I have 95 discovery that a friend gave me because he was fed up with it. It starts and runs for a couple seconds then dies. On the second attempt it does nothing. After sitting for a while it will repeat the quick start then the same it'll crank over but not start. It has spark and the F.I. relay was recently replaced. He also had the fuel pump replaced a month or so ago. This is all taking place down in Mexico far from any Land Rover dealers or support. I'm a "retired" mechanic and could use a good challenge any ideas? Thanks

 

Sounds like a bad fuel filter.

 

I forgot to mention that it has a new filter. All the parts have been shipped in from the states from a LR dealer. He put a lot of money into it.

 

If it has spark and air there's only one thing left. Check the fuel pressure. Could be a bad fuel pressure regulator.

 

If you hold your foot on the gas pedal will it stay running or will it still die straight away?

 

my idle air control valve did a similar thing. would start and die. then after messing with it it started and idled at 2500 rpm. check that out. right next to the tps on the intake.

 

The same thing happened to mine after I ran some SEAFOAM through it... basically the fuel injectors became so clogged with gunk that it wouldnt idle... try keeping your foot on the gas, if its gunk in the engine then you should be able to blow it out. If giving it gas keeps it running, and smoke bellows out the exaust then it could be gunky injectors... A few days of turning it on, giving it gas, and blowing that sh*t out got my 96 back in action.

 

Sorry to take so loong in replying. It's the rainy season here and lightening keeps knocking the electricity out. I'm going to go through your suggestions and see what I find. It doesn't do any good to step on the gas. I'm going to do some basic trouble shooting. I powered up the fuel pump circuit just to see if I could get it to run but it didn't make any difference. I'll check the fuel pressure regulator and the idle control valve. I have a haynes manual so I'll have a guide book. Keep the good ideas coming and I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'm enjoying the challenge. The seafoam idea is a good one. I buy it by the case when I'm up in the states. I'll dump some in just on principle. See you soon

 

On a DI if it wont idle but will run if you hold your foot on the gas and keep the RPM above 550 then your IACV is good.
Take your can of SeaFoam and stick the PCV hose into the can, start the truck and it should run off the can.
If it does then you are not getting enough fuel PSI to run the engine, either a clogged fuel filter or a bad/weak fuel pump.
If you dont have a can of SeaFoam or any other thing it can run off of then remove a spark plug, reattach the plug wire and check for spark.
If you have spark then it is a fuel delivery problem.
DI's have a VERY simple engine manegment system, as long as they have spark and fuel they will run, every thing has a "default" mode to limp you home, so as long as you have fuel and spark she may run like crap but she'll run.
So thats what you need to be looking at.
DII's are totally different.

 

I pulled the plug and hooked up the wire I have spark, a good strong spark. I poured a small amount of gas into the intake through one of the vacuum hoses it still didn't start. I pushed in on the schrade valve on the fuel log and a small burp of gas, maybe 10 drops came out. I tried it again with the ignition on with the same results. I'm familiar with other fi systems and they usually have pretty good pressure. When I turn on the key I can hear the fuel pump cycling. The fuel pump was replace with a new one from the dealer. I have the old one and can see that a new one has been installed. He also kept all the receipts. He also put in a new fuel filter and a new relay. He did all this to try to solve this probllem. I'm 100 miles south of Mazatlan in Mexico and there's no land rover anything down here. All parts are brought in by friends coming back from the states. He finally got fed up and gave me the car. I've got lots of time and my wife is up in Tucson, Arizona right now so if I can figure something out maybe I can have her bring me a part. I was wondering about the fuel pressure regulator. It's vacuum actuated and I sucked on the hose and stuck my tongue over it to see if it help pressure and it did so I figure the diaphram is good. Is there any way to trouble shoot that part. I can go back through the fuel system to double check to see if everything was done. Someone has stripped the purple and white wire on the fuel pump harness and I powered it up but no fuel got to the engine. Most of the t me there's no one here to help me so I'm a bit limited on some of the tests. I'll try disconnecting the line after the fuel filter, power up the pump and see how much fuel I get. How long should it take to fill a liter jar? Also if the fuel regulator was out what would be the result? I'm pretty sure there's little or no pressure getting to the fuel log. so I guess that leaves the filter and the pump. Am I right on that. I also hooked up a timing lite to the wires and get a good flash. So We got air, I took the new air filter out, got spark, just leaves fuel. I do love the seafoam, brought a case with me. I use it in everything. If you can get it in your fuel system and let it sit a while it'll clean everything. Well, I'll keep checking for your posts. It's the rainy season here and lightening knocks out the power on a regular basis so I can't always get back right away but be patient. I respect all of your opinions and will get back to each of you. Thanks