Engine & fuel system
7 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Loss of engine power
Symptoms
Black smoke from exhaust.
Cause
Turbocharger (TC) to intercooler hose separated internally causing a blockage.
Turbocharger (TC) to intercooler hose split.
Repair
- Fit new turbocharger (TC) to intercooler hose.
Parts2 parts
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Hose - Defender | PNH102070 | 1 |
| Hose - Discovery | PNH102100 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 2.
Engine misfire
Poor sealing of engine harness to injector wiring harness connector. Fix: fit a new part.
Overview
- Affects
- Defender, →VIN XA 173796.Discovery, →VIN XA 907212 (system 1).Discovery, →VIN XA 222559 (system 2).
- Remedy
- Fit new part
Symptoms
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated. Failure to start. Poor engine performance.
Repair steps
- Check fuel injector wiring harness multi-plug for oil contamination.
- If oil is found fit new engine wiring harness and fuel injector wiring harness.
- Check engine control module (ECM) multi-plug for oil contamination.
- If contaminated clean ECM multi-plug terminals with electrical contact cleaner before fitting new harness.
Parts
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel injector harness | AMR6103 | 1 |
| Engine harness - Defender, with AC | YSB106901 | 1 |
| Engine harness - Defender, without AC | YSB106902 | 1 |
| Engine harness - Discovery Series II | YSB108710 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 3.
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated
Symptoms
Accelerator pedal operation may be reinstated when ignition is turned OFF and ON. Engine stays at idle. No response from accelerator pedal.
Cause
Wiring harness multi-plug not correctly latched to accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor.
Repair
- Ensure that wiring harness multi-plug is fully engaged and latched to APP sensor.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 4.
Engine misfire
Overview
- Affects
- Defender, →VIN YA 181359.Discovery, →VIN XA 907212 (system 1).Discovery, →VIN YA 244688 (system 2).
- Remedy
- Fit new part
- Parts
- 1 part
Cause
Moulding defect in injector harness multi-plug outer casing prevents connector from latching correctly.
Repair
- Locate faulty injector and confirm failure to catch.
- Remove connector outer casing and fit new connector outer casing.
Parts1 part
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Casing | YPC115190 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 5.
Lack of power
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) solenoid filter blocked.
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
Symptoms
Black smoke from exhaust.
Repair steps
- Defender: Disconnect filter from EGR solenoid.
- Discovery: Disconnect filter from EGR solenoid.
- If condition is rectified, replace filter.
Parts
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Filter | ESR4323 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 7.
Water-in-fuel warning lamp illuminates when driving
Water-in-fuel sensor is oversensitive. Fix: fit a modified part.
Overview
- Affects
- Defender: VIN XA 159810-1A 199999/VIN 1A 600000-1A 610263.Discovery: VIN XA 900012-XA 907212/VIN XA 200412-1A 299999/VIN 1A 700000 -1A 713257.
- Remedy
- Fit modified part
Repair steps
- Clean area around water-in-fuel sensor.
- Drain fuel filter.
- Clean new sensor electrodes, seal and mating surface.
- Ensure no fingerprints are present on these areas.
- Fit modified sensor.
Parts
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Water-in-fuel sensor - Defender | WKW000030 | 1 |
| Water-in-fuel sensor - Discovery | WKW000020 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 8.
Failure to start
Cause
In-tank fuel pump (FP) faulty.
Repair
- Replace component if necessary.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 13.
Brakes
1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
ABS warning lamp illuminated
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
Cause
Excessive wear in front wheel bearings, causing wheel speed sensor to be moved out of its correct position.
Excessive wear in rear wheel bearings, causing wheel speed sensor to be moved out of its correct position.
Faulty ABS control module.
Repair steps
- Check front wheel bearings for excessive wear and replace if necessary.
- Adjust rear wheel bearings.
- Re-position wheel speed sensors, replace if necessary.
- Check ABS control module, replace if necessary.
- Access ABS control module fault memory and erase trouble codes.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 16.
Suspension & drivetrain
3 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Vehicle leans to one side
Cause
Suspension ride height sensor faulty.
Repair
- Replace suspension ride height sensor.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 12.
Vehicle leans to one side
Cause
Internal fluid leak in suspension adjustment valve block.
Repair
- Replace suspension adjustment valve block.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 14.
Vehicle leans to one side
Cause
Suspension control module requires re-programming.
Repair
- Re-program suspension control module.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 15.
Clutch & gearbox
2 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Transmission warning lamps flash continuously
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
- Remedy
- Software update
Cause
Water/dirt ingress into transmission wiring harness multi-plug.
Engine control module (ECM) requires software upgrade.
Repair
- Check transmission wiring harness multi-plug (located on top left-hand side of gearbox), clean contacts if required.
- Re-program ECM with upgraded software.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 17.
Poor AT gear shifting
Symptoms
Trouble code stored in transmission control module (TCM) fault memory: 2.
Cause
Open/short circuit or high/low resistance in wiring harness of transmission valve block.
Repair
- Repair/replace wiring as necessary.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 20.
Air conditioning & heating
3 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Poor heating performance from cold start
Cause
Wide tolerance range of outside air temperature sensor can cause engine coolant heater not to start until ambient temperature is at 0 °C.
Repair
- Fit modified outside air temperature sensor (green).
Parts1 part
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Outside air temperature sensor | JWL000020 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 1.
Erratic engine performance under load
Turbocharger (TC) and/or air conditioning wiring harness chafing on compressor.
Overview
- Affects
- All models, →VIN XA 900012-XA 907212/XA 200412-XA 277020.
Symptoms
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated. Erratic air conditioning performance.
Repair steps
- Check wiring harness.
- Confirm damage to wiring harness.
- Repair damage to wiring harness.
- Protect wiring harness with convoluted plastic conduit.
- Reroute wiring harness behind air conditioning connecting block and beneath air conditioning pipes.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 6.
Vibration from AC/heater blower motor on high blower speed
Sound insulation material from plenum chamber enters heater ducting, fouling AC/heater blower motor fan. Fix: clean and lubricate.
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
- Remedy
- Clean & lubricate
Repair steps
- Remove AC/heater blower motor and clean sound insulation material from fan.
- Ensure no sound insulation material loose in heater ducting.
- Renew sound insulation material in plenum chamber.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 10.
Body & trim
2 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Excessive noise from rear seat backs whilst driving
Cause
Excessive play between stops on seat frame.
Repair
- Fit anti-rattle washer kit.
Parts1 part
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-rattle washer kit | HTP 100080 | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 18.
Water ingress into spare wheel well
Tailgate seal leaking. Fix: fit a new part.
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
- Remedy
- Fit new part
Repair steps
- Remove and discard tailgate seal.
- Apply sealant to tailgate flange.
- Fit new tailgate seal.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 19.
Other
2 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Alloy wheels difficult to remove
Overview
- Affects
- All models with alloy wheels, →03/01.
- Remedy
- Clean & lubricate
- Parts
- 1 part
Cause
Corrosion between hub spigot and wheel centre.
Repair
- Clean corrosion from wheel contact surfaces.
- Apply anti-seize grease to wheel contact surfaces.
Parts1 part
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-seize grease | RYL105020L | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 9.
Poor active cornering enhancement (ACE) performance
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
- Remedy
- Adjust & tighten
Symptoms
ACE fluid loss.
Cause
Fluid leak from ACE high-pressure pump.
Fluid leak from ACE valve.
Repair steps
- Tighten ACE high-pressure pump union.
- Replace ACE high-pressure pump seals.
- Replace ACE valve seals.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 11.
Glossary
Technical terms used in this guide.
- MIL
- Malfunction indicator lamp — the engine warning light on the dashboard
- ECM
- Engine control module — the electronic unit that manages the engine
- VIN
- Vehicle identification number — 17 characters, found at the base of the windscreen and on the V5C logbook
- ABS
- Anti-lock braking system — stops the wheels locking under hard braking
- EGR
- Exhaust gas recirculation — feeds some exhaust gas back into the intake to cut emissions
- Trouble Codes
- Standardised fault codes stored by the engine control module, read with a diagnostic tool
- ACE
- Active Cornering Enhancement — a hydraulic anti-roll system that stiffens the suspension in corners
- FP
- Fuel pump — the pump that supplies fuel from the tank
- SLS
- Self-levelling suspension — keeps the ride height even when the vehicle is loaded
- TC
- Turbocharger — the exhaust-driven compressor that boosts engine power
- TCM
- Transmission control module — the electronic unit that manages the gearbox
- AC/Heater
- The heating and air-conditioning system
- Accelerator Pedal Position
- The sensor that tells the engine control module how far the accelerator is pressed
- Anti-Seize
- Grease that stops mating parts (like a wheel on a hub) from corroding together
- Control Module
- A control unit for one of the vehicle's systems (engine, gearbox, brakes, body, and so on)
- EGR Solenoid
- The electrically operated valve that controls exhaust-gas recirculation
- Fault Memory
- The list of stored trouble codes in a control module
- Hub Spigot
- The raised centre of the hub that locates the wheel
- In-Tank Fuel Pump
- The fuel pump mounted inside the fuel tank
- Multi-Plug
- A multi-pin electrical connector on a wiring harness
- Re-Program
- Update the software on a control module using the manufacturer's diagnostic tool
- Ride Height
- How high the vehicle sits; on air suspension this can be raised or lowered
- Solenoid
- An electrically operated valve or actuator
- Trouble Code
- A standardised fault code stored by a control module, read with a diagnostic tool
- Valve Block
- The set of solenoid valves that directs air or fluid in the air-suspension or gearbox
- Water-in-Fuel
- Water contamination in diesel, collected in the fuel filter
- Wheel Speed Sensor
- A sensor at each wheel used by ABS and stability control
- Wiring Harness
- The bundled cables that carry power and signals around the vehicle
- Blower Motor
- The fan that pushes air through the heater and air-conditioning
- Intercooler Hose
- The pipe that carries pressurised air between the turbocharger, intercooler and engine
- Recirculation
- Air-conditioning mode that recirculates cabin air instead of drawing in outside air
Frequently asked questions
What are the common faults with the Land Rover Discovery II 2.5 TD5?
This guide contains 20 workshop bulletins for the Land Rover Discovery II 2.5 TD5. Of these, seven concern the engine and fuel system and three the suspension and drivetrain. Symptoms, causes, repair steps and part numbers are shown where supplied.
Does every Land Rover Discovery II 2.5 TD5 have these faults?
No. These are patterns documented across the model by workshops, not predictions for an individual vehicle. Where a fault applies only to certain vehicles or VIN ranges, that is listed with the fault.
Can I check for Land Rover Discovery II 2.5 TD5 faults myself?
Many of them. The documented symptoms can be seen, heard or felt during a test drive.