Thread: 300TDI Manual Won't START

Can't help with the diagnostics but have a spider bypass in Fannie Bay that you can have for nix. Turns out I didn't need it.

Maybe obvious but have you checked the battery voltage?

Just a thought but possibly all the odd happenings will disappear with a new/fully charged battery.

Thanks guys. I might take you up on that Goosneck, but at this stage I would like to keep trying to find the source of my pain.

If it helps, the first thing I checked was the Batt terminals and yes there was some white stuff on them. Pulled them off and cleaned then as best I could with the tools I had. (Long nose pliers). I checked the voltage when I got back to the campground and it was showing 13V. The next morning it was showing 12.7V and that afternoon was 12.3V. I have one of those batt that has a green/red led that tells you if it is ok or not. Not sure how much to believe it.
The full scenario was I went thru a small river crossing maybe 4-6inches deep at about 40kmh, parked and went for a swim in the nearby springs, then started car and headed back to camp across same river and stopped to get more beer & icecream. Thats when it wouldn't start and hasn't since. Wife and kids love me even more now.
After posting I went out and did some more checking. The lights won't turn on now and and the interior light goes out when I try. there is also some rattling of some sort from tha Pass footwell.

PS: The front Pass door light switch has broken off awhile ago and I can't locate the wire for it. whould this be relevant? could it have got wet with the crossing and is creating a short somewhere? Or would it be something simple as a bad earth?
Won't be able to get to it again until the weekend, where I'll CLEAN & CHECK BATT terminals and double check the voltage of the battery. I have had a bad batt connection before and the rattling of relays/soleniods is way different to what I have now. It almost seems like the system loses power the longer I keep the Ignition on start???

Bloody Pommie electrics!!!!!!!! I brought the Disco because it was the only economical 4X4 at the time and it was way better than anything else off the showroom floor, but alas 12yrs later its giving me headaches. I got the diesel to avoid electrical issues, not have them everytime I want to getaway for the weekend. I don't wasnt to upgrade as I like the 300TDI's


Luke.

What happens if you apply 12v to the small terminal on the starter solenoid? (the push on terminal). If engine cranks then battery is OK & may possibly have security fault. If engine doesn't crank (as I suspect) problem most likely failed battery or connection fault.

With the interior light going out,I would suspect either a bad earth or a faulty battery.

Wayne

How about a jump start to test the electrics? This would be a quick way to diagnose a dead battery.

thanks once again for your input. I'm going to try a jump start tonight after work to make sure it's not a bad battery. That was the first thing I thought of when it happened as the temp was around 35C and it had been sitting in the sun for 2 days.?????

FAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
In the end it was the battery. Jump started the car with the wifes car. that little led on the battery is something stupid. In daylight it looks like it is showing that the Batt is ok, but in the dark it show that it needs charging. So I charged it overnight nad the Batt Charger was showing that it was fully charged.
tried to crank it over with the key, just more rattling from the numerous relays, etc. Put a multimeter onto it and it shows 12.7V.

obviously has 12V but no AMPS for cranking. At least It had enough juice to disarm the alarm.

In search of a new battery. Any suggestions to Brand????