I have just read a reply by Alex to Jules regarding egr % error. I have never been able to check this until now.
I have just purchased an Icarsoft CR Max scanner which appears to give me a lot more information.
On startup and engine idling it shows egr error -100% . Does that mean the egr is faulty.
Could that be the cause of my poor starting issue. Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

I take it that nobody knows then.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

yes it would,and could, cause starting problems.on roadside breakdowns ,with egrs that are stuck we have tapped with a hammer or bar to get going ,not so easy on a freelander,as is down the back of engine.

Thanks Sid
I have a suspicion that the egr is stuck open but not throwing a code.
This would upset the amount of air passing through the intake manifold. That would confuse the MAF and MAP sensors and the ECU would try and compensate with the amount of fuel injected, eventually the engine will start.
This is only my thinking, I have yet to prove it. But everything else has failed so far.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

Easy to prove with a £3 blanking plate off ebay.  Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The family car.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Gone.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.
Audi A5 convertible, the daily driver.
1972 Hillman Avenger GT, the project.

I'll make one tomorrow  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

Well that didn't work.
Back to the drawing board again.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

gasman wrote:

I'll make one tomorrow

Hi Sid
I already have a partial blanking plate installed, has a small hole in the middle. I did fit a piece of thin metal over the top just to see what would happen when I tried to start the engine. Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

Just wanted to tidy up some of my many posts.
I removed the egr valve for inspection when I replaced the turbo recently.
EGR valve a little sooty but working fine. The egr cooler however was very sooty. cleaned and replaced.
For anyone interested, this had nothing to do with the starting issue. This has now been resolved. The culprit was a faulty main earth cable from the battery to the starter motor. The starter motor was not receiving sufficient amperage to generate the torque to start the engine.
More information in the original post.
Thanks to those who contributed.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.