I have a 95 Discovery that won't start. It has been pretty cold here (colorado) and for the last few weeks has had a little bit harder time starting than normal. But beginning yesterday it wouldn't start at all. It will crank but not fire. I have charged the battery and have tried jumpstarting the car but nothing will work. Not sure where to go from here... How do I test for spark and fuel?

thanks
matt rickman
fort collins, co

 

for spark, th old fashioned screw driver test still works. Stick a phillips in the boot and hold the shaft near the block. Crank, and if it fires, you got spark. Be careful not to hold too close to the shaft, it will knock the crap out of you.

Look on the passenger side of the intake for the fuel rail (silver tube) should be what looks like a tire valve. You can wheck fuel pressure there.

Your fuel filter is in the passenger side rear wheel well....fyi.

 

OK, well fuel pressure is there. I am by myself right now, so no way to check for spark. If my battery is shot, would jump starting still work?.

 

Is it cranking over ok? If so, jumping won't help. If it is cranking slow, pull the battery and have it tested...

 

It is cranking over slow... every once and a while it will act like it wants to start (if I leave it jumped to the other car for a few minutes).


Waiting for it to warm up a bit today and then going to try starting it again.

matt

 

There is a good chance that you have fouled your plugs.

Try some starting fluid.

Get your battery charged if its low and cold it may never
take a good charge again.

 

Well it has warmed up a bit here. It is 16 degrees out now and I went out and tried it again and it started. It ran a little rough (which it has been doing for a while) and then it smoothed out. I just need this to survive until I get an infusion of discretionary cash (ie tax refund) and then I am going to do the 60k service, plugs, wires etc...

Is it possible that it was just too cold and my weak battery (CarQuest POS that the PO put in) was just too cold? I am planning on putting a optima battery in as well.

For now it's running.. let's hope it stays warm

matt
colorado

p.s. how do you put starting fluid into the intake?