Weird Discovery 1 Starting Problem

**rickl** · 24th October 2012, 01:44 PM

Hi All

I have a 1997 Discovery 1 3.9 V8 Auto with a strange starting problem that I can not track down. When the car is cold the engine starts fine however when the car has been driven enough to warm up the engine the trouble starts. When I turn the key to the start position I get nothing. I can hear a click on the passengers side as I turn the key into the start position but the engine does not turn over. If I open the bonnet and wait about 10 minutes the engine will turn over and start. If I stop the engine and restart, or it stalls, it will start straight away. If I let the car sit for only a few minutes the problem sets in so it appears to be a heat soak issue.

In the last week a new problem has popped up when the engine is warm and I try to start it. When the engine is turning over it will not fire. If I let go of the key the engine will fire as the key springs back to the run position. When the engine is cold this does not occur and the engine starts normally.

The car has had a new coil and ignition module in an attempt to fix this. It has also just had a full service with a new distributor cap, rotor button, leads and plugs. The car runs much better after the service but there is no difference in the heat soak issues I am having.

Does anyone have any ideas where to look?

Regards

Richard

**Old Farang** · 24th October 2012, 02:21 PM

Does it still have the original immobiliser system, or has the the "spider" been replaced with the by-pass plug?

**rickl** · 24th October 2012, 02:27 PM

As far as I know it still has the original immobiliser, not that it works. When I got the car it did not come with a fob to unlock or lock the car or activate the immobiliser. As far as I know it is still just sitting there taking up space

**Old Farang** · 24th October 2012, 02:57 PM

If you have been starting the car without using a fob, then I guess that the immobiliser / spider has been replaced with the by-pass plug.

I had a similar problem with my MY1998, although it was not affecting the cranking, only the ignition. Drove me insane for months until it failed totaly. Turned out to be the magnetic pickup assembly in the dissy: p/n; STC 2898. (not the external module)

**steveG** · 24th October 2012, 04:56 PM

Have you tried a search - particularly in the D1 section? I recall there being a few threads in the last couple of years with similar symptoms. Some were spider issues, but not all. Unfortunately I don't recall what the others were - possibly earth or starter motor issues?

Steve

Tombie · 24th October 2012, 04:58 PM

I can hear a click on the passengers side as I turn the key into the start position but the engine does not turn over. If I open the bonnet and wait about 10 minutes the engine will turn over and start.

Sounds like starter issue.... Solenoid contacts not playing the game

Sticking? Due to contamination inside and/or worn contacts..

Contacts are cheap and easily available.

**Tank** · 24th October 2012, 05:19 PM

Probably as above (Tombie's post), had a similar problem after fixing above problem returned. It turned out to be the clutch in the starter pinion gear, easy cheap job to fix, reason I mention this is you didn't say wether the starter motor spun over or not, if it does spin but doesn't turn the engine over then this could be your problem. otherwise as Tombie says, Regards Frank.

**Stumpy1** · 28th November 2014, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by rickl

Hi All

I have a 1997 Discovery 1 3.9 V8 Auto with a strange starting problem that I can not track down. When the car is cold the engine starts fine however when the car has been driven enough to warm up the engine the trouble starts. When I turn the key to the start position I get nothing. I can hear a click on the passengers side as I turn the key into the start position but the engine does not turn over. If I open the bonnet and wait about 10 minutes the engine will turn over and start. If I stop the engine and restart, or it stalls, it will start straight away. If I let the car sit for only a few minutes the problem sets in so it appears to be a heat soak issue.

In the last week a new problem has popped up when the engine is warm and I try to start it. When the engine is turning over it will not fire. If I let go of the key the engine will fire as the key springs back to the run position. When the engine is cold this does not occur and the engine starts normally.

The car has had a new coil and ignition module in an attempt to fix this. It has also just had a full service with a new distributor cap, rotor button, leads and plugs. The car runs much better after the service but there is no difference in the heat soak issues I am having.

Does anyone have any ideas where to look?

Regards

Richard

Mines now doing the same. Can you let me know what it was?

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