Land Rover Repair: Freelander 1.8 Xsi starting problems and losing power, vacuum line, compression chamber

Question
Hi,

I have a 1999 T reg Landrover Freelander 1.8 Xsi s/w and it has recently developed a starting problem. The car will not start from cold. The garage replace the cooling sensor but it still won't start. If you unplug the sensor you can get the car to start and then you plug the sensor back in. Once started it can be switched off and will start again. It is only first thing in the morning or if driving late at night. In some recent milder weather it started as well so it seems to be related to the cold. The garage are a bit lost as to the problem so any light you can shed on this would be most helpful.

The distributor cap has been checked and there is no moisture or dirt so it's not that either.

On top of this it's now started to lose power when driving up hills, there is absolutely no acceleration until you start going down! I'm a bit concerned as up until recently it has been a brilliant drive  and there has been no problems.  

Answer
Hi P,

have a compression test done of engine.  Hard cold start and loss of power on uphills, towing...could be loss of compression in a cyl.  

Other areas could be spark or fuel feed problems.  According to your description, battery, alt, coil and wires all seem good.  SO, you are left with compression chamber and fuel feed as possible causes.  Vacuum line ok?

Best of luck,

JohnMc

It's spooky when the garage mechanics give up...is this a LR dealership?  Dealers usually don't admit defeat until they've swapped a few essential parts out.