Defender Diesel Cutting Out? Common Causes Revealed

Hey there! I had nearly identical issues with my 2013 Discovery 4 diesel last year. The symptoms were spot on with what you're describing, rough idle, power loss, hard starts, and terrible fuel economy. In my case, it turned out to be a faulty fuel injector. The garage found that cylinder #3 injector was defective and causing incomplete combustion. Had the injector replaced and they also cleaned the other injectors while they were at it. It was a serious repair that took them two days to complete properly. The quantity drift compensation reset your mechanic mentioned is actually a related symptom, but it's more like treating the symptom rather than fixing the root cause. When injectors start failing, the engine computer tries to compensate, leading to these drift values getting out of whack. My advice would be to get a proper diagnostic test specifically focused on the injectors. Those symptoms are classic injector failure signs, and it's not uncommon at that mileage. Best of luck!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That injector problem sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Would you mind telling me roughly how much the repair set you back? Also curious if you've had any similar issues pop up since getting it fixed? Really helps to know what I might be in for!

Hey again! Glad I could help! Just wanted to follow up, you asked about the costs and if I've had any issues since. I got it fixed last month and had to shell out 515€ for the faulty injector replacement. That included parts and labor. The good news? Car's running like a dream now! All those nasty symptoms disappeared completely. The engine's smooth as silk, starts right up every time, and my fuel economy is back to normal. They also sorted out that quantity drift compensation reset thing while they were at it. Haven't had a single problem since the repair. Looking back, I was stressing over nothing, sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and get it properly fixed by someone who knows what they're doing. Trust me, it's worth every penny to have it running right again! Let me know how you get on with yours!

Thanks for all that detail! I finally took my Defender to a different mechanic yesterday. You were spot on, it was definitely the injector! Had to pay a bit more than you (around 650 for parts and labor) but honestly, it's such a relief to have it sorted. Just picked it up this morning and wow, what a difference! The engine's running super smooth now, no more shaking or cutting out. The mechanic also checked the other injectors and gave them a good clean while they were at it. My wallet's a bit lighter but at least I can drive without worrying about breaking down! Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me feel more confident about getting it properly fixed instead of just trying quick fixes. Sometimes you've just got to trust your gut and find the right mechanic for the job. Thanks again for all your help!