Land Rover Repair: 300 tdi auto disco 1997, td5 engine, t4 test

Question
hi john,  i hope you can shed some light on my problem..   i have a 300 tdi disco automatic, it is the first of the " drive by wire" and it will drive perfect for 30 miles and then missfire and smoke [ white and black diesel smoke] and then stop...  with the ignition on it sounds like the pump is racking  i.e. from full to idle very fast..   the computer only regesters a timing sensor fault and i do not belive it as i have replaced it 3 times...also i have had the pump checked by a specalist and they tell me it is good..   i have my doubts about the engine ecu and  am weary of changing this as the price is extorsonate and then it might be something differnt...    do you know of anything  to cause this effect that i can check??  i am fed up with towing it home!  may be the alarm ???   i don't know..   regards mel owen  ,  south wales.

Answer
Mel, I am sorry to be of limited help on this but here goes . . .

We don't have the 300TDI engine in the USA, and I have only limited training on it.  So I won't be able to offer specific advice on that motor.

However, the Land Rover T4 test system (found at any authorized service facility) has a good test routine for TDI and TD5 engine electronics.  I suggest finding a workshop with such a system.

Failing that, the Autologic test system is also very good for this car.  I actually think Autologic is a better system for many Land Rover problems but for your situation the diagnostic pathways of the T4 are probably better.

Hopefully that advice about test systems will lead you to a workshop that can solve the problem.  Find a shop with one system or the other.  I doubt there is a home remeby possible.