96 NAS Disco V8 stalling...Help!!!

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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Milan on Saturday, June 02, 2001 - 09:15 pm: Edit

Hello guys,
Our Disco almost left me stranded today (several times). It kept stalling on us. The idle seems low at times (between 500 and 750 rpm in N). When it stalled the first time, it stalled while driving at about 30 mph. I pulled over and after fiddling with the key a few times it re-started. As its started and the rpms came down, they dropped below 500 and the truck stalled again. It did this several times. Every time the truck stalled it felt like either a vacuum leak or the electricity cut off somewhere. I.e. No sputter but rather immediate death.

Then I opened the hood and started to search for loose hoses/wires. Not finding anything, I pushed the inertia switch out of desperation. Then the truck started. As soon as I'd let the hood drop, it would stall. I did this trick several times, figuring I was causing some electrical connection come loose with the dropping hood shaking the truck. Then I closed it slowly and was able to drive away.

It was OK for the rest of the afternoon. Even the idle was around 750 rpm. Then on the way home, it did it again. This time it stalled and coughed again and then stalled after another 50 yards. I did not stop but instead popped it in N and tried to restart it. Nothing. I kept rolling in N for another few yards hoping to make the corner to my house. Just before turning the corner I gave it one more try and it started. So I drove down to my hous and parked it. Before shutting the engine off, the idle was low again.

I'm puzzled. My immediate guess is a loose wire somewhere but where? Also, don't let my diagnosis sway you if you think it's fuel related or something else. I read the posts on the stepper motor but this des not sound like it or does it? I will take it to the dealer on Monday but was wondering if you had any suggestions? Other than a carbed Chev 350? :) If it pisses me off enough I'll be looking into ripping out the electronics for sure. Maybe even propane conversion would fit the bill.

Thanks...Milan

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Milan on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 06:56 pm: Edit

What??? Nobody ever heard of a stalling Disco (except Nathan - thanks for the email)???

I want your opinions (regarding the stalling issue), please.

Thanks...Milan

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Cal on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 09:16 pm: Edit

Ok both of the discos I've owned have stalled. My 96 stalled a month ago. It took about 10 minutes to start after trying many times and then just letting it sit. The fuel light had just come. It has no gas cap. I believe it was a vapor lock It, in the past has been diagnosed with a bad prom chip which in cold weather causes it to think it's not cold. My second theory is mabe it does the same thing in hot weather since on that day it reached a (rare for Colorado in April) 80 degrees F.
I had a similar incidence with 94. Fuel gauge registered 1/4 and it was 115 degrees F. Acted as if it was out of gas.
My stalling experience with discos. Not as exciting as in Pipers and Cessnas.

Cal

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By dave on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 09:24 pm: Edit

Check the fuel pump, check your base idle, check the air gap on your distributor.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Milan on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 09:58 pm: Edit

I don't have the Disco here so I can't check right now but isn't the 96 distributorless? If I recall correctly mine does not have a distributor.

Also, for base idle adjustment, do you have to drill out the plug? Or how do you check it and how do you adjust it? And why/how would it suddenly go out of adjustment?

Thanks for all input. Just learning this stuff, you know.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By dave on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 12:40 am: Edit

Your right....only 94-95 have a distributor. For some reason I thought you had a 95....

Yes, you need to drill out the plug, at least on '94-95.

I scanned a page from the manual showing how to set the base idle. Its for 94-95....I do not think its the same as '96 but I posted it anyway.

http://geekforhire.net/disco/base-idle.bmp
-or-
http://geekforhire.net/disco/base-idle.jpg

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Milan on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 03:59 am: Edit

Thanks Dave. Forgive me for not mentioning that I have the manual for my 96. That's where I got the info on the plug. Sorry if I wasted your time with the scan. I still appreciate it. I suppose I could have used the manual to tell me it's distributorless but I was going more based on what I remebered seeing/not seeing under the hood. The manual does not have a troubleshooting section that would explain what the problem may be and that's why I started this thread. Since the problem is intermittent and no codes are generated, I doubt the dealer will find it and fix it.

So, so far from what I gather, the most likely suspects are (in no particular order):
1) IAC
2) Fuel pump or related connections
3) Vapor lock
4) Computer

Any other ideas?
Thank you.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Chris Browne on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 10:52 am: Edit

Possible but unlikely that the throttle potentiometer is having a tough time. This I am told appears more often as the truck bogging down on opening the throttle.....

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Milan on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 10:33 pm: Edit

Thanks Chris. I'll keep that one in mind too.


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