Do me a favor and turn the key on and put the shifter in N and try to start. Then move the shifter all the way to 1 and back to park a couple of times and make sure it is fully in P. Then try to start again... just for giggles.

Is your shift tape ok? Mine was completely ripped. sometimes I would get nothing when I turned the key and sometimes It would turn over and not fire. Not sure why, but if I did this, it would fire.

 

Its a manual.

 

I've never driven a manual Disco, so I have to ask - Do you have to put your foot on the brake in order to start (as is the case with many manual vehicles?) If so, then check your brake switch. Just a shot in the dark...

 

No brake switch, no clutch switch. Apparently a manual in a Disco is kind of a "white buffalo" of Disco's according to the dealer up here. I'm leaning toward the ignition harness or Main relay which cuts off fuel/spark when not powered down properly. I also checked the inertia switch but it wasn't popped.I'm at a real loss here. My friend at work is a pretty good mechanic and I think he's going to give up on me.

 

Arrgh. I know the frustration well. I'll share an experience I had once and perhaps it's worth a check. I once had symptoms which pointed to a defective crank position sensor, just as you do. I replaced the sensor with no luck. I eventually discovered that one of the 3 wire leads to the sensor under the rubber boot had become unseated inside the connector. It was impossible to really see since normally we don't inspect the connector itself. So that's the last thing I can tell ya. Physically check the crank position, and camshaft position sensor connectors to make sure the little metal leads are not damaged. I eventually figured out that someone had pulled on the rubber boot when disconnecting the connector and dislodged on of the wires from it's normally seated position. I tore my hair out for a week before it just happened to catch my eye by chance. I glances at the plug and noticed an open port. I pressed the wire back in and the car started right up. Worth a shot.

Good luck...

 

What lead to this problem? Did it just not start one day? Go through any water?

 

I was driving to work on city road's I don't take it off road and it just quit when I started off from a stop light. It acted like it stalled out from letting the clutch out without enough rmp but this wasn't the case. It just stalled. I turned the key off and back on and it would turn over but not start. This is how it's been ever since. I changed the crank sensor because the manual said it wouldn't run without it working properly also the ECM and swapped out the relays in the start sequence but it still doesn't start. It turns over but no spark/fuel.

 

Have you checked the ignition switch?

Can you hear the fuel pump running when you turn the key on? Should run for a few seconds every time you turn it on..

is your alarm working?

 

Yeas I hear the fuel pump run for just a couple of seconds. A friend checked the ignition harness and said it was good. He is a reputable mechanic but hasn't worked on Rovers before and he's not liking it very much. It also hesitates when you turn the key, I mean like a 5 second delay until it cranks when you turn it to the start position. Sometimes it cranks immediatly but this morning I got it to repeat like 3 times in a row, the hesitation I mean. SO I'm thinking the ignition harness or the main relay because if it fails according to the manual it will not power the ECM and it won't start. I also can't read the ECM with a scan tool so this falls right in line with the ECM not being powered up. What do you think?

 

Check the wire diagram on rave and find the connectors and wires you need and check for power and ground for the ECU.