Intermittent failure starting engine

[megz]

Hi guys

As anyone experienced anything like this?

My Defender 300tdi is playing a little game with me where it occasionally (3 times over last 2 months) decides not to start.

It happens like this: I drive on the open road or city traffic for some time, pull over and turn off motor. Return to vehicle around 5 minutes later and she just won't fire.

Battery is 95% and the engine fires at the touch of the ignition 99% of the time. However when this problem occurs, the motor just cranks and cranks but doesn't fire.

The last time it happened I thought it might be a fuel blockage so I opened the fuel filter and pumped the lift-pump - fuel flowed out the filter.

A phone call with a LR mechanic suggested it might be the solenoid in the high pressure fuel pump.

Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance,

megz

[DiscoMick]

Could be the auto transmission switch which won't let it start except in Park is starting to fail. Ours did.

[weeds]

Not sure this defender has an auto

Don’t think 300tdi have a high pressure switch.

I’d say starter solenoid

[justinc]

Totally agree the first place to look is the injector pump fuel solenoid wire. The plug on these is a bit iffy with age, i would be replacing the crimp terminal...

Jc

[weeds]

Totally agree the first place to look is the injector pump fuel solenoid wire. The plug on these is a bit iffy with age, i would be replacing the crimp terminal...

Jc

What JC said

[DiscoMick]

Not sure this defender has an auto

Don’t think 300tdi have a high pressure switch.

I’d say starter solenoid

Ah it's a Defender (face plant). Duh!