Land Rover Repair: Hard to start, range rover hse, crankshaft position sensor

Question
QUESTION: Hi John,

I have a 2007 Range Rover HSE with only 30k miles.  For the past few weeks I have had trouble getting it to start.  When I turn the key, it cranks for a while before it finally starts & sometimes I have to try multiple times.  When it does start, it sounds like it's trying hard to catch then the engine revs really fast for a few minutes before going to normal.  Once it's started it runs fine.  It started out sporadic. It would happen once a day then start normally all other times.  Now it's gotten worse & happening every time I try to start.  I  took it to the dealer and they have had it for a week.  When they hook it up to the diagnostic machine, nothing comes up showing a fault even though it is hard to start.  They called the Land Rover engineer who told them to reset the truck computer back to the factory settings.  I'm not sure what this was supposed to do but nothing changed.  The mechanic working on it was convinced it was the fuel pump so they installed a new one and it did not fix the problem.  Now I'm going into week two of them trying to diagnose the problem.  They keep telling me that they don't think it's anything major but they need more time to figure it out.  Do you have any ideas on what the issue could be?  I appreciate any light that you could shed on this issue.

Thanks!

ANSWER: Why don't you ask them about the possibility of a failing crankshaft position sensor?  That would be my first guess, from what you have written.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: John,

Thanks for the quick response. I called the dealer today and asked them about the possibility of a failing crankshaft position sensor.  Their response was no because that is electrical and the problem with my truck has something to do with the fuel. As I said, they already replaced the fuel pump but the problem is not resolved.  Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
That answer does not make sense.  If the crank sensor does not signal cranking, the fuel pump will time out.  When you do not have fuel on cranking, and the pump and relay are good, the crank sensor is the next place you usually look.  

If I were you, I would find their answer a little worrisome, especially since they do not have any idea of their own and they have spent the better part of a grand for a fuel pump that didn't fix the problem.

I don't want to get into an argument with some dealer service advisor over a truck I have not even seen, but frankly it is worrisome that they instill so little confidence that you have to look online for the solutions they are supposed to have.  I don't know what I can do but wish you luck with them