I purchase a 2000 Disco II (72k) in April. The truck was running fine last night when I parked it but this morning would not start. It will "fire" for half a second but will not run/idle. Does the filter need to be changed (no idea how old it is) or is it a problem with the fuel pump?

 

DII's do not have fuel filters.
What you need to do next is get a can of starting fluid, remove the intake hose from the throttle body and have someone start the truck, while it is running spray the starting fluid into the throttle body, will it stay running?
If so it is a fuel issue that needs to be explored.

 

Thanks Spike555 but it only tries to start. It only runs for 1/2 a second - I don't think it will run long enough to for the starter fluid to work.

 

Thats why you start spraying the starting fluid into the engine before your friend tries to start it, if you have spark then it will run all day on the starting fluid.
If not then it will quit.
You need to keep spraying the starting fluid into the engine as long as it stays running, stop spraying and the engine will quit.
If it runs for several minutes on the starting fluid then it is a fuel issue.
If it will NOT run on the starting fluid then it is a spark issue.

 

DO NOT USE STARTING FLUID!!!! That's dangerous as hell! You CAN use carb cleaner. Starting fluid is meant to be used in the very cold areas and usally only for diesels.

Is the red led in the center of the dash/cluster illuminated? The theft system will shut down the fuel pump and have the symptom you describe.

Spike is right though, checking the fuel issue of anykind generally takes two people.

 

Starting fluid used properly is safe for any engine. Use short squirts of the fluid rather than a long continuous spray. The directions on the can say no more than 3 seconds at a time.

 

Either, not just for kidnappers anymore.

 

A long shot might be a crank sensor.
Let us know what you find.