Hi all, looking for some advice on a starting/fuel issue with my P38 4.6 V8.

Today it suddenly developed a very consistent starting problem:

• If the car has been parked for around 30 minutes or longer, the first attempt will crank normally but won’t fire.
• I stop cranking, turn the key again, and on the second attempt it fires up normally.
• If it’s only been switched off for a few minutes, it seems to restart fine.
• I was running fairly low on petrol, so I added 20 litres, but the problem remains.
• There’s also now a confirmed strong smell of petrol inside the cabin.
• Once it starts, it appears to run normally.
• Car is LPG converted but starts on petrol.

I’m wondering if this could be fuel pressure bleeding down after shutdown, possibly fuel pump/check valve, pressure regulator or a leaking injector. The petrol smell obviously makes me concerned there could be an actual leak somewhere as well.

Has anyone experienced this exact first crank = no start, second crank = immediate start behaviour on a 4.6 P38? Anything specific you’d recommend checking first?

Thanks!

Not exactly the the same, but the first indication I had of the leaking petrol pipes by the tank, was smell, then when the leak got worse it took suddenly longer time to start.

th.

+1 on leaking fuel pipe where it runs above the fuel tank.

Maybe I’m overthinking, but the wife and I do feel a bit sick. I wonder if this is due to inhaling the fumes.

Yep, she’s leaking alright.

https://photos.icloud.com/shared/album/0b95JKq906YQ8aCxY6_wq3DdA

I’ve got no other car to use. Let’s hope this doesn’t kill me.

https://rangerovers.pub/topic/3952-fuel-lines-and-pump

th.

Thorst wrote:

https://rangerovers.pub/topic/3952-fuel-lines-and-pump

th.

Will be taking this to the mechanic - my love for fixing is over, ha.

v8vroom wrote:

Will be taking this to the mechanic - my love for fixing is over, ha.

You've go the wrong car then. I've always said if you can't fix a P38 yourself and always take it to a mechanic, it;'ll bankrupt you.

Looking at that leak, I suggest you get it trailered to the mechanic. That amount of petrol spraying over the exhaust downpipes is a fire waiting for a location.

At least you've found the problem.

If there were no petrol leaks I would've suggested an LPG leak from injectors or reducer into the inlet manifold, when that happens you get similar starting symptoms because instead of the engine getting air and petrol it gets LPG vapour and petrol until the LPG vapour has been pumped into the exhaust during cranking. You can even get the same petrol smell because unburned petrol gets pumped out of the exhaust.

Gilbertd wrote:

You've go the wrong car then. I've always said if you can't fix a P38 yourself and always take it to a mechanic, it;'ll bankrupt you.

Even though it's relatively easy to drop the tank, it still requires getting the car high enough, crawl under it, and messing with fuel lines etc.

Lots of other repairs can be done more easily, the main thing is being able find whats wrong (without calling a mechanic), what is required to fix it and then work on what we can ourselves.

th.

Gilbertd wrote:

v8vroom wrote:

Will be taking this to the mechanic - my love for fixing is over, ha.

You've go the wrong car then. I've always said if you can't fix a P38 yourself and always take it to a mechanic, it;'ll bankrupt you.

Looking at that leak, I suggest you get it trailered to the mechanic. That amount of petrol spraying over the exhaust downpipes is a fire waiting for a location.

I agree but through my own delusion, I’ve manifested great income jumps to support this Range and my ‘99 XJR so I guess it keeps me motivated.

The most I ever fixed personally was the front diff. It was in that moment that I decided I don’t like the idea of crawling under the car. If I had my own ramp, then it’d be much easier.

I’ve rang my two local specialists and they aren’t free for a while, so I’m forced to use a local mechanic. I’ve got a somewhat unhealthy level of scepticism giving an old car to a garage who hardly work with it.

I’m leaning on the principle that this job is simple, and any competent mechanic can repair this.

After 17k of daily miles, I may retire this to be a workhorse and buy my old Jaguar X351 as a cruiser once more.

He's going to need to drop the tank so I suggest you print off the instructions from RAVE so he can follow them. It isn't difficult but can look a bit daunting if you've never done it before.