What counts as engine failure?

Owners use the phrase for very different problems. Some engines have seized or will not turn over. Some still run but knock, smoke, lose power or show oil pressure warnings. Others have stopped after a timing chain or belt fault and have not been restarted. Each of these points to a different amount of work, so the first useful step is to pin down what has actually happened.

Which faults are known on modern Range Rovers?

Not every engine has the same weak points, so avoid assuming that a fault reported on one engine applies to yours.

2.0 Ingenium diesel

Independent Land Rover specialists report that timing chains on the 2.0 Ingenium diesel can stretch early, often first heard as a rattle on a cold start, and that a chain which jumps or snaps can cause serious engine damage (K Motors). They list this engine in the Evoque, Velar, Range Rover Sport, Discovery, Discovery Sport and Defender. The Ingenium is an interference engine, so after a chain failure the job can become a rebuild rather than a chain replacement (JLR Engines). Our guide to timing chain failure: repair or sell covers this in more depth.

3.0 TDV6 diesel

Jaguar Land Rover issued a service message about crankshaft and crankshaft bearing failure on the 3.0 TDV6 diesel in the Discovery 4, Range Rover (L405) and Range Rover Sport (L494). It gives rotation of the main bearing shells as the cause, with knocking under load and the oil pressure light among the symptoms (JLR SSM 72578). More detail is on our crankshaft failure page.

Other engines

Petrol, V8 and hybrid engines can fail too, but the patterns above should not be read across to them. A garage assessment can help establish what has gone wrong.

Should you repair it or sell it?

There is no single right answer. These are the factors that usually decide it.

Get a written diagnosis

A verbal guess such as "it sounds like the bottom end" is not enough to decide on. Ask for the diagnosis in writing, including what was tested and what was not. If the garage cannot say without stripping the engine, ask what the strip down itself will cost and whether that cost is deducted from a repair.

Understand the scope and what is still unknown

Engine damage is often only fully visible once the engine is apart. Ask the garage what they have confirmed, what they suspect, and what could add to the bill once they look inside. A quote with large unknowns carries more risk than a fixed price for a defined job.

Look at the whole car

An engine repair makes more sense on a car that is otherwise in good order. Consider the mileage, service history, bodywork, tyres, suspension and any other warnings. If several expensive items are due at once, the total matters more than the engine quote on its own.

Compare more than one quote

Main dealers, independent specialists and engine rebuilders may offer different approaches, such as a repair, a rebuild or a replacement engine. Ask each what is included, what warranty applies and how long the car will be off the road. Compare like with like.

Consider the alternatives

Your options are usually to repair, to sell as it stands, or, at the end of the road, to scrap. If a car is scrapped, it must go to an authorised treatment facility and you must tell DVLA (GOV.UK). A 2016 onwards Range Rover with a failed engine may be worth more sold as a whole car than scrapped, so it is worth asking before you decide.

Can I drive it to a buyer or a garage?

If the MOT has expired, you cannot drive or park the car on a public road. Limited exceptions allow driving to or from repairs or to a prearranged MOT test, but the vehicle must still be roadworthy, insured and meet any applicable tax requirements. These exceptions do not permit driving it to a buyer (GOV.UK). An engine that knocks, has lost oil pressure or has a chain fault may also be at risk of further damage if it is run, so ask the garage before driving it anywhere. In most cases a car with engine failure is collected rather than driven.

What should I tell a buyer?

Be specific and honest. A clear description helps a buyer understand the car and avoids surprises at collection:

• the registration, model, engine and approximate mileage
• what happened, for example a noise, a warning, smoke or a sudden stop
• whether the engine turns over, starts or is seized
• any written diagnosis or repair quote
• whether any parts have been removed or work started
• where the car is kept and how easy it is to reach

If the car is on finance, tell the buyer about that as well.

How does collection work if the car will not run?

Collection of a non running car needs a little planning. Tell the buyer whether the wheels turn, whether the car can be steered, and whether it is in a garage, on a drive or at a workshop. If a garage is holding the car, give the address and let them know a collection is being arranged. Our guide on how to sell a non running Land Rover goes through this in more detail.

After the sale

Tell DVLA that you no longer own the vehicle. Your vehicle tax is then cancelled and you receive a refund for any full months remaining (GOV.UK).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to fix the engine before selling?

No. Buyers who take on faulty and non running cars expect to buy them as they stand. A diagnosis helps, but a repair is not needed.

Is a car with engine failure worth anything?

A modern Range Rover with a failed engine can still have value as a whole car or as a repair project. How much depends on the model, year, mileage and overall condition.

Can I sell it if a garage has already started work?

Yes, but tell the buyer exactly what has been removed or replaced and where the parts are.

Sell your Range Rover with engine failure

We buy 2016 onwards Range Rovers and Land Rovers with engine failure. We check your details and return with an offer. Collection is nationwide and arranged with you, and payment is same day bank transfer on collection. Call 01293 245488 to request a valuation, or read more on our engine failure page.

Which Range Rovers are affected?

Timing chain problems on the 2.0 Ingenium four cylinder diesel are reported by independent specialists. Independent Land Rover specialists list it in the Evoque, Velar, Range Rover Sport, Discovery, Discovery Sport and Defender (K Motors). A summary of What Car? owner reports lists chain stretch and oil dilution on the 2.0 Ingenium diesel among the faults most often reported on the Discovery Sport, and notes that there is no UK recall for the chain (Stedmans).

That does not mean every Range Rover or Land Rover has the same problem. Engines differ in their timing systems, and some use belts rather than chains. Petrol Ingenium engines are not covered by the specialist reports above, so do not assume the same fault applies to them. Your handbook, service records or a garage can confirm what your engine uses.

What are the signs?

Specialists describe a rattle when the engine is started from cold as an early sign of a stretched chain on the 2.0 Ingenium diesel (K Motors). Warning lights and rough running can also appear. These symptoms can have other causes, so they are a reason to get the car checked rather than a diagnosis in themselves.

Why is the repair so involved?

On these engines the chains sit at the back of the engine, so the gearbox usually has to come off to reach them (GT Automotive). That adds labour even when the chain is replaced before it fails.

The bigger risk is what happens if the chain jumps a tooth or snaps. The Ingenium is an interference engine, which means the valves and pistons can collide if timing is lost (JLR Engines). At that point a chain job can become engine work (GT Automotive).

Stretched chain or failed chain: how the decision changes

If the chain has stretched but the engine runs

If no further damage is found, the work may be limited to chains, guides, tensioners and related parts. Ask the garage to confirm the stretch with a proper check rather than by sound alone, and ask for a written quote that says what is included. Some specialists advertise fixed prices for the work (JLR Tech). Because the risk of further damage is the main concern, ask the garage whether and how far the car should be driven before the repair.

If the chain has jumped or snapped

Expect the garage to need to investigate before quoting. Bent valves, damaged pistons or other internal damage may only become clear once the engine is apart. Ask for the investigation cost, what it will reveal, and the range of outcomes, from a cylinder head repair to a rebuilt or replacement engine. This is the point where comparing a repair with selling the car as it stands matters most.

Questions to ask a garage

• Is the chain stretched, or has it jumped or failed? How was that confirmed?
• Is there any sign of internal engine damage, and how would you know?
• What does the quote include, and what could be added once work starts?
• Is the price fixed, or an estimate?
• What warranty comes with the work?
• How long will the car be off the road?
• Should the car be driven before the repair, and if so how far?

Weighing repair against selling

The rest of the car

A chain repair is easier to justify on a car with reasonable mileage, a good service history and no other major faults. If the suspension, gearbox or bodywork also need work, add those costs to the picture.

How certain the quote is

A fixed quote for a running engine is a known cost. An open ended quote for a failed engine is not. The more unknowns there are, the more weight the alternative of selling deserves.

How you use the car

If you plan to keep the car for years, a repair with a solid warranty may make sense. If you were already thinking of changing it, paying for a major repair first may not.

Selling as it stands

You can sell a car with a stretched or failed chain without repairing it. Be clear with the buyer about the symptoms, any diagnosis and whether the engine still runs. Arrange collection if the car is unsafe to drive or its MOT has expired. An expired MOT does not allow a journey to a buyer. Limited driving exceptions for repairs or a prearranged MOT test still require the car to be roadworthy, insured and to meet applicable tax rules (GOV.UK).

After the sale

Tell DVLA that you no longer own the vehicle. Your tax is cancelled and any full months remaining are refunded (GOV.UK).

Frequently asked questions

Is timing chain stretch covered by a recall?

For the Discovery Sport, the specialist summary above says there is no UK recall for the chain. Check your own vehicle with a Land Rover retailer if you are unsure.

Does a petrol Range Rover have the same problem?

The specialist reports we rely on here concern the 2.0 Ingenium diesel. Ask a garage about your specific engine.

Can I sell a car while the chain is only rattling?

Yes. A car with an early rattle that still runs can be sold, as long as you describe the symptoms honestly.

Sell a Range Rover with timing chain failure

We buy 2016 onwards Range Rovers and Land Rovers with timing chain or belt faults, whether the car still runs or has stopped. We check your details and return with an offer. Collection is nationwide and arranged with you, and payment is same day bank transfer on collection. Call 01293 245488 to request a valuation, or see our timing chain failure page and the Evoque and Discovery Sport model pages.

Step 1: Work out roughly why it will not run

You do not need a full diagnosis, but the cause changes the picture. A flat battery after months of standing is very different from a seized engine. Useful things to note:

• Does the dashboard light up when you turn the key or press start?
• Does the engine turn over, start briefly, or do nothing at all?
• Were there warning messages, noises, smoke or a loss of power just before it stopped?
• Has anyone tried to repair or restart it since?

Some faults stop a car from starting even though the engine itself is sound. On 2016 onwards Land Rover diesels, for example, a persistent AdBlue system fault can trigger a countdown that ends with the engine refusing to start (iFixAdBlue). Others, such as timing chain or crankshaft failure, involve engine damage. Our guides to engine failure and timing chain failure explain those in more detail.

If a garage has looked at the car, ask for their findings in writing. If not, a clear description of the symptoms is still useful.

Step 2: Decide whether repairing first makes sense

Getting the car running before you sell can be worth it when the cause is simple and confirmed, such as a battery. It is harder to justify when the fault is unknown or the engine or gearbox is damaged. Think about:

• how certain the diagnosis is, and what could still be unknown
• the overall condition of the car, including mileage, bodywork and other faults
• whether a repair quote is fixed or open ended
• whether you would keep the car once it is fixed

If the answer is unclear, selling as it stands avoids spending money on a car you then sell anyway.

Step 3: Check the legal basics

MOT

If the MOT has run out, you cannot drive or park the vehicle on the road, except to a pre arranged MOT test or to somewhere it is being repaired. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT (GOV.UK). Any permitted journey still requires the car to be roadworthy, insured and to meet applicable tax rules. An expired MOT exception does not permit driving to a buyer. Do not drive a vehicle with dangerous defects. A major failure is not permission to drive: the remaining MOT validity and roadworthiness requirements still apply (GOV.UK).

Tax and SORN

If you keep the car off public roads without taxing it, you must make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Keep it on private land, such as a driveway or in a garage. A SORN does not permit general use on public roads. It ends when you sell the vehicle and does not transfer to the new keeper (GOV.UK).

Finance

If the car is on hire purchase or PCP, the finance company owns it until the agreement is settled. Your lender can give you a settlement figure (Auto Trader). Always tell a buyer about outstanding finance.

Step 4: Gather what a buyer will ask

Having these ready saves time and helps avoid surprises at collection:

• registration, model, engine and approximate mileage
• what happened and the current symptoms
• any garage findings or quotes
• service history you hold
• whether the keys are present and working
• any other faults or damage
• outstanding finance, if any

Step 5: Plan the collection

This is the part that is easy to overlook. A car that will not run needs suitable transport agreed with the buyer, so access details matter:

• where the car is: a drive, a garage, a street, a car park or a workshop
• whether the wheels turn and the car can be steered
• whether it is stuck in park or the electronic handbrake is on
• whether the tyres are flat after standing
• anything that affects access, such as a gate, a narrow or steep drive, height limits or parking restrictions

If the car is at a garage or storage yard, give the buyer the address and let the site know a collection is being arranged.

Step 6: Choose who to sell to

A private buyer may be wary of a car that does not run. Other options are usually a trade buyer who buys non runners, a specialist who takes the car as a project, or, if the car really is at the end of its life, scrapping. Scrapping must be done at an authorised treatment facility, and you must tell DVLA (GOV.UK). A 2016 onwards Land Rover may be worth selling as a whole car before you consider scrap.

Step 7: After the sale

Tell DVLA that you no longer own the vehicle. Your tax is then cancelled and you receive a refund for any full months remaining (GOV.UK).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to get it running before I sell?

No. Buyers of non running cars expect them as they stand. Whether repairing first makes sense depends on the diagnosis, likely cost and your plans for the car.

Can I sell a non runner with no MOT?

Yes. Arrange collection for the sale. The limited MOT driving exceptions do not allow a journey to a buyer, and a SORN has its own narrower rules.

What if I have lost a key?

Tell the buyer. Missing keys affect how the car is moved and what is needed afterwards.

Sell a non running Land Rover

We buy 2016 onwards Land Rovers and Range Rovers that do not run, including the Discovery, Discovery Sport and Defender. We check your details and return with an offer. Collection is nationwide and arranged with you, and payment is same day bank transfer on collection. Call 01293 245488 to request a valuation, or read more on our non runners page.