Land Rover Repair: Disco Starting Problems, coolant temp, fuel injection system

Question
Hello,

I have a 1996 Discovery and have been having starting problems.  Here is the situation.  When the vehicle is cold and have not been driven for several hours, it starts on the first crank.  However, once I begin driving I have problems starting the truck.  I literally have to pump and gas pedal for at least 5-10 pumps before it will start.  In addition, when it does start, I have noticed a black to grayish smoke comes out the exhaust.  

As you probably can tell from my lack of mechanical terminologies, I am a woman.  I need to take my truck into the repair shop, but I do not want to get told that there is serious problems that may run me like $2000 to repair.  Also my brother is will do work on the truck if it is nothing too extensive.  Therefore, my question is what is your suggestion to this problem?  

I also have an issue when my heat turns on for only 5 minutes then it blows cool air.  Can you tell me what this problem is too?

Thank you

Answer
Reading your description I think you may have one of two problems:

1) The coolant temp sensor may not be working, causing the truck to flood when you try and start it hot

2) You may have in internal leak in the fuel injection system, either in the injectors, fuel pump or pressure regulator that causes the system to lose pressure when it sits.

Repair costs could be as low as $200 for a temp sensor or as high as $2,000+ fo rnew fuel injectors.

I suggest you find a shop that's qualified to test Land Rovers and discuss my suggestions with them.

You may want to go to our web site, www.robisonservice.com and read my articles on selecting a repair shop.  Look under service dept > land rover > articles.