DISCO 3.5 EFI Not starting?

[garciaj]

Any ideas why there appears to be no spark/engine wont start?
Replaced the dizzy, base plate in the dizzy, black module on side of dizzy, changed coils and leads but still no spark. Appears that the coils is working but no spark.
Checked the fuel pump, changed the plugs and tried a different computer and tried a different dizzy also.
Even have the guys at the shop stumped.
Engine has had the top end rebuild recently and ran fine for 200 kms and I went to start it and it just wouldn't fire, just winds over freely.
Would appreciate any suggestions as I'm over driving the Nissan patrol!

[95 Disco]

Any ideas why there appears to be no spark/engine wont start?
Replaced the dizzy, base plate in the dizzy, black module on side of dizzy, changed coils and leads but still no spark. Appears that the coils is working but no spark.
Checked the fuel pump, changed the plugs and tried a different computer and tried a different dizzy also.
Even have the guys at the shop stumped.
Engine has had the top end rebuild recently and ran fine for 200 kms and I went to start it and it just wouldn't fire, just winds over freely.
Would appreciate any suggestions as I'm over driving the Nissan patrol!

Been there done that - all of it except repacing the computer.

In the replacing of parts did you replace the distributor rotor with a non-Lucas rotor? I stumped the sparkies too until we put back the Lucas rotor; and all was good. It's documented on here, so have a search.

Good Luck

Grant

[Bazzle218]

`Had same problem with my old 3.5 somedays start and others not. Spent $1000 on a fuel injection specialist who sent computer away with no joy. Tracked it down to all the ( New) spark plugs were stuffed. They were replaced and it ran fine and started all over again. It turned out that the ignition switch was stuffed and separating from the back where it plugs in. Worth a look before you spend big . Good luck:)

[bee utey]

My brother had one, there is a vacuum pot on top of the manifold that cuts out the injectors under high vacuum. If its faulty it cuts them out even more. Easy to find, on drivers side of manifold (I think) just join its two wires together and see if it works then. I took my brothers one out and it never had a problem. Lucky he had a factory manual, he had managed to swap various fuel pump relays around when it first stopped, and they are not all the same! I will also recommend swapping the rotor button, I had one short circuit through to the shaft. Hard to spot but obvious when testing for spark at the coil lead then at a plug.

[peewee]

is the rotor button turning when you crank the engine ?

[garciaj]

The rotor is turning but will try a new Lucas one.
I also checked the ignition switch, that was a problem in the past.
Hoping the new rotor will fix the problem.

[Traco]

Changed the coil lead into the cap? Changed the dissy cap? If a sparks getting sent from the coil it can only really be one of two things - the rotor or the cap itself. Is there any spark at all at the plugs, or is it a very weak one (i.e. not enough to fire the engine)?

[mike 90 RR]

Any ideas why there appears to be no spark/engine wont start?
Replaced the dizzy, base plate in the dizzy, black module on side of dizzy, changed coils and leads but still no spark. Appears that the coils is working but no spark.

Did you buy one of those cheap chinese Ebay Dizzy components???

Install a Genuine LUCAS rotor
Install a Genuine AMP ... The amps on the Ebay $120 dizzys last about screw all seconds ....... :(
Install a genuine "black can" coil ...

if your using those Bosch style eletronic coil unit's ... Toss it in the bin

Try starting the motor at night (complete darkness) and watch the leads for arking out ... I have split brand new leads inside of a month of purchase

Also ... have you checked that your getting full voltage feed at the coil???


Mike
;)

[garciaj]

Well, it's finally come to the end and the disco is going.
After fitting a new dizzy, new coil, new leads, black boxes and modules and new plugs and god only knows how many other parts. Swapping parts from another disco and a lot of head scratching didn't help, it had to be taken to the auto sparkies, who tracked it down to a broken wire.
It may appear that when the engine was pulled out to rebuild the top end and fit the new cam and etc that the damage was done to the wire.
It just seemed strange that it done about 200 kms before the trouble started.
At least one good thing that as come from it, is that it as a new ignition system in it so fingers crossed I might get some troubled free miles?!

[garciaj]

Well I spoke to soon, yes it starts and runs but doesn't idle.
You can rev it and its sweet but doesn't idle right.
Just about had a gut full of so called landrover experts after 6 months and about 6k, I basically have a car worth nothing while not going and running no better than when I took it in for some work.
Once bitten twice shy.

[mike 90 RR]

You can rev it and its sweet but doesn't idle right.

Would describe the idle as "Hunting" .....

[garciaj]

More missing and back firing, sounds like its hardly running but you can rev it okay than it dies.

[mike 90 RR]

More missing and back firing, sounds like its hardly running but you can rev it okay than it dies.

Check the AIR INTAKE hose to the MAF ... Check the AIR INTAKE hose to the air cleaner /// If your using a POD, make sure it's attached properly to the MAF ....

I run a POD on front of my MAF and it does exactly what you are describing if it falls off

Check for vacuum leaks .. & make sure your using the LUCUS rotor button


/// and if you have the POD /// Just for Shi & giggles (Testing) ... Wrap a rag around the POD to restrict the airflow

ALSO ... check that you have the airfilter pad installed , if you running a filter airbox

Check all that .... and let us know

Mike
:)

[garciaj]

Well after another 2 weeks at the shop, the problem is now a not starting problem.
Back to having no spark so its at the sparkies for the second time.
Everything to do with the electrical/ignition has been changed to new genuine lucas or landrover at a fairly pricey exercise.
At the rate I'm going I never ever wear out at set of tyres, couple of hundred kms for the year!
I wish I had gone to someone else now for a so called simple job, fit two reco heads and fit a new cam and lifters.
Over 7 months and 6k later, I have a vehicle that doesn't go.
SURE MISS 4WDING, CAMPING AND FISHING.

[garciaj]

Well its finally happened, it fixed or so they say.
Only time will tell and hopefully I can put some kms on it.
Hearing 3rd hand news about the problem or the fix, this is how it went;
sparkie basically pulled all the ignition out and changed it to BOSCH and it seems to have worked, now I'm worried.
It is worth just buying a completed aftermarket ignition system like Mallory or such I suck it and see?
Many thanks to everyone for the input and hopefully its all good news from here on end.:)

[mike 90 RR]

sparkie basically pulled all the ignition out and changed it to BOSCH and it seems to have worked, now I'm worried.
It is worth just buying a completed aftermarket ignition system like Mallory or such I suck it and see?

No ..... BOSCH is good :)

All tho Lucus can have a bad rap ..... there must be more to this story thats not being told ..... As you found a cure, but not the cause

Enjoy some happy miles .... See you on the tracks

Mike
:)

[garciaj]

I totally agree about the cure and not the cause, I really think no really wanted to find the problem and this was a easy way to fix it.
I've had the car for a full day and still not very happy about the whole deal and the workmanship is not so great, spent most of today cleaning up wiring and fine tuning but there still seems to be a problem.
When you start it up it basically revs to 1500rpm for a second or so then goes to 2000rpm for a little longer before returning to idle around 1000rpm.
The idling seems a little high than it was before (800rpm) and its very painful staring it and having it rev its head off for no reason. Not real keen to take it back so it might by off to someone else.
Overall it just doesn't feel like the nice vehicle it was, starting to think of buying a late model all alloy chev engine to put in it but how far to you go.
I've spent more than the cars worth in the last exercise and the time before, before that and before that.
Just want the old DISCO it was before this joke and I feel that I might spending a little more to get it fixed.

[mike 90 RR]

Hate to say it, but the rev range & the way it starts and idles suggests to me that who ever is working on your ride has little understanding of the rover motor ... (or you have major problems)

I've seen the problem that you now have, expressed on this forum before ... and the final cure was that the owner took it to a reputable LR mechanic (non dealer) ... where the problem was sorted out easily, & in a very cost effective manner .... My suggestion is to find one near you, and get a second opinion

You can't drive it the way it is ...

Mike