Valve Job - Concerns - Please Advise

[son of lucas]

ok...did some "poking around"
p0300...this fault indicates a generall random misfire..this means you're engine is misfiring, but it's not consistent enough to pin it to a single cylinder...this is good, and would be consistent with worn/ arcing wires.(or contaminated fuel, but more on this later)
generally,(but definately not always) valve jobs show up as cylinder specific misfires..meaning you would have a code something like this...p0305....which would be misfire on cylinder 5 only..etc.
now for the second fault..p0461...this ones a little tricky
this fault is for a "FUEL LEVEL RATIONALITY FAULT"
thats rovers' way of saying your e.c.m has seen a fault in your fuel level sender...this is the part that tells your gas gauge how much fuel is in your tank
the e.c.m expects to see the senders resistance(and fuel level) change at a reasonable rate.....it looks at the fuel level..then expects to see it drop within a predetermined time frame/rate...if it doesnt do this, or it sees what the computer may interpret as unrealistic changes..it triggers this fault

now i'm REALLY gonna go out on a limb(as if i havent already)
although you didnt say so in your post, im going to assume the dealer did your gas tank recall on your last vist....if the fuel pump/sending unit was heavily corroded(most are)they may have damaged the pump connections and couldnt re-use your pump/sending unit assembly
pumps are very difficult to get at this point in the recall..as rover and the pump supplier didn't forsee the need to up production in anticipation of the upcoming recall(land rover has a tendency to overlook little things like that )
this may account for the 3 weeks downtime/waiting for parts issue they told you about
it's possible they never did get you a new pump/sending unit, but installed an old/useable one they had...and it.s possible this pump had a faulty sending unit
its also possible they filled your tank with contaminated fuel after the recall also, which would account for the random misfire codes ,too

so..my next move would be this....find out if the gas tank recall had been done, and confirm if they did install a new pump
also, i would fill my gas tank with premium fuel and maybe some drygas..have the codes cleared, check for arcing wires...and see if the light comes back on
let me know how you make out

(and if the recall wasn't done...well, thats what i get for ASSUMING..lol)

[LandRoverXD]

Thanks so much for clarifying the codes...
Well, to clear things up, no there was no replacement of anything related to the "gas tank"...last visit or any other that I can remember, but I can look into it...when exactly was that recall from (is there a website you can point me to, or a specific code that I can let Lanr Rover know about, if they play hard ball?)

To clear things up a bit more, I have always used top notch gasoline in the Disco...know for the brand or quaily of the gas, that I can only say relies on the gas station and it's honesty .

Within the 60,000 mile job (or prior) is there a spec. time that LR would ever change the wires etc?

In your opinion, what is the immediate next thing I should do since the dealer has my LR and is "scheduled" to work on it within the next couple of days?

Please throw this around and let me know, feel free to contact me directly at landroverxd@hotmail.com

PS - How do you know so much about LR?


THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INFO - YOUR DATA IS BEING HELD IN HIGH REGARD!

[son of lucas]

o.k..i put my foot in mY mouth as usuall on the tank recall...in any case, i found the vin ranges for the recall to be done
RANGE ROVER CLASSIC- PA637653 TO SA662245
DISCOVERY SERIES 1 (LJ) RA072463 TO TA199999
TA500000 TO VA546039
VA700000 TO VA714242
if your disco falls into one of these vin ranges..it probably needs the recall...but my guess is that it doesnt, because the dealer didnt do it
but anyway...no, there is no scheduled replacement of the plug wires...they get replaced when they need to be replaced, unlike other maintainence items like plugs/filters etc...
so if you don't specifically remember changing them, and your service records show you never changed them(you would remember..the dealer cost is substancial)
they likely were never replaced

my next move would be to call the dealer tomorrow and ask them why they think you need a valve job before wire replacement(remember, it's your car and your money)
if , in fact, the wires are original, i would have them change these first, and clear the codes...and then see what happens
with new wires, and new plugs...drive the car and see if the misfire code comes back...if it does, you most likely do need a valve job

worst case scenario is you do need a valve job, but why not try to avoid it by replacing plug leads that probably needed to be replaced anyway

as for the other error code, ask them what their diagnosis would be...if they renew the sending unit, and the fault comes back...don't be afraid to hold them to their original diagnosis....one diag/one repair bill is how it should be...dont pay to let them swap new parts in at your expense

and lastly..i wouldn't say i know that much about rovers..but what i do know , i guess, you could say it's in my blood...along with that smelly, wretched 90 weight gear oil ...lol
and , of course..the internet...it's a great way to share info

[LANDY96]

Son of Lucas, has good information too! It is true sometimes valve jobs are required, but that should be a last resort. Spark plug wires need to be checked as well, but just a FYI, I have 105,000 miles, still original wires , but I have changed plugs. It's in the works!

If this is your first Rover, READ, READ, READ, READ these posts and the whole forum! It has taken me 3years of Reading, blood, sweat, and many tears to figure out some things in my Rover. Just get into it.

Don't worry about the "valve job" situation, your ok!

[Disco]

I remember being on a forum (not this one) where a number of members posted, regarding valve jobs, and it developed into total hysteria. Suddenly, everyone who had a mystery symptom, of any sort, thought they needed a valve job. It's good to see that's died down.

[son of lucas]

Landroverxd...update....?
just wondering how you made out

[LandRoverXD]

Thanks everyone for all your assistance...currently changed a few gas-related parts regarding the PO461...and as far as the misfire code goes, using Techron the next few gas fill-up's...and will be watching it closely...if you come across any other data/advice...feel free to contact me. Thanks again for all your help...it was/is greatly appreciated!