Good morning fellow p38 diyers

Recently I bought another p38 it needs some attention but it’s good driving base. Since I got it, the service engine soon light is on. I have drive it 2 times and couldn't really determine what was going on. At first I thought the gearbox was slipping but now I think it has something to do with the service engine soon light. If I cleanr the code with an obd scan, it comes back after 5 minutes as soon as I start driving. Situation discription:

• When I drive and the light is off there is nothing wrong.
• When the light is on continuously the power changes.
• When the light flashes it still drives but stutters when accelerating and it seems like the gearbox is slipping because it goes high in RPM but does not accelerate.

I have replaced the oil, filters and spark plugs. In addition, this one consumes considerably more than my other one. This let me think it might be the Mass airflow sensor might be bad. I’ve got the workshop manual but don’t know what to look for or where. So now I’m wondering if you guys have any idea of what might be the problem.

Range Rover p38 MY2000, 4.6L petrol.

Depending on the market some cars have an SES light as well as a Check Engine light, some use just the SES light to do both and most (Rest of World) don't have one, just a check engine light. If you have both, the SES light just comes on after a certain number of miles or time period. That 'feature' can be turned off with diagnostics. If it is doubling as a check engine light, it is telling you there is a fault. When you read the codes, what are they? That will tell what the problem might be, or at least point in the right direction.

P1300 - Land Rover

Type:

• Powertrain - Manufacturer Controlled DTC - Manufacturer Controlled

Description:

• Random/multiple cylinder(s) - misfire detected

Cause:

• Engine mechanical fault, wiring, ignition/ fuel system, injector ECT/MAF sensor, ECM

It’s just a cheap obd link device i paire to my smartphone but this is what it tells me.

That doesn't tell much, it would normally be paired with another that would identify a direction (much like you'd get a P0300 multiple misfire code combined with a P030x code or codes identifying the precise cylinder or cylinders). You might need to find a different code reader, ideally one that can display live data. Gear changes are dictated by the airflow through the MAF sensor. You say this is another P38 you've bought, can you swap the MAF from your other one to test?

I’ve thought of that but I believe it’s got a different MAF sensor because that’s a ‘98’ with the different engine. Besides that I lend it to a friend which has taken it on a trip to the south of France.

Yes, a 98 is a GEMS so is different to the Bosch injection system on the Thor. Where in the world are you? I had assumed the US as they have the Service Engine Soon light. However I'm assuming Europe somewhere if your other car is being driven to the south of France. I'm going over to France (Yvelines) to do some work on another P38 sometime between the 8th and 15th May if that would be of any help to you.

The other 38 being the leaky fip one?

That was what the rip off mechanic told the female owner and quoted her €2k to fix it. It's since been looked at by another mechanic who has confirmed, as I originally suspected, the generic diesel leak off pipes that were fitted 7 years ago are leaking again. It's got a couple of other faults that need looking at, a broken interior handle on the passenger door, 3 working keyfobs that won't sync (but, coupled with the fact that the battery goes flat in a couple of days when parked in its normal parking place, suggests a constant 433 MHz signal at that location) and a fuel flap release button that only works when it feels like it. It also had a dashboard that did nothing (see https://rangerovers.pub/topic/3980-i-need-a-favour) over the winter but now it has got warmer, it has decided to work most of the time. But that has shown up another fault. She filled it up with fuel and the gauge went up to almost showing full but when the ignition was turned off, it stayed showing almost full.....

Gates 3.2mm id is considered the best for leak offs, the same stuff is used for the map sensor (on the fuel filter housing) to the inlet manifold that rots too with age. 2 metres of tubing will do the lot easy.