Help Please!!! Disco won't start

[DiscoNewb]

Hi all,

My Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 SE won't start.
Everything was running fine yesterday then this morning I noticed there was a slight delay with engine ignition. So I turned off the car ans tried it again....same delay again. It was only a slight delay so I was going to get it checked out tomorrow, didn't think it was anything major.

Then I went to hop into the car again a short while ago and same delay again so I turned of the engine to start it again to see if it would do it again. Unfortunately this time there was no delay because the engine wouldn't engage at all....nothing! All dash lights are on as normal so there is power.

Anybody have any suggestions as to why it won't start? Clearly the delay in engine ignition experienced earlier today is directly related to why it won't start at all now....

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated...

[Bazzle218]

Since no one else has replied, I will throw my two bobs worth. If its anything like my TD5 good battery voltage is a must to start it. Have you checked yours or thrown it on a charger?

[Mungus]

Certainly sounds like it could just be a weak battery or loose connection. Check the battery voltage and terminal connections to rule out the obvious.

[Aussie Jeepster]

Yep, I'd start at the battery. Have you tried a jump start to see if it makes any difference?
One of these under the seat can be a life saver!
Lithium Jump Starter Thunder 600 amp 12v 18000mAh battery USB Bank 9315275836652 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lithium-Jump-Starter-Thunder-600-amp-12v-18000mAh-battery-USB-Bank-/181956008409?hash=item2a5d6c59d9)
141587

[Ean Austral]

When you say it wont start , does it crank but not fire or is it just dead when you turn the key ?

Cheers Ean

[DiscoNewb]

When you say it wont start , does it crank but not fire or is it just dead when you turn the key ?

Cheers Ean

Yea it's just dead when I turn the key...no attempt to crank whatsoever. Praying it's not a case of a new starter motor....

[DiscoNewb]

Hi all,

My Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 SE won't start.
Everything was running fine yesterday then this morning I noticed there was a slight delay with engine ignition. So I turned off the car ans tried it again....same delay again. It was only a slight delay so I was going to get it checked out tomorrow, didn't think it was anything major.

Then I went to hop into the car again a short while ago and same delay again so I turned of the engine to start it again to see if it would do it again. Unfortunately this time there was no delay because the engine wouldn't engage at all....nothing! All dash lights are on as normal so there is power.

Anybody have any suggestions as to why it won't start? Clearly the delay in engine ignition experienced earlier today is directly related to why it won't start at all now....

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated...


Since no one else has replied, I will throw my two bobs worth. If its anything like my TD5 good battery voltage is a must to start it. Have you checked yours or thrown it on a charger?

Had the battery checked this morning at battery world and its still giving good output so I can rule out needing a new battery.

When I checked the battery after it wouldn't start yesterday, it had quite a large build up of aluminium and copper sulfate on the negative terminal. I took it out and cleaned the negative terminal and the battery cable with a wire brush, hoping that the build up of the sulfate was causing a bad connection but still no joy after this.

I still may need to remove and thoroughly clean the negative battery cable and see if that works or possibly even replace it.

If after that I still have no joy, I'm guessing it has to be a starter motor issue.

[DiscoNewb]

Yep, I'd start at the battery. Have you tried a jump start to see if it makes any difference?
One of these under the seat can be a life saver!
Lithium Jump Starter Thunder 600 amp 12v 18000mAh battery USB Bank 9315275836652 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lithium-Jump-Starter-Thunder-600-amp-12v-18000mAh-battery-USB-Bank-/181956008409?hash=item2a5d6c59d9)
141587



I'm going to try jump it later on....no harm in trying!

[Ean Austral]

There is a mega fuse on the positive cable in the black box below the positive terminal, check to see if that has blown , its designed I assume to stop a starter motor short destroying the battery. I think its a 400amp fuse

You need to remove the cable off the battery terminal and lift the whole thing up so the rubber grommet comes out of the plastic battery box shroud. The black box it sits in has lugs on it you pop open with a small screw driver.


Have you recently had the timing belts done ??

Cheers Ean

[DiscoNewb]

There is a mega fuse on the positive cable in the black box below the positive terminal, check to see if that has blown , its designed I assume to stop a starter motor short destroying the battery. I think its a 400amp fuse

You need to remove the cable off the battery terminal and lift the whole thing up so the rubber grommet comes out of the plastic battery box shroud. The black box it sits in has lugs on it you pop open with a small screw driver.


Have you recently had the timing belts done ??

Cheers Ean

Cheers Ean I'll give that a go.

I tried jumpstarting it a few minutes ago to no avail...not even so much as an attempt to crank!!

Timing belts done approximately 8-9 months ago.

[Ean Austral]

Cheers Ean I'll give that a go.

I tried jumpstarting it a few minutes ago to no avail...not even so much as an attempt to crank!!

Timing belts done approximately 8-9 months ago.

Do you know if the oil pump housing was replaced when the belt was done ???

Cheers Ean

[SeanC]

Occasionally when I go to start my D3 nothing happens. Happened today that’s why I remembered. I need to take it out of park and back in for it to start.

It appears that sometimes the sensor or whatever doesn’t register that it is in park.

Maybe mine is on the way out but yours has died.

Just an idea.

[SeanC]

If you have or can get hold of an IID Tool you can go into Live Values-Transmission and see wether it is registering that it is in park.

[Geedublya]

Check your brake switch as the push button start needs that closed before it will start.

[Ean Austral]

Check your brake switch as the push button start needs that closed before it will start.

did the D3 come out with push button start. ?

Cheers Ean

[DiscoNewb]

Do you know if the oil pump housing was replaced when the belt was done ???

Cheers Ean

Not sure Ean, It was done by the last owner a couple of months before I bought it.

[DiscoNewb]

did the D3 come out with push button start. ?

Cheers Ean

Mine is a 2007 Discovery 3 and has key start.

Not sure if any of the Disco 3's came with push button start....maybe the later models shortly before the Disco 4 was released.

[DiscoNewb]

Tried jumper box and jumper cables direct from my Hilux last night with no joy.

Not even a whisper of an attempt to crank.[bawl]

Going to get it on a trailer over to the Land Rover Guru here in Darwin tonight.

Should have a diagnosis tomorrow from him and will update you all then.

Thanks to those who have replied with help and suggestions.

[Geedublya]

Check your brake switch as the push button start needs that closed before it will start.

Sorry, for some reason I thought it was a D4.

[shining]

If the timing belts were done check your the tensioner on your serpentine belt. On the old style oil pump casing a new belt will tear the tensioner out. It happened too me 15000km after a belt change.

[DAMINK]

Put a screw driver across the starter or put 12 volts onto the starter which ever is easier.
Its a good way to rule out certain things.

[loanrangie]

I wouldn't be trying to start it until belt issue is ruled out.

[DAMINK]

I wouldn't be trying to start it until belt issue is ruled out.

If a belt was gone the engine would still turn over when key turned would it not?
My understanding is the car will not turn over at all even when another battery attached? I could be wrong though.

[loanrangie]

Could be the rear HP pump belt.

[SeanC]

Did you get a diagnosis?