The Full Boris
This damn problem has been going on forever. I’m sick of it. Sick sick sick bleeuuuuurgh!
So come on people… someone out there must have a solution? It’s a totally weird starting problem but at least its now showing a repetitive solution. So lets go through it in clear English (well as clear as I can make it) and perhaps… just perhaps someone will kindly put me out of my misery.
CARFAX Vehicle Description: 2006 LAND ROVER LR3 SE
VIN: SALAD24436A347352
Body Style: 4 DR. WAGON/SPORT UTILITY
Driveline: ALL WHEEL DRIVE
Engine: 4.0L V6 FI
Here we go:
This starting problem is utterly random. It might work perfectly for days, weeks on end then suddenly refuse to start. It happens when the car is hot, cold, wet, on a hill, in the sunshine, in a garage, while refueling or anywhere at any time basically. When the car is running it runs perfectly. When it starts perfectly. It never misfires or does anything else naughty.
When the car is refusing to start – it will totally refuse to start. I have tried setting the alarm, immobilizer and even opening manually with the key override. Boris will not start.
I have tried leaving the car for an hour and then trying again. Boris will not start.
But almost every time – it will just start at the first turn of the key 24 hours later. On most occasions when it refuses to start, I just rent a car, or use a cab and return the following morning and Boris will fire up at first turn of the key. This has only failed to start the following day once.
Forcing it to start – here is the real mystery and root of the problem – I discovered this technique by accident. When the car is refusing to start, open the bonnet (hood) and remove the spark-plug lead on the first spark plug (lower left hand side of the 6 spark plugs). Turn the key and the engine will fire up within 3 cranks. This only works with plug #1. Removing the other spark plugs makes no difference. After starting, refit the plug and the engine once again runs perfectly. Turn it off and it restarts normally.
Until the next time.
Anyone have any ideas?
I’m honestly considering the fact that maybe the engine is haunted.
I came here from YouTube to comment as I was having exactly the same problem as Nick. Cranks but won’t start. Removing the wire from the first cylinder coil would always get it to start. At the end of the day it was Crankshaft Position Sensor. Replaced that bad boy and problem went away