new defender owner needs starting problem information

[jackscars]

Just posted my first thread below, the one about obd scanners.

I thought though that someone might be able to short cut my diagnosis though before I chose and buy a scanner.

Truck - 1995 Defender 3.9 USA delivery

Conditions:

New fuel filter, clean fuel, fine battery, runs very well in general

Symptom:

Two out of five times, when I try to start the engine, instead of lighting right off, the engine just spins. Repeated attempts MIGHT make the engine start, but the other day I had to push it off to the side from a gas pump. I had given up on a restart but tried "one more time" and the engine fired up like a champ.

Engine temperature and/or recent/non-recent use does not seem to be a factor.

I thought that it might be a fuel pressure bleed down issue, but repeated turning of the key from off to run doesn't seem to help. I thought that it might if the lift pump as going bad, but as I say, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions that you might make.

Jack

[TerryS]

Check all your connections and ground points on the left inner wheel arch where the coil is mounted. Check the connection at the amp, mounted to the side of the distributor also. It sounds like either a heat related issue affecdting a solid connection. The next time it doesn't immediately start, pop the hood and pull the HT coil wire in the center of the of the distributor for a good spark to ground. It's unlikely a fuel related issue.

[ACKtoAZ]

Sounds like the ignition amp module is going. The ign amplifier module is a little black Lucas electrical part that amplifies the signal coming from the Hall effect sensor in the distributor to fire the coil/spark. They are notorious for being a part that fails. When mine have gone it would be an intermittent problem and seemed to be heat related. Originally these modules were mounted on the side of the distributor. LR then moved them to the left inner wheel well and there were relocation kits available form the typical parts houses. If moved, yours should be mounted next to the coil.

Seasoned OBD-1 equipped LR owners tend to carry a spare amp.