First month of Landrover ownership

So I bought myself a a Disco 1 V8 last month as a toy and to give the dogs a little more room. Used it for 2 weeks no problems before I had to go away for work car was sitting for 2 weeks and when I got back started up lovely. Then when I was driving the over day the thing just cut out. I tried to start it up again and nothing, I gave the ignition system a good look over, its got a new cap leads plugs and was serviced just before i bought it. Took the king lead off the cap and checked for a spark and was sparking ok put it back on the cap and she started up lovely drove home and thought nothing about it.

A few days later i was driving down the dual carriage way a she cuts out again i manage to coast to a lay-by had another look around wiggled the king lead and she stared up again drove for about 1/2 mile before she cuts out again, manage to coast to another lay-by, took the king lead ogf the cap again and checked for a spark, no spark, so i thought id give the RAC a shout, as I was waiting for the RAC I was had a route about checking all the connections on the ignition system etc and noticed the coil end of the king lead had been rubbing on the bonnet, I let the RAC guy turn up and the thing starts again, he moved the coil down on the bracket and followed me for 1 10 miles before waving me off.
5 miles down the road and she cuts out again I phone the RAC guy again and he was already on another job so got the RAC to get me a recovery truck to get it home.
Spoke to my Girlfriends dad who is a mechanic and he thought the coil might be overheating, so I put a new coil on it and it ran fine for 2 days until it lost ignition again, however this time i had both Beagles in the boot one of witch I a pain in the arse and constantly barks if the car isn't moving, I have another route around and again no spark, give the RAC another call. My Beagle decided he has a fetish for leather and started to eat my dicky seat so i had to take him for a walk, the RAC guy turns up and this time it still not starting, he tries a new coil and king lead just to rule out this being the problem, does a few checks with a multimeter and finds that the coil isn't getting a signal from the electronic ignition, and he recons its the ignition module playing up, he said he'd only be able to tow me a little way due to my weight, i was close to my mums so i got him to tow it there, the next day i go and get a replacement ignition module before i changed it I checked is she would start and she didn't i changed the module and she started first time lovely old job!
I get my old man to follow me with his truck and take it for a good 45 minute drive then left it to idle for 30 minutes to let it get nice a hot and she runs lovely.
So the disco has been behaving herself for 3 days now until today when on the dual carriage way again with the girlfriend and her mum and the thing cuts out again! this time i couldn't get to a lay-by and had to pull her half onto a soft shoulder just getting her of the road, as not wanting to start messing around with 80mph traffic we get out and wait for the RAC again, he turns up and parks his van to protect mine. I explain to him what's been happening and she starts straight away, we decided that he would follow me back to the garage but about 2 miles later she cuts out again. So he organises another toe truck.

So the Disco is now in the garage, and i'm back to using the Leon

I'm sure the garage will get to the bottom of the problem just thought id share my rant.

This may or may not help but mine sometimes does the same. On mine it is due to worn connectors on the low tension wires where they clip onto the coil. They seem tight enough but actually aren't. Might be worth a try

You ran it for 2 weeks prior to the problem so logically something happened whilst it was standing for 2 weeks. Did you look inside the dizzy cap to see if there is any condensation. I'd suggest a good spray inside the cap with WD40 or similar and also over the rest of the ignition. Condensation causes these sort of probllems.

As above, coil top connections can be iffy, so remove them clean the terminals use that kitchen cleaner that brings a brass coin up like new, refit the leads making sure the connections are tight and then spray with WD40.

Cheers for the help I changed all the spade connection on the coil when I changed it, cap is dry and points are clean, the garage thinks it's the imobilizer module, says it's a common fault.

I'm changing the spade connectors for heatshrunk eyelets bolted to the coil, I'll let you know how I get on

sidewaysste said:

I'm changing the spade connectors for heatshrunk eyelets bolted to the coil, I'll let you know how I get on

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Todays Top Tip

what year disco is it?

Just wondering if it's an alarm spider fault.

This is a new one on me!!

Also surprised you kept it after breaking so many time within a month :-0
Glad you have thou ;-)

Hi, it's a 1996 N reg

Yea, very temped to put it on ebay and be rid and buy a diesel but not sure if I can take the stick.

gasman13 said:

Hi, it's a 1996 N reg

Yea, very temped to put it on ebay and be rid and buy a diesel but not sure if I can take the stick.

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Yep.... My money is on the spider.

sounds like the spider to me, my 300tdi did the same thing, could do it 3 times in 1 day and then nothing for a month. go on ebay and buy the spider bypass, very very easy to fit and lots of pics/info on how to do this

Hi all thanks for the replys,

Just got back from holidays the Disco has been at my GF dads garage and he has put on the bypass kit for the immobalizer think this is what you call the spider, only diven it for a day before i had to go offshore but all seems ok at the momment but surpose only time will tell if its fixed or not.