Engine & fuel system
5 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 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 3.
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 4.
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 5.
Failure to start
Cause
In-tank fuel pump (FP) faulty.
Repair
- Replace component if necessary.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 10.
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 9.
Vehicle leans to one side
Cause
Internal fluid leak in suspension adjustment valve block.
Repair
- Replace suspension adjustment valve block.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 11.
Vehicle leans to one side
Cause
Suspension control module requires re-programming.
Repair
- Re-program suspension control module.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 12.
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 13.
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 17.
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.
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 7.
Loss of coolant
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
Symptoms
Engine overheats.
Cause
Repair steps
- Pressure test cooling system.
- Replace cylinder head gasket as necessary.
- Replace radiator as necessary.
- Replace heater matrix as necessary.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 14.
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 15.
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 16.
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 6.
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 8.
Glossary
Technical terms used in this guide.
- 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
- EGR
- Exhaust gas recirculation — feeds some exhaust gas back into the intake to cut emissions
- 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
- Heater Matrix
- The small radiator behind the dashboard that provides cabin heat
- 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
- 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
- Head Gasket
- The seal between the cylinder head and the engine block
- 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 17 workshop bulletins for the Land Rover Discovery II 2.5 TD5. Of these, five 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.