Thread: Disco 1 v8 97 wont start/runs rough. Need help

Originally Posted by Tvaabel

Hi. Drove my disco home the other day and now it wont start. Took it to my mates. Found out dizzie was busted. Changed leads, plugs, dizzie, and new bosch high putput coil. Got it started but it runs rough and only in high revs. Seems to get way too much fuel. And when my mate was pulsing off the coil it seems to start easier. He thinks it might be ecu. No idea how it was running nice and then just died on me. Im not the best with fixing cars but i love this car and would love to get it going. Im in gold coast qld area. Any chance somebody knows good land rover specialist or has any idea what might be the issue. Please help. And thanks in advance.

Did you set the ignition timing to 8° after changing the dissy?
Also what ignition module do you have? The stock lucas one? Its either on the dissy or next to the coil a little chip with a plug into it.
If its the lucas one sounds like its kaput, best change it to a bosch one.
Start with your timing if you have a timing gun, if not you will have to find TDC and do it statically to get it running.
Cheers Jim

You mentioned dead dizzy - did you also get a new rotor - this needs to be OEM and aftermarket have a high failure rate and cause the symptoms you describe - ie run at revs only.

Hey its the never one with module on dizzy and we thought that bosch high output coil would be good. It starts up after you let it sit for ages but doesnt wanna run on low revs. The ignition seems to be right. We got it going rough and we were moving dizzie around didnt seem to make a difference.
If the ignition is a bit off would it run really rich? Could it be something to do with fuel system. It seems to have plenty of pressure in fuel line. I read somewhere that those discos dont like aftermarket parts . Just dont know what else to check. Maybe some sensors or ecu.

As Garry said did you replace the rotor arm? You can buy an XF falcon (carb) bosch rotor which is a great equivalent also, ive had one for 12 months in the disco.
Also check your maf with a multimeter, prong the 2 outside wires and check for voltage should be 1v. I doubt it will stop the car from running but worth looking at, but it will cause rich running.
Cheers Jim

Bought the whole distributor. Screenshot_20190224-111334_eBay.jpg My mate is a pretty good mechanic he knows how to time it he marked everything he recons we are right on 8 degree mark. He just hasnt worked with these cars. Maybe he got something wrong but i doubt it. Or maybe disco doesnt like these parts. Im just thinking that maybe i should get an expert in. Im going back there tomorrow to check the mafs and try couple more things. Strangest thing is that it just stopped working and after changing all the ignition parts it sort of starts very rough and then seems to flood.

What was busted with the old dissy? Not much can go wrong with them really, nothing thats not fixable. If I was you id send the chinese dissy back and spend the money on quality parts to rebuild your dissy, you would still have change from your $200 and a dissy that will run another 300k.
If you really insist on keeping your new dissy take the cap off, gently pull the rotor arm off, undo the plastic cover and check that the pick up gap is correct. It could way to big should be 10/5 of F all. Put a drop of oil down the rotor shaft and a drop down onto weights before putting it back together. Make sure all your leads are correct also, compare the 2 caps and make sure the new matches the old it cpuld be numbered wrong.
But again unless your dissy exploded into a million pieces you should be able to fix it.
Cheers Jim

Thanks mate im here now give it a go. The old ones driveshaft or amthing seemed to have been busted. If u held it from the bottom and turned the arm it flicked over 180 degrees and was really loose. ...

Does anyone know any good mobile mechanics with a bit of knowledge on these cars in gold coast area.?