Thread: 96 disco that just stopped and wont start

Originally Posted by bridgo

Just joined, have been viewing the technical forum with interest.
I have a 96 disco that is refusing to start. Have had several eletrical issues over the 8 yrs I've had it, 13 months ago had $1700 bucks fleeced off me, (forum issue on a $5 immobaliser spider cable very interesting, wish I'd found this earlier), part of the fleecing was the fuel injection ECU was checked? On Forum thread advice I also picked up a OCDII reader today, I've read the instructions and dispite all, it still says "failed to link" or something to that effect. Firstly is a 96 Disco, OCDII freindly? I suspect the ECU or something else that thinks is stuffed , multimeter suggests the plug is supplying power etc, I have fuel, and appear to have spark. Replaced the ignition module as followed the manual and got some strange readings from the coil, now seems to make an odd cough every 4th or 5th crank, it's got me stuffed.
Do they (ECU's) just die?

Where can I go to test the fuel injection ECU and I don't want to pay $500 bucks (included in the fleecing)!

Is a scondhand EBay ECU a good option??

Any suggestions appreciated, it has really let me down this time, even forgave it for the flat top trip home with the kids and the trailer, at least this time it didn't let me out of the driveway!!!

Cheap suggestions

Spray some "octane" down the manifold ... Just a slight squirt ... see if it will fire up
Things that are "Octane" are
Circuit board cleaner / Airostart / StartYaBasted /

Basicaly Highly flammable stuff

If it fires up ... but won't run .... Then it's most likley the fuel side of things
Then that will change what you are hunting for

BUT ..... If it doesn't fire up

Try ..... Change the rotor button
Try octane again

No fire??
Remove spark plugs & clean them as you have been flooding the motor

NO Fire??
Firstly .... Borrow a "known ECU that works" and just plug into yours ... If she fires up great .... If yours if shot ....buy a secondhand one .... Gotta be plenty in the market section on this forum

Hope it helps

Mike

ok, you say it doesn't start, but what does it
1 do when cranking?
2 has it got fuel pressure - check this by depressing the schraeder valve on the fuel manifold or the drivers side of the engine near the forwardnend of the plenum. - fuel should sqirt out for some time.
3 is the fuel pump working - do the above then turn the ign on and you should hear the pump in the tank run.
4 disconnect the battery, walk around the car, dring a beer and reconnect the battery - try to start it?
5 if that didn't work, try pulling a plug lead and checking for spark - put an old plug in the end of the lead and ground the plug to the engine, crank it and watch for spark - do this in the dark if possible
5 off to the engine temp sensors - check they work - don't know here, but that fixed my v8 some time ago.
it is very unusual for the ecu to play up and need replacement, usually it is a sensor that fails and confuses the ecu.

dont know about the disco, had simular problems with my 89 rangie and it was a common earth on the bottom of the bell housing.
cheers
blaze