1994 Landrover Discovery starts, will not idle and very rough under load

the timing is 180 degrees out so ignore where no 1 lead should be and rewire the HT leads to the new position for no1 cylinder. The crank timing mark should be on 10 degrees advanced. Engines are timed off the crank position so forget the cam position.
Or you can start again. Remove no 1 plug and turn the engine over until you feel compression under your finger over the plug hole. Set the timing on the crank to 10 degrees before tdc. Position the distributor so that the point of the star is directly opposite the exciter coil in the distributor. The rotor button should now be facing no 1 cylinder plug lead adjust the HT leads so that they will fire in the 1342 firing order. Start the engine and with a timing light attached to no 1 plug lead adjust the timing mark to specifications by turning the body of the distributor.

motors need 3 things to run properly. gas spark and compression. the starting point. also spark timing.
the motor you are dealing with is easy. i just rebult a 1978. anyways sounds like a timing problem . first i would check the distributer. if all is ok spay a squirt of starting fluid in the air filter, or even wd40.,,,,,,,see if it is gasoline problem. isolate where the problem is.

put a fuel pressure gauge and see what the start up pressure is it should keep pressure over night with only a couple pounds of pressure drop

Hi have you made sure the fuel tank is vented? or if the vent is blocked as i know of a couple of these that have done a similar thing, the fuel cap vent got blocked and the tank was under a lot of pressure causing problems in the idle, worth a try anyway

i need to brush up on landrovers

what year is yours
SU carbys or EFI system

spark plugs means fuel ....not a diesel
leads and coil and electronic distributor fitted

a bang when started ? that a backfire through the air filter ?
timing out or fuel issue

you say running rich running rough
the 02 sensors may need replacing
clean maf and air filter
timing chain or belt slipped ?

starting if a separate problem
starter relay or starter and solenoid to be checked out

sounds like timing is a little late. try a SLIGHT advancement (1-2 degrees) of the timing. keep trying until idle smooths out, listen for pinging on a steep hill in top gear. if engine pings at all other than at full throttle, timing is too far advanced. hope this helps. good luck.

IN your distributer under the rotor is a magnet and a pickup coil (the magnet is known as a pole piece) check your pickup coil for corrsion (green in color) and the module and also check pole piece for cracks in the magnet where the rivets hold it together. sometimes oil wicks up around the distributer shaft because of housing wear or the pieces just wear out over time.

1/ Have you fitted the spark plug leads in the proper firing order.
2/ Look inside the top of distributor Top (this is not the first time a new distributer cap has very small crack) or the rotor arm is fitting the cap properly. Hope this helps Best Wishes, Malcolm Campbell.

CHECK ASD RELAY THAT IS AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN RELAY IN THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER UNDER THE HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT.IF ASD RELAY GOOD PROBLEM COULD BE CAMSHAFT SENSOR IN THE DISTRIBUTOR.TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY HAVE JEEP SCANNED FOR CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAULTS.

if it is a mems unit , it will need to be programed to the key fob and alarm . (there is no way round it).