I took some more time looking over the truck, and I've got a list of things to fix:

1. Difficulty starting when cold... so I'll try cleaning the throttle body and MAF and see if this improves things. If not, I'll replace the fuel filter and see if that makes things better. If not, I may be replacing the in-tank fuel pump. I welcome any tips or hints here, since I've never owned a car with the AJV8.
2. Driver's window doesn't go up or down. I think this switch pack is CAN bus, so since the other switches work this should mean that the problem is with the motor in the door. I'll test that with a bench power supply to see if the motor runs forward and backward. I'll also check if the micro-switches are working.
3. Keyless entry is completely inoperative. I think the battery in the key is kaput. Like with my Porsche a few years back, I may have to swallow hard and go to the dealer to buy new key or maybe two. From what I've seen, these keys are difficult to open up. If I can open it I can solder in a new battery, but I don't know if this is realistically going to work. I'll keep researching this, but I still need a second key so either way, so a visit to the dealer is in my future.
4. Hood struts are shot. I ordered a pair.
5. Rear window struts are weak. I ordered a pair of these too.
6. The battery may be weak... I need to charge it up fully and then load test it.
7. All three wipers are roached... so I ordered some.
8. Clear coat has failed patches. The worst is the top of the front windshield, which has some tacky carbon-fiber-look vinyl on it that is also looking tired. My nextdoor neighbor is an auto body tech, so I'll ask him about repairing failing clear coat, but I've always heard the only way to fix this is with a repaint.
9. A few interior lights are out, like the ignition key lock.

And, I need to clean this rig inside and out. I need to feed the leather too.

So, like any used car, I've got my work cut out for me. It may not end up such a good deal by the time I'm done.

Scott

 

OK, the engine now starts really well and runs very smoothly with fuel corrections an order of magnitude smaller than before. Even before I could get the MAF off to clean it I found that one of the two large hose clamps holding its hoses was loose... the one downstream from the MAF. So, I tightened the clamp and the engine started right up on the first twist of the key. I then cleaned the MAF anyway, and it was still very happy. I cleaned the throttle body next, and it still ran nicely. Hey, better clean than dirty.

So, then I worked on putting the spare tire back under the tail of the car... and the spare tire winch is broken. No wonder why the seller gave up on that. I've got to find a replacement one now.

Sun's going down, so I locked it up and came inside. Tomorrow it'll be a great day to pull up on the grass and wash the thing.

Scott

 

For the key fob - check post #21 in this thread: https://www.landroversonly.com/thre.../threads/need-help-99dii-immobilized-and-door-lock-not-functional.159400/page-2

SierraFery put me on to this replacement microswitch and it fixed my key fob. This link did not work today but you might reach out to Fery and see if he can find a link that does give you the correct microswitch for replacement.

Good luck.

 

That thread appears to deal with the D2 keys, which are very different from D3/LR3 keys. I appreciate your desire to help, so thank you.

Here's an example of the LR3 key repair threads I've been looking into:

Key Fob Replacement - Range Rover Sport or LR3

LR3 - Key Fob Repair?

Land Rover LR3 Replacement Key Fob Comparison and Programming

Actually, that last thread has me slightly hopeful that I can use my Nanocom to program another key to my LR3. Unfortunately, the price to add LR3's to my Nanocom is not cheap. My Nanocom was enabled to work with my last two D2's, and I certainly got my money's worth on those D2's.

Thanks again,
Scott

 

I had a little more quality time yesterday evening. My first parts arrived, so I now have fresh wipers and new hood struts on the Rover. I also sat with the engine running and the AC on while I read the owner's manual looking for how to set the time when I looked down and saw the Check Engine light light up. I read the codes, and I have lean conditions on both cylinder banks. I also have a misfire on cylinder 1, and a general lean condition that was reported after 1000 revolutions. Funny, I forgot all about setting the time or washing the rig.

I then did some research on the AJ V8 for these codes, and it appears that they can be caused by either vacuum leaks (no surprise) or a dirty MAF. I sprayed out the MAF once already, so I'll try spraying it out extra carefully today and see if it improves. If not, I'll have to find my old smoke generator that I haven't used for about 15 years and look for some vacuum leaks.

I have another delivery of parts coming from Amazon today, including a new spare tire winch and rear hatch struts.

Scott

 

I received two of the three parts shipments expected today. I installed the new spare tire winch and put the spare tire away under the tail of the car. I also fixed the gas door spring-loaded latch. I love quick, satisfying fixes like these.

I also cleaned the MAF again and cleared the CEL error codes. So far, I don't have the lean mixture trouble codes again, so we'll see what happens next week.

I also tried to lube the two hood latches. Funny, but I don't remember even looking if that took care of the "Hood open" message on the dashboard, so I'll have to look for that tomorrow.

Next task is to go to the DMV and transfer the title and get tags. I'll try to do that after a couple meetings on Tuesday morning. I have a feeling that the wait for my number to come up will take me through the lunch hour. <sigh>

This has been fun. I think I was missing my Land Rovers for the last couple of years. A Volvo XC70 really isn't the same, good car though it may be.

Scott

 

Yesterday I installed my new hatch struts, put my new tags on the plates, and drove the Rover over to the local "touchless" car wash.

The car wash is one of those high pressure units that dances around the stationary car. The pressure blew the trim strip clean off the car. I didn't notice until I got home, but the trim strip was waiting for me at the car wash this morning when I picked it up on my way to work.

Looking at the back of that trim strip, it looks like some previous owner pulled it off the car, breaking a bunch of the mounting tabs, but then put it back on with only two or three of them holding the panel on. I've just ordered a packet of the yellow and white gadgets.

Oh, I should look up another driver's door window switch pack....

Scott

 

I tried to drive the LR3 to work the next morning after making the previous post last week, but got a CEL with trouble codes for lean conditions on both cylinder banks. Hrrrmmmph. I drove it back home and took another car to work. That night, I got out my old smoke generator and it would not make smoke. It is 18 years old, so I guess I got my value out of it. I ordered a new one.

The trim clips came in the mail, so I put that trim strip back on the driver's door. I also lubed the front hood latches and the "Hood open" error no longer appears on the dashboard.

That new smoke generator arrived in the mail yesterday along with a new fuel pump. I read that fuel pressure bleeding off overnight is usually caused by a failing one-way valve in the fuel pump, allowing fuel to gravity drain back through a warn fuel pump into the tank. It was surprisingly inexpensive, so I hope it is the correct part and not just Chinese junk.

I should have some time this weekend for some quality time with this rig and nice weather too.

Wish me luck,
Scott

 

I just sold my D1 so I’m out of the Land Rover game for now, but I’m really enjoying reading your updates and how you’re bringing this LR3 back to life. Keep us posted.

 

Lean conditions, if not caused by vacuum leaks or MAF sensor, are more than likely bad O2 sensors. Looking forward to hearing about progress! My LR3 has 235,000 miles on it.

 

Dwave,

That's a good point. The service records on this rig are spotty, to say the least. I should replace all four preemptively because my rig has 286,000+ miles. Time to order a set.

I think something else is going on, since I'm seeing surging too. I think I've got uneven fuel delivery as the fuel pump warms up, but it may also be an uneven reading as the O2 sensors heat up. All I can say so far is that I haven't solved the problem yet.

Thanks for the idea.

Scott

 

Not much of an update this weekend… I installed a new gas cap, but it didn’t seem to affect my vacuum leak. I haven’t had time to set up my new smoke generator yet. My available time went into a couple small Porsche repairs, and buying new lights for my living room ceiling. We’ll have some warm evenings this week so I hope to smoke test the Rover some evening after dinner.

Thanks for the interest,
Scott

 

Bit of an update tonight. I bought the Launch Creader Elite because I saw several posts that said that it works pretty well. I updated its firmware, connected to my LR3, and retrieved about 35 codes. Most were for intermittent communication. So... looks like I get to dive into the deep end on CAN bus communications and signal quality. Gee, just what I hate most at work... network analysis. Yippee.

Sun is down, so I'll start researching now, and apply what I learn tomorrow while I still have daylight.

Wish me luck,
Scott