300tdi no start when hot

When you say you "checked the earth connections" did you actually unbolt and thoroughly clean both earth strap and mounting area and then tighten back up, did you clean the battery terminals and leads, did you check that there is an earth between starter motor and block, between block and chassis, between block and body, between battery and block, if the answer is NO, then until you do the above you can't rule out a poor earth. Also have your battery checked while hot as it may be dying at high temps, Regards Frank.

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Originally Posted by mr mud 1

the problem is that their is nothing happening at all not even a click of the solenoid but once it cools down a bit it starts no worries

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Well that was what was happening to me but you said earlier on that it was starting fine?????:confused:.

If that is the case I go back to my original starter theory. However like others have said try the earth first that is the cheapest option

Hey Mr mud 1,

I have the same problem. Car will start fine when cold or warm but sometimes after a long drive on a hot day it wont start after a quick stop to the shops or something. There is no sound of the battery struggling to turn the starter, just nothing until it randomly "clicks" and then she starts.

I thought it might be worn brushes in the starter motor, however i dont have the cash to test that theory.

Let me know if you solve it, and I'll let you know if i do.

Cheers

I reckon it's a jamming solenoid. Used to happen on Henry's Fairlanes. I have encountered it on LR with starters on the way out.

HTH

Pete

It could also be the small spade connector that activates the starter, mine would sometimes do nothing when it was hot.
Checked the connector and tightened it down with some pliers and gave it a good clean and no problems since.
Just a thought!

i have had a similar problem with my 1998 tdi, some times it will not start, usually when its hot, but only does it some times, have checked the earths and they appear fine. had the starter checked it was fine.

Have now found that when it does it that if i remove the ignition fuse, red fuse (10amp ?) 3rd from left on the very botton row, try to start the car it turns over again but does not start, replace the fuse and it will start straight away.

have spoken to a mechanic friend and he thinks it could be the ignition relay sticking, yet to try replacing that.

also thought it might have been the spider issue until i pulled the dash apart to find there was no spider fitted.

Does the engine die when driving along? If so then it is the Spider/Immobliser problem. I have pulled mine out 3 times to re-solder the terminals and it seems to last 2-4 months before it happens again.
Next time I will use solid connections(extra wires) and not use the Circuit board to get a good connection. Hopefully this will fix the problem once and for all.
PS: I live in Darwin and the heat up here 30 degrees and above most days. Add to this sitting in the sun all day at work and it gets up to around 60-70 dergrees. Doesn't help that Landrover put the stupid thing up high in the centre dash where the sun hits most during the day.
I have decided to relocate the immobiliser to under the dash next time it starts to play up. Will try and get some photos next time I do it.

All 1998 TDI's had the immobiliser fitted as standard. You might need to look a bit closer behind and just underneath the stereo. (Black box approx 2" X 4' long).

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Originally Posted by SiddersC

It could also be the small spade connector that activates the starter, mine would sometimes do nothing when it was hot.
Checked the connector and tightened it down with some pliers and gave it a good clean and no problems since.
Just a thought!

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i found time to finally check mine out on the weekend and it appears to have been a dirty/corroded starter solenoid terminal. I suppose its now 17 years old...
Anyway gave it a clean up and replaced the dodgy connector with a new one and so far seems to be better, though it hasnt been as hot as the last week or so when it was really playing up, so im not definitely sure if its fixed it or not.

Cheers

Mine is up to its old tricks again, I replaced the rely, worked for a short time and then started again, found the small plug on the solenoid loose, fix, and it fixed the issues for a couple of month and then played up again, have not fitted a wire. Is a plug button switch from the battery. To the solenoid, and this turn the motor over even without the key off, towed the caravan for Christmas and it then played up for the first time in months, turned the key and click click, pressed the button and the same happen, are a little bit of stuff around it started but just turned over at the start like it was flat, have done all the earths in the past. So I am gathering as the solenoid is only a couple of years old, that I am now up for a new starter motor any ideas?????