1998 3.9 discovery 1 is hard to start

[Lethal3089]

Hey guys I'm new here I'm in perth my discovery just all off sudden started being hard to start I've changed nearly everything.
Once it starts it runs perfect no idling issues never over heats it has spark an fuel I've tried turning the ignition on letting the pump prime up then turning ignition off an repeating this several times an still no difference.
Sometimes it starts straight away but 90% of the time it cranks for quite a while before it starts I think it might be electrical or maybe immobiliser I dunno any ideas would be good.

[Rick1970]

If you turn it off and restart again straight away, does it start ok?

Ex's Disco had this trouble and ended up being a split in the fuel hose off the pump in tank causing pressure in the fuel rail to bleed down. No issues when running, only when left sit for more than 1/2 hour or so.

Turning ignition on and off several times made some difference when starting from cold, but not as much as I would have thought.

[loanrangie]

Could be the ignition module, search for Beeuteys posts on ignition module upgrade.

[Lethal3089]

Thanks for the reply guys na it doesn't start straight away if I turn the ignition off after it's been running it takes a while to start again.
Thanks for that Ill check out now about the ignition module

[Lethal3089]

Do any of you think it could be my spider unit the button doesn't work on the remote so I lock the car from the drivers door wich then locks all all other doors an activates the alarm when I unlock the red immobiliser lights all turn off but sometimes if it doesn't start ill get out the car re lock it then unlock it an it fires up straight away

[loanrangie]

Do any of you think it could be my spider unit the button doesn't work on the remote so I lock the car from the drivers door wich then locks all all other doors an activates the alarm when I unlock the red immobiliser lights all turn off but sometimes if it doesn't start ill get out the car re lock it then unlock it an it fires up straight away

It is possible, when mine went it was nothing at all not intermittent like some have advised. Not sure how to on a V8 but if you bypass the spider it will give you an indication if that is the culprit or not.

[Lethal3089]

Yea right cheers I'll see how it all goes it's doin my head in.when I crank it over to start it it cranks for quite a while then sort of hesitates when it starts

[dtripp]

It would be interesting to know what the issue is when you figure it out. I've got a 3.9 v8 '96 Discovery with the same issue and it used to only do it when it had sat for a while but it's starting to do it more often recently.

[steelo]

When it does start can you smell petrol &/or is there smoke from the exhaust like flooding? :confused:

[Lethal3089]

Na there is nothing it just fires up normal an idles normal

[steelo]

Na there is nothing it just fires up normal an idles normal

Just me, but if fuel was flowing to engine while you were trying to start it & it wasn't starting I would think it would be flooding & therefore smell of petrol when it does start.
Just me as I said but that's what mine does, anyone?

[Uglitom]

Can you hear your fuel pump come on each time you switch on ?

[Traco]

Check the coil is getting a full 12 volts, anything less and it will struggle to start.