Thread: 93 Disco 3.5 V8i no longer starting.

I don't think your model has an inertia switch.

Possibly the ignition amp blew. Check that there is 12 volts at the positive side of the ignition coil when your ignition switch is on. Test light is your friend.

For a possible repair method look at:

Lucas ignition amplifier replacement by Bosch 024

Have you tested for spark at the coil yet? Rotor buttons are a known failure. They break down and leak the spark to the shaft.

Thanks buddy.. Either going down now, or tomorrow night to try and get going again. will check all of those.

some times my v8 disco will stop like that for no reason (no spark)
i discovered that if i pulled the coil lead off and just sat it back on loosly it would then magically start then i could turn off the car put lead back on and car would restart with no problems
don't know why!
don't know if this will help but it's worth a go!

good luck!

had a bit of a play this afternoon after work with no luck unfortunatly... battery ended up flat after cranking it so much so i've brough the battery home to charge it for another go tomorrow. i remember the guy i bought it off told me if i had trouble starting it there are some relays under the dash above the brake pedal that would most likely be the problem... but all i could find was one large green one with a land rover logo on it near my LPG metre... lol this is a real bummer... maybe i should sell all of my vehicles and buy one good landrover

after a long day in the sun, and having the land rover towed home I was standing over the bonnet having a few beers when i spotted a little red wire coming from the coil had freyed and was severed... so out came the hookup wire and wire crimpers and electrical tape.... after rejoining it's actually showing some sign of spark now but still wont fire up... i think it's now a timing problem. i can hear it semi-firing and back firing but no start... grrrr this is frustrating. lol

Hi Mate
I have the same problem with my 91, I have replaced the coil, dizzy, the amp box on the side of the dizzy,thought it was the fuel pump,replaced that, still no joy. It does get really frustrating, I even put number 1 cylinder on TDC before putting the dizzy back in. it may be the knock sensor, if I figure it out I will let you know. also I have been told that the earth from the battery to the chassie and the earth from the engine to the body is not the best. Hope you can find the problem.

Originally Posted by greatmate

it may be the knock sensor,

You don't have one. Not fitted until full ECU timing in '99. Engine earth should not affect spark as the coil is mounted to the body.

Drewin, you may have flooded the engine, or when you pulled at the rotor button it didn't go back where it should have. Rotate the engine manually to no. 1 TDC and check where the rotor button is pointing. The star rotor under the clear plastic cover inside the dissy should be aligned to the pick-up. Look in my ignition post for pics.

Originally Posted by drewin

it's actually showing some sign of spark ... grrrr this is frustrating. lol

.... Take a couple of steps back ....

When you say "some spark" ... Is it a healthy Blue spark? ...or a dull orange colour?


The best thing you can do for yourself, to ease up on frustration, is the following ....
With the bonnet up ... in the dark ,,, get someone to start the motor, while your looking under the bonnet
Your looking for a christmas light show from sparks leaking from the ignition leads ect



Also .... Take the plugs out and swap them for a new set ... They have gotten massively wet, and most probably knackered, from all that motor cranking that you have been doing .... Also ... Don't use the starter motor to constantly turn the motor over for LONG battery draining turning bursts ... Short 2 second bursts only .... PUT your foot FLAT to the floor to clear any engine flooding



Startyabarsted .... spray in a can, gets things moving fairly quickly



Cheers
Mike