Thread: PUFF CHUG, DEAD

Originally Posted by John-2a

Been away for a month over the Xmas period, came back to my good ole 94 disco, decided to start her up for a good run, she started first time as usual, but didn't quite catch, she grumbled, puffed some dark looking smoke, spluttered for a minute and died.....

Re-turned the key, good strong turnover but nothing further...checked spark, cracked to ground but very orange, reconnected to dizzy pulled a plug....very tiny erratic orange spark at plug, plugs were a bit dark/wet/sooty.

Changed coil, removed the small silver condenser looking item by the coil as was advised i didn't need it unless i had old fashioned points, still no luck.

Checked i had fuel pressure in the rail, shot up my arm and made about 4 feet when i stuck a fingernail in the end...guessing there is pressure.

Turned over until battery died, tried the hold in the pedal etc, slowly release, pump like mad, all the advice the local neighbor (ex mechanic) was willing to give.

Battery is once again charged to max, and i was looking for some advice on the next steps, i have the dizzy with the module on the side and a brand new lucas coil, dizzy cap, rotor, plugs and leads are only a few months old, should i dump the lot for the BOSCH conversion?, start with a fresh slate?

I know this is an old chestnut of a question, but i have read the rest of the posts, none mention the spluttering and dying, am i more looking to a fuel issue?

Many thanks...John

If its flooded, check the fuel pressure regulator hasn't spewed its guts and is drowning the manifold via its vacuum hose.

Flooded engines are best cleared by holding the accelerator flat to the carpet and wind it over. I've found stock LRs flood easily.

If you identify and remove the fuel pump relay or fuse you can crank it until it clears. Dunno where they are on a D1 but the main power wires are white with a purple stripe to the fuel pump.

If the rotor button is anything other than OEM it could be burnt through, common enough problem. Use a Falcon XF rotor button instead, Bosch GB864 works well.

The Bosch module should work with any HEI coil, the Lucas one should be OK but a better Bosch coil would be a good idea too. Thread here.

Put the fresh battery in, checked the spark at the coil, all good nice, blue spark, turned her over, and all i got was.....turn turn turn turn turn blub, .....turn turn turn turn turn blub,.....turn turn turn turn turn blub,, the blub being a faint resemblance of a fire.

Will replace the plugs and leads next i think, then over to Bee's post for the bosch conversion, one thing i have noticed is the distributor has the module on the back towards the v, i've seen it in the manual and on other disco motors with the orientation the other way, a full 180, is this normal or should i change around when converting?

If all else fails might put a ad in the paper, free case of beer to whoever can tickle the disco into life....lol

The dissy position depends on the belt drive system. Vee belters are different from serpentine engines as to where the dissy points to. You should try lining up the crankshaft to TDC and seeing if the rotor button is still pointing to no. 1 cylinder lead or opposite side, you could have a stuffed timing chain thats slipped a tooth.

Thanks again Bee Utey, will try the TDC/rotor position trick, someone mentioned placing a finger over the plug hole, when it neither blows or sucks its TDC, this sounds a bit bush mechanic, or something we would do on a series, is this accurate enough on the disco or should i purchase a gauge or something?

I have a serpentine belt setup if that makes any difference to the rotation of the dizzy, also on closer inspection just found the curved magnet under the plastic cover in the dizzy has a crack in it?, maybe need a new dizzy? is there any way to ditch the dizzy for some kind of 8 port electronic coil pack?