Hi, new member needing help.
My wife has a 2005 RRS 2.7 HSE with heater pack problems. Car won,t start during cold weather. Booked in to RR specialist Thursday this week. However started up today and smoke coming from under the bonnet near side. Called RAC informed that heater pack over heating? So he disconnected it. My question is can the car be driven (if it starts) with the heater pack disconnected or does this in some way controll other areas i.e coolant etc.
The specialist has also advised the aditional starter kit? Is it necessary or just as "nice to have" piece if kit to have.
Sorry for the length of the email, but all help appreciated.
ta

Yes, it can be driven with the FBH disconnected. When you are low on fuel, it doesn't use the FBH anyway, so your situation is as if you permanently were low on fuel.

Smoke is meant to comeout the wheel arch or under car. When it's very cold. 5 deg or less.

Sounds normal. ???

Last edited by Andy K on Sun Feb 04 2018 6:18pm. Edited 1 time in total

Many thanks for the reply.
At least we now know we can run it until it goes in on Thursday. Do you have any knowledge about the additional pack they are reccomending. Is it worth having. Cost I have been quoted is £490 for the heater pack replacement and another £450 for the additional pack. Is it required?. I've been told not starting in the cold is a common problem, which for a car that is supposed to go anywhere in all conditions is a bit of a joke if it won't start!!
The car is great fantastic for itsyear and mileage therefore reluctant to part with it but my wife is losing confidence in it?

Many thanks for the reply.
At least we now know we can run it until it goes in on Thursday. Do you have any knowledge about the additional pack they are reccomending. Is it worth having. Cost I have been quoted is £490 for the heater pack replacement and another £450 for the additional pack. Is it required?. I've been told not starting in the cold is a common problem, which for a car that is supposed to go anywhere in all conditions is a bit of a joke if it won't start!!
The car is great fantastic for itsyear and mileage therefore reluctant to part with it but my wife is losing confidence in it?

I reckon you've got a battery issue or glow plugs on the way out. I wonder if the RAC person didn't know about the FBH and how it works. The FBH does not affect engine starting because it starts up after the engine has started. The glow plugs are what helps the engine start. They do fail over time and if a couple go then that can make cold starting difficult, especially in colder weather.

Which garage are you using? You say they're a "RR specialist". If they're flogging you an FBH to help the engine to start then they're not very specialist I would say.

You can drive without the FBH running - many do because their FBH is not working for various reasons. The FBH helps the engine get up to temperature for emissions reasons and, in cold weather, helps it stay at temperature too. You may find in cold weather that fuel economy suffers because of this. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Hi thanks for the reply. Changed the battery last month as I was advised that it might've the problem. Glow plugs could be an issue then as only 2 in place. That might therefore be the cause of the none starting but what about the smoke. Not mechanical sorry if I sound thick.

What do you mean only 2 in place do you mean only 2 of them are working i think you need to find a new indy to have a look at your car sounds like the people who have looked at it actually know jack about these cars

The glow plugs on these cars are notorious for snapping off in the heads as they are very thing and weak so it can be a VERY expensive job.
I would suggest you contact bell autos near York and get one of there pre heat override kits which lets you warm up the car from your house by remote, simple to fit and work a treat use mine all the time. Obviously your FBH needs to be in working order. 2008 G4 RRSport TDV8 current
2009 TDCi 90 current
2018 Discovery 5 HSE lux current
1994 Dakar current