Yet another rover starting issue.

[vonbrandt]

I too own a 1994 discovery. I will tell you that mine runs like a champ unless I leave it sitting in the rain.

So it cranks and has spark, sometimes if I crank it long enough and give it a little gas I can get it going, but it will die if I put it in gear so I have to let it idle a bit high for 5 minutes or so and then I am good to go.

I can drive through rain storms, I can even ford water at a depth of 2 ft which I did here in Atlanta when it was flash flooding... Consistently though, if she is sitting overnight and it rains I will either have trouble starting or she will not start. It keeps leaving wondering what is getting wet. I have been trying to locate and waterproof the computer but I am not sure if the computer has been moved as it is not under the hood where I have been told it is... This is Mike Mason's old disco and so he very well could have moved it...

There is also water under the passenger side carpet which I am imagining is not helping my cause. too much moisture. Hoping she dries out soon so I can go for a drive... thanks...

[vonbrandt]

Ok so I have been looking over the rover all night. This is what I know, the fuel pump is running when I put the key in position 2, I am unsure of the normal operating of the fuel pump, but mine runs for about three seconds on, then five seconds off, consistently while the key is in this position. When I crank it up the engine almost gets there, she turns/sparks but I guess she is not getting enough gas...

Does this mean the relay is functioning improperly? Whatever it is is consistent with rainfall... so my guess has always been electric... what should I check/evaluate next...



Stranded until further notice...

[lrmike]

Hey there Jess, Have you replaced the cap and wires yet? I know they were not new when I sold the truck, and they will cause exactly the symptoms you are describing. The moisture will build under the cap or condensate on the wires and cause arcing. Pop the cap up when you know it will act up and see if there is any moisture in there. You can also run the truck in the dark when it is acting up and watch for arcing from the wires (you may have to have an assistant put it in reverse for you while you watch).
I never did move the ECU, As I recall it is behind the right side kick panel / glovebox area on the 1994, 1995 and under the hood when the trucks went distributorless in 1996.

On a side note, the water in the floor is fairly common, usually from the windshield seal, sometimes through the HVAC system. I do recall it getting wet there sometimes, but since I've had the truck well over the lower seals on occasion I didn't fuss too much with it as it was not too bad then.