1995 3.9 Disco. 155K Miles.
What fun...Coolant tank blew seam, caused overheating. Ordered new parts and awaiting arrival. Kept filling coolant tank, and was able to drive without going into red. Until wife took a drive!! She drove it to class, had no problems, but when she got out of class a few hours later - hard to start. So I drove down, it was low on coolant, but not into the red on dash. Would barely start, would not run at idle, had to keep at 2-3K to idle roughly. Was able to limp it home...Seemed to do alot better at higher (3.5-4K) rpms (didn't seem to miss and hesitate like lower rpm's). Let it sit overnight, now a no start!!.
I checked all connections visually and physically at coil, MAF, and other sensors, still a no go. Oil is clean, so probably no blown head gasket.

So, where to start?

I will get carb cleaner and clean air flow meter, replace plugs (time for new anyway), will check for fuel flow, and for connector tightness on fuel pump if no flow. Fuel pump is 3 years old.

Any grounds I should check?
Fuses?
Modules/computers?

Will post back with results.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

 

You might want to think out your game plan, sounds like your wife toasted the engine, I would suggest before you do anything thing that you pull and inspect the plugs, probably should do a compression test.
DON"T DRIVE IT AGAIN, if you have any desire to save the engine.
Just because you have no coolant in the oil doesn't mean your head gaskets are OK, so go a step at a time to verify what is siezing up.
Good luck,
Mike

 

Had to laugh, as I rarely desire to blow up my own car. Other people's? Well, yeah, somtimes...

Done prior to response:

ACTION------------------------------------------------------------INFERENCE

Got spark!! ( No coil or crank sensor prob)
Checked/Tightened all underhood fuses (All are good)
Had small spurt of fuel at rail when ign. on (Not sure)
Access fuel pump (Rusted shut, WD at work now)
Phys/Visual check of wire at sensors/coil (all are tight, no rot)
Cleaned AFM (Whatever it's called on LR) (Not a crud problem)
Attempted 1 start with start fluid (Just cranked, no ignition)

I will now pull plugs, comp test. Could I have jumped timing? Why would blown head gasket cause a no start?

Will post comp #'s when done.

Any other ideas?

Oh, and should fuel pump schrader valve only give a small squirt? (As in, no specified RPM signal at ECU to switch pump on?

And, am I gonna hurt it cranking it? If so, won't comp test be damaging?

 

UPDATE:

Still no luck with access plate to pump.

Had on charger overnight, and when cranking, all lights go out except oil pressue icon. Hmm...IIRC, that little bugger should go out after 4-5 revs, as oil press is built by cranking. Could this be a clue? If so, does not bode well. Off to NAPA for comp guage after work.

Is oil pump run by crank? Is it a geared drive? or from a rod? Just wondering. Front timing cover/oil pump housing pics lead me to believe that it is from the crank...

ANYONE with input, please sound off here. Could use the extra brainpower.

 

In the future, don't clean the MAF, the older ones are real touchy about that and at $600 plus, you don't want to screw it up.
Pull a couple of plugs, see if they are wet, getting fuel, have some crank the engine and check if you are getting good fuel flow, don't just check it with the ignition on. Have you checked to make sure your injectors are not plugged up?Will it start on carb cleaner?
Mike

 

Rainy day, no garage, no work today.

I did try 1 time to start on starting fluidthe other day, and nothing, not even an attempt to go.

So, plan is to pull plug for comp test, and check for plug condition/wetting at same time.

 

OK, compression OK, good flow at fuel rail, changed plugs, it started!!! Huge amounts of carbon on plugs, and when I used a screwdriver to make sure #1 was at TDC, (to see if timing chain was still intact) tip of tool was covered in carbon. So, Sea-Foamed the engine, runs a little better and quieter.
Also changed out leaking coolant reservoir and cap.
Symptoms now are occuring sporadically:

Hesitation on acceleration from stop.
Rough idle

Cap and rotor are fairly (10K) new. Beck Arnley or some similar. Cap does have a bit of play when twisted by hand, does not move by itself.

Tested for vacuum leaks with start fluid, no change in idle.

In upper RPMs (above 2.5K) runs great.

It is just the idle and hesitation that are apparent now.

Any thoughts as to why the carbon buildup? And where to go next?