3.5 EFI wont start

Hi Wondering if anyone can help i parked my classic rangerover on my drive one morning went to use it later that night and it wouldnt start just sits there turning over i have spark and fuel any ideas...?

Well, if you have fuel that is actually making it all the way to the cylinders and you've cranked on it repeatedly, then most likely your plugs are awash in fuel. Rover engines don't like wet plugs. Pull them, clean them and dry them, reinstall and try again.

Check for bright white spark not a weak orange or yellow looking one.

And if you find it's "over fuelling" on cold morning starts then U could have a faulty ECU.

It's something I had on my 3.5 many years ago.

Try the rotter arm first.

f815 said:

Try the rotter arm first.

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Now that's interesting, but try it for what? :scratching_chin:

I fitted a new rotter arm dizzy cap and plugs when i bought it about a month ago and it has run fine with no problems.

I checked compression last night and that all ok.

Its getting fuel and a nice bright spark. Its turning over but no attempt to fire only one or two sounds of life every now and then.

Ive had the plugs out cleaned them heated them up to dry them out and still doesnt make a difference.

Might buy some new plugs later and try them in it...

Ped87 said:

Might buy some new plugs later and try them in it...

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Can't imagine all plugs are duff. Should run on a few cylinders.

Is the pump starting to run for a few seconds when you switch the ignition on?

If so pretty likely its getting fuel.

Ped87 said:

I fitted a new rotter arm dizzy cap and plugs when i bought it about a month ago and it has run fine with no problems.

I checked compression last night and that all ok.

Its getting fuel and a nice bright spark. Its turning over but no attempt to fire only one or two sounds of life every now and then.

Click to expand...

First things first - rotor arm and cap: are they genuine? if not don't trust them. If the leads are old, might be worth replacing them but make sure you route them correctly.
Second, I guess being a 3.5 you're on flapper not hotwire. If this is the case, disconnect the cold start injector if it hasn't already been disconnected.
Third, do the basic ignition checks to make sure each bit is doing what it should.
Last thing once you get it running, check/set ignition timing.

Got it started finally. It was the dizzy its self was giving a spark but not good enough to start the engine changed it over and fired up straight away.

If you can stretch to it, Luminition optronic ignition is a great job for the V8s. I found it made a big difference to my Stage One (and my old 2.25 4 pot). No more points to be affected by wear/damp/rain.
Another good idea is a can of conformable silicon, spray it around the dizzy and leads, it almost seals them from the weather. Great on any petrol engine.