Help! Wife stuck 97 Disco won't start - Land Rovers Only

IFBwax · 10-26-2007, 07:39 PM

She's actually getting a ride from a neighbor but here's what happened.

She drove in stop and go traffic for about an hour. Parked outside of a take out place.. got back in, tried to start no go.

Sounds like it wants to start and will chug for a few seconds before dying.

Lights look bright.

So I don't think it's the battery or the starter from her descriptions and sounds of the engine.

I know very little about her car, but if my VW bus was doing the same thing, I'd think that a vacuum line got pulled off, or there was a fuel delivery problem.

I would think spark is ok.

Any suggestions... fuel pump? Relay? Anything I can check to try to fix it without having to tow it to the shop?

Thanks in advance.

Wayne in Beaverton, Oregon.

Searcaigh · 10-26-2007, 10:48 PM

First I would check the battery terminals, lights etc might work but ignition system doesnt if there is corrosion around the terminals

Disco Mike · 10-27-2007, 10:03 AM

So, if the engine is turning over but not starting, is the check engine light on? How many miles on the truck, when was the last tune related work done on it. how long ago was the fuel filter changed?
Mike

IFBwax · 10-28-2007, 12:21 PM

Check engine light is not on... only about 55K miles.. real good condition.. last tune up related stuff done about 3 months ago. Not sure about fuel filter.

And here's one more clue.. She went back the next day and it fired right up.

Could it be some kind of a hot start issue?

Thanks all!

Disco Mike · 10-28-2007, 01:57 PM

Could be a dirty fuel filter or a failing fuel pump relay. Could be other things but that is a place to start. So was she able to drive it home?
Mike

IFBwax · 10-29-2007, 08:30 PM

Yes, she was able to drive it home. Actually she started it the next day and it fired right up.. then my 4 year old daughter who was watching decided to turn the key back off. But luckily it fired up a second time.

Maybe she just flooded it.

We'll keep an eye on it and I'll investigate further.

pavel · 10-30-2007, 10:13 AM

Certainly sounds like a fuel starvation problem. On our '96 Disco, occasionally it shows similar symptoms that are related to the ignition turn on/ECU sequence. When it happens (about twice a year) all the wife does is turn off, remove the key and then start over again. She waits to hear the fuel pump sound before turning to start position. She figured it out herself! She can cook too! What a lucky guy am I ....

10-26-2007, 07:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
IFBwax Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 16 Gallery: 0	Help! Wife stuck 97 Disco won't start She's actually getting a ride from a neighbor but here's what happened. She drove in stop and go traffic for about an hour. Parked outside of a take out place.. got back in, tried to start no go. Sounds like it wants to start and will chug for a few seconds before dying. Lights look bright. So I don't think it's the battery or the starter from her descriptions and sounds of the engine. I know very little about her car, but if my VW bus was doing the same thing, I'd think that a vacuum line got pulled off, or there was a fuel delivery problem. I would think spark is ok. Any suggestions... fuel pump? Relay? Anything I can check to try to fix it without having to tow it to the shop? Thanks in advance. Wayne in Beaverton, Oregon.

10-26-2007, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Searcaigh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 465 Gallery: 31	First I would check the battery terminals, lights etc might work but ignition system doesnt if there is corrosion around the terminals __________________ Gordon T. Smith Middle East Land Rover Nutter

10-30-2007, 10:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
pavel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 456 Gallery: 0	Certainly sounds like a fuel starvation problem. On our '96 Disco, occasionally it shows similar symptoms that are related to the ignition turn on/ECU sequence. When it happens (about twice a year) all the wife does is turn off, remove the key and then start over again. She waits to hear the fuel pump sound before turning to start position. She figured it out herself! She can cook too! What a lucky guy am I .... __________________ --------------------- Visit my j**p website

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10-27-2007, 10:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,784 Gallery: 0	So, if the engine is turning over but not starting, is the check engine light on? How many miles on the truck, when was the last tune related work done on it. how long ago was the fuel filter changed? Mike

10-28-2007, 12:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
IFBwax Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 16 Gallery: 0	Check engine light is not on... only about 55K miles.. real good condition.. last tune up related stuff done about 3 months ago. Not sure about fuel filter. And here's one more clue.. She went back the next day and it fired right up. Could it be some kind of a hot start issue? Thanks all!

10-28-2007, 01:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,784 Gallery: 0	Could be a dirty fuel filter or a failing fuel pump relay. Could be other things but that is a place to start. So was she able to drive it home? Mike

10-29-2007, 08:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
IFBwax Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 16 Gallery: 0	Yes, she was able to drive it home. Actually she started it the next day and it fired right up.. then my 4 year old daughter who was watching decided to turn the key back off. But luckily it fired up a second time. Maybe she just flooded it. We'll keep an eye on it and I'll investigate further.

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