Servicing & MOT
Repairs
Engine & Drivetrain
Diagnostics & Emissions
Security & Tech
More servicesER Automotive
Land Rover Diesel Crankshaft and Timing Chain Faults
Several Land Rover diesel engines have known bottom-end and timing chain weaknesses. A knock or oil pressure warning needs checking straight away. Book an engine check and we will tell you honestly what we find.
Why book with us
Land Rover Diesel Crankshaft and Timing Chain Faults with clear advice.
The 2.2 TD4 and SD4 diesel fitted to the Freelander 2, Range Rover Evoque and early Discovery Sport has a known risk of crankshaft and bearing failure. The larger 2.7 and 3.0 V6 diesels in the Discovery 3 and 4 and Range Rover Sport have a similar reputation. The newer 2.0 Ingenium diesel, from around 2015, is known instead for timing chain stretch.
Crankshaft trouble usually starts with a bearing wearing or spinning. The warning signs are a knocking noise from the bottom of the engine, which gets louder under load, and an oil pressure warning. Sometimes there is very little warning at all before the engine seizes. With the Ingenium engine, the signs are a rattle, an engine light and timing fault codes.
The cost of ignoring either problem is high. A crankshaft that breaks or a chain that jumps can write off the engine, and on these vehicles a replacement engine is a major bill. Oil condition is central to both faults: extended service intervals, fuel dilution from repeated DPF regeneration and the wrong oil all speed up wear.
If you hear a knock or see an oil pressure warning, stop driving and call us. We check the oil level and condition, measure oil pressure with a gauge, listen with the engine running where it is safe, and read the fault codes. We then explain the options honestly. Sometimes a repair is worthwhile, sometimes a reconditioned engine is the better value, and on an older vehicle it may not be worth the money. We will tell you which.
Oil pressure measured
Mechanical gauge test rather than relying on the dash warning.
Timing chain checks
Ingenium timing data and chain noise checked for stretch.
Straight advice on value
Repair, reconditioned engine or neither. Book an engine check and we will explain the numbers.
Land Rover Diesel Crankshaft and Timing Chain Faults
Our Land Rover engine check covers
Clear expectations, no surprises. If anything extra is needed, we explain it first.
- Oil level, condition and fuel dilution check.
- Mechanical oil pressure test.
- Noise diagnosis with the engine running where safe.
- Diagnostic scan including timing correlation data on Ingenium engines.
- Inspection for oil leaks and cooling problems.
- Written findings with honest repair or replacement options.
Land Rover Diesel Crankshaft and Timing Chain Faults
Common questions
- Which Land Rovers are affected by crankshaft failure?
- Most talked about are the Freelander 2 and Evoque with the 2.2 diesel, and the Discovery 3 and 4 and Range Rover Sport with the V6 diesels. Not every engine fails, but good oil and regular changes make a real difference.
- Can I drive it to you with a knocking noise?
- We would rather you did not. A bearing knock can turn into a seized engine very quickly. Call 0121 461 6097 and we will advise on the safest way to get it to us.
- How can I reduce the risk?
- Change the oil more often than the maximum interval, use the correct specification, and deal with DPF problems quickly, as repeated failed regenerations thin the oil with diesel.
Related services
You may also need
Areas served
Serving drivers across the local area
We provide land rover diesel crankshaft and timing chain faults for customers from across the region — book online or call us.
Experts in land rover diesel crankshaft and timing chain faults
Tell us your car and symptoms, we will advise honestly.
Serving Smethwick, West Midlands and surrounding areas towns. Message or call and we will outline likely costs before we book you in.