Thread: 300 tdi intermittently wont start

Originally Posted by edddo

All I have done is clean up the solenoid terminals. Could it really be that easy?

What I call "terminal disease", all too common. 8 out of 10 electrical issues are loose or dirty terminals.

I had a similar problem with my 200tdi Disco 1. Turned out to be a bad earth. The next time it happens get a jumper lead and put it on the neg terminal of the battery and then put the other end straight onto the motor somewhere.
That fixed it. I ended up making up another earth strap between the earth on the battery and a suitable bolt on the engine and never had another problem. Probably a dodgy earth somewhere.
Hope it helps.
Ian
Disco 3 V8
Series 2a swb soft top.

Originally Posted by edddo

I have had the test light connected to the solenoid for a few days and about 20 starts now. It has lit up and started perfectly each time.
Prior to that it was about one non start episode each 3 starts.
All I have done is clean up the solenoid terminals. Could it really be that easy?
....

Originally Posted by bee utey

What I call "terminal disease", all too common. 8 out of 10 electrical issues are loose or dirty terminals.

Same issue with brother's TD5. Terminal for the solenoid was actually clean, but wire looked a little sadder than brand spanking new one, but all I did was compress the female blade terminal(on the end of the wire) a little and he's had no issues since.

I had different almost non starting issues just after I got my D1(300 Tdi), and immediately thought it was the starter too.
Had very slow cranking like the starter was dying. Solenoid was clicking first time every time, no problems.
Battery read good at 12.4-12.7 volts via an voltmeter .. so first thought was starter too.

Turned out battery was showing 12.4v + .. but didn't have the crank power to turn over the motor whilst running the glowplugs and whatever else uses power at start up.
New battery(720CCA as opposed to 500something that the old one should have, but couldn't supply!) .. and no issues since.
Ordered a new starter just in case too .. and still sitting in the shed for the day when the original one goes kamikaze!

Hi there. Sounds suspiciously like the immobiliser spider unit located under the stereo behind the heater controls. They notoriously gradually failed due to dry solder joints in manufacture. It is called a spider because it is a small black box with about 8 wires coming out both ends. Symptoms were intermittently failing to start. Will be fine for months...weeks...days...then do it a couple of times in a row. Gradually got worse. LR provided a fix with a replacement plug that fits in place instead of the spider. Had to do mine after 2 years chasing the problem...even taking it to a dealer to put it on the computer test book to diagnose...had no idea and cost me 100 bucks. Then mentioned it to MJK Discovery when ordering some parts and he said it's a known issue and there's been a LR replacement part to fix that and it has been out for years. Search on here for the spider unit, you'll find a thread on how to do it. Check in the Rave manual for how to get to it...it's all there.

Pretty sure it's a 98 model so no spider .

Originally Posted by harbspan

Hi there. Sounds suspiciously like the immobiliser spider unit located under the stereo behind the heater controls. They notoriously gradually failed due to dry solder joints in manufacture. It is called a spider because it is a small black box with about 8 wires coming out both ends. Symptoms were intermittently failing to start. Will be fine for months...weeks...days...then do it a couple of times in a row. Gradually got worse. LR provided a fix with a replacement plug that fits in place instead of the spider. Had to do mine after 2 years chasing the problem...even taking it to a dealer to put it on the computer test book to diagnose...had no idea and cost me 100 bucks. Then mentioned it to MJK Discovery when ordering some parts and he said it's a known issue and there's been a LR replacement part to fix that and it has been out for years. Search on here for the spider unit, you'll find a thread on how to do it. Check in the Rave manual for how to get to it...it's all there.

Spider / immobiliser has been bypassed.
Thks

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Pretty sure it's a 98 model so no spider .

My 97 model had one

Anyone know if the starter solenoid plunger that moves in an out and pushes the starter engagement gear onto the flywheel it is meant to be lubed with something? A bit of moly grease any good?
I pulled mine today and it is gummed up in the cylinder and causes intermittent starting as the plunger has to come all the way back in to the electro magnet to activate a little switch on the bottom of the cylinder to transfer power to the starter motor terminal...