Scratching my head - modern problem

[trevt]

it is........just wish it didn't involve boxes with wires

[Luxobarge]

Not sure what you mean by "wires to the throttle housing and airbox" - what wires? What sensors did you actually disconnect?

i'm thinking that as you said "airbox" this may be the MAF sensor. If you disconnect this, the ECU substitutes default values which will enable the car to run, but not very well. A car that runs better with the MAF disconnected is often a major indicator that the MAF is faulty, so I'm thinking that this may be the case.

Disconnect just the MAF and get the car running - you should have the engine management light on. See what codes are stored and go from there. (Obviously one will be for a MAF fault, but see what others are there and if this is the only one then I'd chenge the MAF). Or at least, I'd clear the codes and see what comes back.

[trevt]

Luxobarge, yes it is the MAF but also the connector on throttle housing, ie the ECU had no signal telling it how much air or fuel to add. BUT it started in that state. Kept running on rough idle when I reconnected the throttle housing electricals, at least it knew how much fuel to add. But cut out as soon as I reconnected MAF.

So my thought was MAF gone as I left the car for fatherly duties yesterday.

This morning back to square one, wouldn't start at all.
Back to the start and discovered no spark again. Whilst possible that I have a dodgy dizzy from scrapyard I'm thinking that it is only a symptom and that the fault is elsewhere.

Unfortunately the car is OBD1, I have no code reader and can't (yet) find a method of reading the flashes or whatever (or even what pins to jump). If anyone knows someone selling OBD1 generic code readers point me in their direction.

Feeling very frustrated as I'm getting ear ache to do the brakes on beloveds Freelander before the handbrake completely fails and she rolls down the drive (finally convinced her to park in gear).

Bright side little one is loving turning the car over as I test for spark - 8 yr old and already wants a Defender, mini and one of those new Fiat 500's!

Help greatly appreciated if only to stop me going mad..........

[JPB]

If you have an Android phone, tablet or laptop, "Torque", which is available for free download, works with OBD 1 and 2, as well as post-2004 Diesels. All you need is a Bluetooth adaptor to provide the signal. My adaptor cost under £20 on ebay, and works perfectly though you may need root access for some PIDs (mpg, fuel pressure, CO2 etc.)