QuestionHey John,
My 96 disco starts out fine but after about 30 miles of driving she begins to hesitate intermittently. Lasts a couple seconds, run fine for a couple of seconds, hesitates again. Shop replaced coil pack and fuel pump. This didn't fix problem,(yet set me back a few). Shop claims that those parts were bad and needed to be replaced anyway. They claim cylinders 5 and 7 were receiving no fuel or spark. Any hoo I refuse to take it back and am now once again on my own in land rover limbo. I'm thinking mass air flow sensor or clogged cat. any thoughts? Thanks
AnswerHi Vince,
when Simba had trouble with the TPS it was a nightmare to fix. The dealership really took me to town on that one. First call was for about $5000 in repairs, and just like you, the dealership claimed the repairs were needed to 'solve the problem'. ya - right - a financial problem more like.
I would insist on having the parts they replaced. Any local mechanic can bench test a coilpack. Fuel pumps fail but very rarely.
Didn't you have your gas tank replaced in the nationwide recall? LR was to replace the fuel pump too - if needed.
Not sure if the claim about cylinders 5 & 7 are true or not. No proof and only their word on that. Obviously, the work they did was not the solution to your problem.
Could very well be either fuel injection or MAF. MAF is very expensive to replace. You may want to do this yourself and save a few. Maybe buy a salvaged one to see if it solves your troubles. www.car-part.com is a good place to start for salvaged parts.
An independent garage could tell if you have an air or fuel related problem. Injectors could be flushed and tested too.
Since your Disco is just a year older than mine, don't overlook the TPS. I had this problem and sometimes Simba would run very rough for the first 30 minutes or so. I saw it once rev at 3000 non-stop. Other times, it would pitch up and down continuously.
I don't think it would be your cat's. You'd have an awful noise under your vehicle and you'd hear it.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
