Ls400 Sometimes Fails To Start

Roy Gardiner · February 14, 2014

Don't you just love intermittent faults?

My 1999 LS400 will sometimes catch, then die, then turnover but not catch. Just like it's flooded. But I don't get why it just sometimes dies like that. Is it likely to be just that, flooding, or is there some known fault on the car?

It's properly serviced at a main agent (if that's not an oxymoron) and I wouldn't mind second-guessing them. I'm in IG9, Buckhurst Hill in West Essex, and I'd be glad to hear about any independent experts I could entrust the car to.

Thanks in advance.

Roy Gardiner

steve2006 · February 14, 2014

It sounds more like a lack of fuel not over fuelling (flooding), once started does it then idle and run OK?

When it gets to the cranking but not firing stage you could try getting someone to spray some Easistart into the air intake while you turn the engine over, if it immediately fires up it would confirm a fuel delivery problem.

I seem to remember a specialist in the north London area I will try and find their details for you.

I wasn't far from you last week when working for UKPN in Ilford :)

Mybikes a cx500 · February 14, 2014

Error codes are your friend here, has the Main Agent had a look to see if you have any? Perhaps a fuel pressure test, could be a fuel filter or the pump?

Roy Gardiner · February 16, 2014

Thanks for your replies, main agent to take a look on Monday. Pound to a dog, erm, to a penny that they don't find anything.

Ian, 31mpg eh? I recently did a trip round the M25; on the speed restricted section at 50mph, was getting about 23. Out of restriction and going considerably faster, consumption improved to just on 30mpg. How's that work again...?

Malc · February 16, 2014

I find that a consistent 80 mph returns about 30 mpg too .................. not usual on the M25 though

Malc

steve2006 · February 16, 2014

I find that a consistent 80 mph returns about 30 mpg too .................. not usual on the M25 though

Malc

The times I've been stuck on the M25 around Heathrow I'm sure the plane passing over me to land has disembarked its passengers who have collected their luggage, gone through passport control and are on their way home before I've moved 100 yards:)

Mybikes a cx500 · February 17, 2014

I'm actually running on LPG, getting about 20MPG. Apparently the fuel computer is monitoring the petrol injector pulses and that's what I would be getting on petrol