Defender Intermittent starting problems

[luke_higgins]

My 03 Defender wont start occasionally, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here are the symptoms. Occasionally the engine logo light and coil light fail to show up on the dash and the car wont start. I generally use the imobiliser to lock/unlock the car a few times and the ignition will eventually light up and the car will start. With the lights out the engine still turns over, it just wont fire.

I have read through the blog on pg11 about the Discovery and found that it could be the spider. Info on where the spider is located on a 03 Defender would be great. Any further ideas as to the cause of the problem and solves would be welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Luke

[stig0000]

My 03 Defender wont start occasionally, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here are the symptoms. Occasionally the engine logo light and coil light fail to show up on the dash and the car wont start. I generally use the imobiliser to lock/unlock the car a few times and the ignition will eventually light up and the car will start. With the lights out the engine still turns over, it just wont fire.

I have read through the blog on pg11 about the Discovery and found that it could be the spider. Info on where the spider is located on a 03 Defender would be great. Any further ideas as to the cause of the problem and solves would be welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Luke
if im corect defenders dont have a 'spider' they have a difrent alram sys,, i would of thort if the engine is still locked,,, when you go to start it the alarm would go off, it dose with mine 04defender enyway ,, how old is the battery,, an what are the V's,, or could be somthing as simple as a inigtion barel fault, or could be somthing bad like the engine ECU,, an it takes abit to reset it(locking an unlocking the car)

your not abel to get us some fault codes are you at all?? that could help working out your prob (alarm sys/ engine ECU or what ever)

[luke_higgins]

Thanks for the advice mate.

The engine mustn't be locked when I turn it over as the alarm doesn't make a sound. I think the batery is the original from 03 - it is fine starting the engine when the dash lights come on though. How do you check if its an ignition barrel fault?

Where/how can I get the fault codes you were talking about?

Cheers again, Luke

[werdan]

Change the fob battery (CR2032 iirc). When I first got my 03 110, the immobiliser would kick in after a couple of minutes even though the car was unlocked, and the engine wouldn't start. The dealer told me that when the fob is in close proximity to the dash, it's supposed to send a signal to automatically disable the immobiliser. However, when the fob battery is weak, it doesn't and you have to manually press the fob's 'unlock' button. Anyway a couple of dollars later, with a new battery and a Freemason's handshake between the fob and car, it was all good again.

[Lionel]

My 03 Defender wont start occasionally, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here are the symptoms. Occasionally the engine logo light and coil light fail to show up on the dash and the car wont start. I generally use the imobiliser to lock/unlock the car a few times and the ignition will eventually light up and the car will start. With the lights out the engine still turns over, it just wont fire.

I have read through the blog on pg11 about the Discovery and found that it could be the spider. Info on where the spider is located on a 03 Defender would be great. Any further ideas as to the cause of the problem and solves would be welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Luke

Others seem suspicious of the immobiliser and/or key fob, but I would also be checking that the earths are OK, both the main one and the ECU earth.

There is always the perennial "oil in the injector harness" problem which can throw up some strange faults.

Cheers,

Lionel

[luke_higgins]

Seeing as I'm anything but a techno whizz, I'm hoping it's the battery in the fob. I'll check the earths aslo....top tip.

Thanks gents! Legends - all of you.

[steadyshaky]

I am having exactly the same problems on my 2005 Defender here in London. In short;

Normal starting
1. turn the ignition on from 1st to the 2nd position
2. the red warning light test shows, hand brake etc
also amber lights of ECU and glow plug illuminate clearly.
Fuel pump starts
3. The amber glow plug light and ecu goes off after a few seconds
4. Go to start her up (third position)
5. engine turns over and starts correctly all warning lights go out with the obvious exception of the handbrake light.


Intermittent fault causes the following

1. key in second position
2. the ECU and coil light flicker very very faintly (can’t be seen at all unless total darkness) and only momentarily all other red lights are illuminated the fuel gauge displays an off the reading hot readout
3. the fuel pump cannot be heard
4. turn the key to third position the engine turns over it will not start.
I have replaced the igniton barrel contacts, as stated below, as I also thought this the cheapest place to start. However, it hasn't made any difference. I like the key fob explanation. I will try new batteries in the key fob. Incidentally, bloke in greece having exactly the same issues. I have e-mailed him and await a response to see if he found a solution.