Hi, my first post, but have been looking around.

I have a '95 Discovery I, bought new from the dealer. It has 100K on the odometer. Other than doing maintenance I have had no major problems with the truck. I have a coolant leak at the front engine cover. I can see the leak and the gasket is coming out of the cover. Other than that the truck runs fine.

I am going to replace the front engine cover gasket and check the timing chain along with some hose replacements, etc. To prepare for the work I decided pressure wash the engine and engine bay. I did cover most electrical components with aluminum foil: distributor, alternator, fuse box, etc.

I now can not restart the engine. I have looked at all the usual problems areas such as water in the distributor cap and spark plugs. The engine will turn over and tries to start, but doesn't. I would like to at least have the engine running before I take it apart.

I think the engine wants to start. Any tips on how to start it? Throttle position? Pump the throttle. I have never had a starting issue before this. Anything else to check.

I am pretty confident with engine repairs. I have rebuilt and restored a number of old cars and trucks. Ones without computers.

TIA

 

A sensor or three got water inside the connectors, it needs to dry out.
Spray some starting fluid into the throttle body and try and start it then, if you can at least get her spitting and sputtering she will get hot and dry quicker.

 

I put a couple of heaters directed towards the engine. I tried starter fluid with no results. I have good spark too.

After a few of hours with one big heater, a fan to direct the heat up the engine and a small heater directed on the distributor, it started. Lots of smoke. Now to tear it apart.

 

Have spark? A tip I've use on older dizzy equipped motors is to use a heat gun on low to dry out the dizzy, amp and coil. Also the MAF connector on the 14CUX as well as the GEMS MAF's aren't really water tight. Try a some heat there too. WD40 works to displace water in connectors and I've used in dizzy caps. Won't stop carbon tracking.

 

Say what? Water Displacement 40th formula works well at displacing water?