LRM’S FLEET
DAVE PHILLIPS
O longer constrained totally to our houses, I’ve been driving my Land Rovers as much as I practically can. If it is hot and sunny, I’ll jump in the Series. Shopping run or family visit, then the Classic gets its fluid warmed.
NThough there is still a six-month extension to the annual MOT safety inspection, I booked the Range Rover in when it was due, and received another year’s pass. The lower shock bushes are still an advisory; I’ve actually had the new bushes and washers waiting to swap. Their fixings were gunned on, so my feeble arms can’t get them to budge, despite only being on for five years or so. Since last year’s hospital visit caused by the incident with the half-inch drive meeting my forehead, I’m less gung-ho. A job for the ramp and air gun at James Holmes’ instead. Other than an oil leak (as always mentioned on all old cars’ Mots) all was okay. Apart, that is, from the one low idle issue that’s bugged me for a year or so with the car.
I’m whispering it, but I think I’ve sorted it. I say I, but I mean my pal James, who I visited for a catch-up, taking the Range Rover. Never one to resist a tinker, he was listening to the engine anyway, commenting how quiet and smooth it ran, when I mentioned about the stalling/low idle problem. Bonnet up, he set to work nosing, listening and feeling the engine. A few minutes of this, his ears pricked up. Not at the car, but at me. You see, I’d mentioned I’d been swapping the battery between the old Series and the Classic, as I’ll never use the two together – or so I thought. I’d casually mentioned my battery swapping antics, and he said he’d bet that was what it was. And I think he’s right.
You see, removing the battery clears the ECU memory. Useful if you have a light on and want to clear an engine-based fault code, but in my case, it wasn’t just clearing codes, it was completely forgetting its parameters. The ECU takes a little time to ‘learn’ a number of operations, effecting all things to do with the EFI system. We think my problems have arisen as I’ve simply jumped in it after having the battery on the Series, then haven’t driven the Range Rover long enough for it to calibrate itself. My running issues arise as the ECU is learning those vital parameters. Simply, it hadn’t yet established a base idle, fuelling, etc. It makes sense. My quick drives and restarts since (battery left connected) seem to have confirmed all is indeed spot-on again. I’ll put that problem down as being caused by the
Garage wall sign begins to take shape