. While I was down there I read the little box that will show error codes. All it would show was an 02 meaning the computer was just reconnected…


Over the next few days, I read more about a relay next to the computer failing (fuel pump relay I believe) having some similar symptoms as mine. I replaced the $9.00 relay and this solved my problem completely. Instantly, the car then drove great, idled fine and there was no bogging down. After a day or so the check engine light came on and now the little box near the computer was reading a 44 error code indicating it was one of the O2 sensors. For the first time in the few months I’ve owned it, everything was still running well however I was getting a bit of the strong exhaust odor again. A random and new problem surfaced as my speedometer and trip odometer weren’t working anymore.

After a week or so if continuing to drive, it began to adapt a new and different idle issue however MUCH more minor than all of the previous issues. It would drive great when cruising however when I was at a stop you could notice a subtle dip in the RPM’s but it would come back up. Sometimes it would drop as low as 300 but would bump back up to 900 or so then go back and fourth 3-4 times before leveling out. This happened the same with or without the AC on. At this point I knew it needed an O2 sensor (because of the error code) so I ordered both of them hoping this would remedy the problem. Additionally, as I wasn’t sure the last time everything was changed so I ordered a coil, distributor cap and rotor and plug wires as well.

The day after I placed the order, my car wouldn’t start in the morning as my battery was completely dead. I purchased a new one, dropped it in and all was fine (or the same as the day before anyway). A few days later the car was completely dead again so I assumed the alternator wasn’t keeping it charged so I ordered one of those as well. Today, I installed all of the ordered parts including the alternator and charged the battery while I was installing everything. Once I was done, if anything, I was hoping the oxygen sensors would solve the weird idle and the alternator would keep my battery charged. The cap, rotor, coil and wires were more of a bonus and a routine maintenance procedure.

When I went to start it everything was fine then after about 30 seconds or so it began to continue to dip in idle speed and a few times dipped enough to kill the motor. I took it for a test drive thinking it might just need to work itself out but it sputtered so much it was difficult to get it going smoothly at all. Currently, there is no check engine light, it sputters for a bit then runs strong for 30 seconds or so then repeats the process. At this point, ontop of my car note, I’ve got about $2000 into my “dream car” but cant get it registered because it wont pass inspection and like anyone, I need my car to get to work…

Any and all ideas are welcome as I’m about to pull my hair out. I’m taking it back the Land Rover specialist this week but any ideas in the meantime would be greatly appreciated. As of now, all I can think of is either driving it for the past few weeks with bad O2 sensors had messed up the catalytic converter or possibly the fuel pump? That’s just a guess though.

 

There is way to much to write about, if you want, PM me with your tele. number and I'll call you. We can go thru each problem, one at a time.
Mike