Problem starting 2016 D4 3.0

[davemc]

Hi Guys,

Have a problem starting Disco.
So my son left the glove box open all night and next morning would not start I assumed battery flat.
Gave it another go in the afternoon it started, so assumed again battery arvo was not 2 like Melb morning. So enough charge as warmer.
Went for a 45 min drive.. Came home and tried again an hour later and again did not start again
Called out the RACV and they said battery was fine must be starter

Called a few places of course 6-12 weeks wait time :(
So mate ex mechanic helped pull out starter was a crap job to get too. He said worst in 35 years fixing cars :)
Took it to local auto elec who put a load on it and all good.
Put it all back together still the same.

Rolled car out so can get his Pathfinder next to the Disco to try jumping no good.

Same just get a click and nothing else then prob 10 seconds later you hear some more clicks not sure from what? Suspension?

Honestly I thought it be battery or starter.
Battery replaced 5 weeks ago holds charge trickled it to be sure.

Any ideas.. Going to ring around Monday and see if anyone can get us in or have us on a wait.
Even the local auto elec guys said maybe 2 weeks and they do not do Discos normally.

Even though everything points back to the battery.. We just had the throttle body replace about 5 weeks back
Dealer had the car that time almost a month as could not look.

[Graeme]

Have the battery connections been checked including the earth connection to the body and the starter fuse attached to the battery terminal?

[josh.huber]

When you say, won't start, is it cranking at all, out just nothing

[DiscoJeffster]

Firstly you can’t flatten the battery on the glovebox as the car will turn off all the electronics after a few minutes.
The clicking will be the self testing of the EGR valves as they cycle back and forward.

As Josh asked, I assume you’re suggesting nothing happens when you press the starter? You are pushing the brake pedal hard enough yeah? No one has been in the car and sucked all the vacuum from the pedal? You wouldn’t be the first after the kids have played in the car.

[Graeme]

A faulty brake light switch can prevent starting but there wouldn't be any clicking.

[davemc]

thanks get a click click sound only on start then nothing
Afterwards you hear a few more click noises not sure suspension or as you said EGR

lower glove box light stays on it seems :( no idea why it does not time out like the dash and other lights.
Not sure that is a problem with my Disco or all are like it.. Just left it again for nearly 10 mins still on.
Was left for 12+ hours open to start with.
So could just be a coincidence

Brake pedal yes seen a few youtubes on that I pushed it in as much as I can.

Wonder if a fuse/relay could of gone? Really felt like the starter to me.
We tried to start a few times now.. So wonder if that causes other issues
RACV not really any help.

[Graeme]

The MY11 starter relay is mini relay 18 in the engine fuse panel so probably the same. Maybe swap it with another to see if there's any improvement.

[DiscoDB]

The Battery Saver on the glove box lamp (and interior lamps if left switched on) should kick in after 15mins and only re-energise if the car is unlocked, or a door or the tailgate is opened, or the interior lamp switch is activated, or ignition switched to accessory.

If it is staying on for more than 15mins you may have another electrical gremlin. It is actually designed to prevent the exact scenario you described if working correctly so also worthwhile investigating further (even if unrelated to your starting issue).

[davemc]

The Battery Saver on the glove box lamp should kick in after 15mins and only re-energise if the car is unlocked, or a door is open, or the interior lamp switch is activated, or ignition switched to accessory.

If it is staying on for more than 15mins you may have another electrical gremlin. It is actually designed to prevent the exact scenario you described if working correctly so also worthwhile investigating further (even if unrelated to your starting issue).
ok I leave it open more then 15 mins and see
Kept on after the other lights went off which I thought was weird.
I think left it 10 mins to check last time or around that and was on..
Set stop watch and going now :)

if not the battery that did it then wonder what. Did not start next morning after he left glove box open all night.
Yes thought they should go off.
Almost 97k on it now throttle body went a few months back they had the car for a month. Was serviced then as well.
I think 3 weeks on and now this :(
Our old D3 started spending much more time at the mechanics around 100k as well :(

[davemc]

13 mins goes off.. So was not the battery which I thought it was. Great :(

So now any clues? RACV guy though starter.. We took it off and got tested by local auto elec said was fine.

[davemc]

Tomorrow I try swapping over a relay need to work out which one on a 2016 3.0 TDV.

found another thread where someone said it was earth cable so might look at that tomorrow.

[DiscoDB]

13 mins goes off.. So was not the battery which I thought it was. Great :(


At least now you have confirmed it was not your son’s fault. [emoji847]

[josh.huber]

Do it with the bonnet open and try and work out if the clicking if the fuse box or the starter, it's a very simple circuit, it'll be easy to diagnose. Starters in these things seem to last a decent amount of time.

There are two wires you and your friend connected to the starter, big one , little one, make up a basic test light, connect to the little one. The easiest way to do this is go to Jaycar. Get some wire, alligator clamps and a globe. Connect the wire to the globe then a clamp. Clamp one end on the little wire on the starter. The other to an earth. Make it long enough you can have it in the engine bay with you. If it Clicks and the light doesn't come on.. It's the relay. If it Clicks and the light does come on. Starter

[davemc]

Not the relay we already swapped that one over before just swapped again no go
Found a nice schematic that said it was 18 as the cover has two SM and one was empty.

Reading up other no start on forums..
Someone had errors with glow plug which turned out to be cables not connected fully after a recent battery swap.
A lot of others was the earth cable gone.

I can get access to a scanner so i check error codes
Have not had it home that long after the last service, battery swap and throttle body replacement.
Would not be surprised something not put back in 100%

[josh.huber]

Make sure the signal is getting to the starter. If it is replace the starter, glow plugs will only stop a fire. Not a crank. If power is getting to the starter, call an auto elec

[davemc]

Make sure the signal is getting to the starter. If it is replace the starter, glow plugs will only stop a fire. Not a crank. If power is getting to the starter, call an auto elec
Auto Elec who checked the starter said he can get me in around 2 weeks.. Which is a lot quicker then dealer or land rover specialist we used before.
This guy had a earth problem looks same symptoms
2010 Disco 4 3l tdv6 starting issue | Land Rover UK Forums (https://www.lrukforums.com/threads/2010-disco-4-3l-tdv6-starting-issue.260208/)

I found my icarsoft scanner from my D3 I thought I left it in the car when sold.
updated firmware on it so can use with D4 :)
do a check for codes
same as this guys which the same as another glow plug open.
His was earth strap as well.. although one of the replies was have you had work done lately so might need to check the harness.
Only back a few weeks from battery etc.

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Disco 4 2016 won’t start (https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/disco-4-2016-wonat-start-185443.html?highlight=start)

[DiscoJeffster]

That makes sense as in the UK they salt their roads so the corrosion makes sense. I’m not sure it’ll be the same for you, but for 30 minutes, should be easy to take a look.

[davemc]

That makes sense as in the UK they salt their roads so the corrosion makes sense. I’m not sure it’ll be the same for you, but for 30 minutes, should be easy to take a look.
They also had the car apart recently working out what was wrong before they worked out throttle body
So might not be corrosion, could just be not back together correctly.

[kelvo]

Tomorrow I try swapping over a relay need to work out which one on a 2016 3.0 TDV.

found another thread where someone said it was earth cable so might look at that tomorrow.
To prove the earth strap easily use a jumper/booster cable from the engine block to the negative body side of the starter battery. DO NOT connect to the actual battery negative terminal.

[davemc]

To prove the earth strap easily use a jumper/booster cable from the engine block to the negative body side of the starter battery. DO NOT connect to the actual battery negative terminal.

ok thanks a lot guys
We going to try next couple of days mate busy today.
Hope it's just the earth strap.

[davemc]

good news starts when you earth to engine.

So now what it is who knows. I see if auto elec who looked at starter can get it in.
thanks let you know what they find.

I wonder if earth strap or something else let you know the outcome probably a week or so :(

[Graeme]

According to the wiring schematics there's a 400mm long braid somewhere. On my L322 its at the bottom front right of the engine near the alternator to the nearby body.

[davemc]

I got the car back from Auto Elec
Said Alternator had gone and shorted earth.
Said it really should not of happened.
S
He said Earth strap looked good although added a extra to be sure.
Was not cheap to fix around $1400 I think gen Alternator alone. Thought to go aftermarket prob should off :) Half the price or less
Cost us now over $5k in the last few months :(

[Eric SDV6SE]

Good result. Denso oem alternator retails for around 700bucks, takes an hour or two to fit. Given they squeezed you in in a hurry and were able to get an alternator in time, and add an extra earth, final cost is not too bad

[davemc]

Good result. Denso oem alternator retails for around 700bucks, takes an hour or two to fit. Given they squeezed you in in a hurry and were able to get an alternator in time, and add an extra earth, final cost is not too bad
thanks was around $1400 for the part $500 I think Labour.. Probably should of just paid for the Denso instead.
He said was a crap job to do :) he he

[DiscoJeffster]

Alternator failing is not uncommon or the short to ground, but normally that manifests itself in other ways. Glad you have it resolved