Topic: Now mine won't start either....... (Read 2347 times)

davidjmiller · « **on:** December 20, 2007, 20:45:03 »

had my 300 Tdi auto for about 6 weeks now. It's always been a weak starter, by that I mean it seems to turn over slowly as if the battery was struggling. even though I warm the plugs whilst I put my belt on it takes maybe 5 seconds to catch.

So having cycled the 10 miles into work the last couple of mornings it would not start at all today. Battery went from weak turnover to virtually flat in about 4-5 attempts. So, off to work in wifies Clio to the amusements of my colleagues and nipped out at lunchtime to pick up a new battery. Changed them over tonight and there is no diference, within a few tries the battery sounds like it's almost flat.

I read on another post that the batteries are diff for auto/man diesel/petrol - I wonder if they gave me the right one (I think its a 69 or a 96??)

...or is it the fuel pump???

sorry for yet another "it won't start" post and thanks in advance for your help.

David

p.s. I was well annoyed but just having a bunch of like minded enthusiasts to moan to makes a big difference.

crazymac · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2007, 21:02:01 »

It sounds more like bad earthing to me? if you have a new battery and still doing it, then the power is being diverted somewhere. Check and clean up the earths and go from there.

Paul · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2007, 21:12:22 »

Yep, maybe... Easy way to check is to use a jumplead from the battery (-) terminal to the engine block..

BigBlue90 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2007, 22:06:54 »

Watching the replies to this with interest as mine is doing the same at the moment.

It also struggles to start once it is warm.

beast5680 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2007, 22:14:28 »

mine did the same but it was the battery, however check thoroughly all the connections to earth and the pos lead to the starter

freeagent · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2007, 00:00:42 »

mine was doing the same, until sunday when it just refused to start..

have changed the nasty braided earth strap for a piece of proper battery cable, so far so good...

I'm going to add a second earth lead between the chassis and the engine over christmas, just to make absolutly sure it won't happen again...

muddyjames · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2007, 17:29:38 »

I am watching this too as today mine would turn the engine over 4-5times then nothing at all. jump start it and hey presto. Moved the car to check wheel bearings, tried to start car later and nothing, had to jump start again :( Disco HAS to go into work with me tomorrow. :(

If I put jump lead from - terminal to engine block and try starting it. Is that what someone meant earlier on?

also, when I put thejump leads on from my other car, as soon as I connected the last lead the engine revs dropped on the Rover so the disco was suckking in power from the Rover :? what does that mean?

PS I have no idea where any earth straps are.

Paul · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2007, 18:17:50 »

Quote from: "muddyjames"

had to jump start again :(

I'd say you need a new battery, If it starts with a jump and not under it's own steam.

Iain C · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2007, 18:22:34 »

Bloody contagious this non-starty stuff is!

Mine died too, new battery today and she's sorted.

I've heard of man-flu, could this be a Disco Flu pandemic???

muddyjames · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2007, 18:40:35 »

Quote from: "Paul"

Quote from: "muddyjames"
had to jump start again :(

I'd say you need a new battery, If it starts with a jump and not under it's own steam.

I got a quote yesterday for a battery. Â£55. If only I could remember the make. I did ask whether it was a good make or not and he said it was in the better half of the maes of batteries out there.

Your opinions please.

Also looks like a trip to sheffield to get money back on duff battery :(

davidjmiller · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2007, 19:32:12 »

......so when the alarm went off this morning at 6.15 I just rang the RAC. Hour or so later a very nice man turns up, I tell him my tale and he just starts the bloody car first time !!!!! How embarassed was I???? It seems I was not giving the glow plugs long enough to warm up. I did not realise one of the lights on the dashboard had to go off. I'd just been switching to "on" and then putting on my seatbelt and going. I guess if the car has not been stood for three days in the freezing cold then that's ok - but not this week.

So I spent Â£75 on a new heavy duty battery that MAYBE I did not need.

but secretly, I'm pleased as this does not count as a breakdown so the cars still not got a black mark to it's name :twisted: :twisted: ....and I now have a spare battery !!!!!

I'm off to hide now.

David

crazymac · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2007, 19:39:49 »

Quote from: "muddyjames"

If I put jump lead from - terminal to engine block and try starting it. Is that what someone meant earlier on?

PS I have no idea where any earth straps are.

With a jump lead from the Neg terminal of the battery to the engine block you are increasing the earth already there! your vehicle is is a negative earth vehicle you see? the main earth on them is from the neg terminal to ground somewhere, often the chassis or the block.

The starting system needs the full circuit to perform, so if the earth is duff, then it will play up! so by adding the jump lead in, if it starts easier then the earth is the problem, so all you need is a nice thick cable to replace it and Roberts your mothers brother!!

crazymac · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2007, 19:47:22 »

Quote from: "davidjmiller"

RAC. just starts the bloody car first time !!!!! How embarassed was I???? It seems I was not giving the glow plugs long enough to warm up.

I'm off to hide now.

David

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :(bigoops): :(bigoops):

muddyjames · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2007, 20:59:15 »

Quote from: "davidjmiller"

It seems I was not giving the glow plugs long enough to warm up. I did not realise one of the lights on the dashboard had to go off.

So I spent Â£75 on a new heavy duty battery that MAYBE I did not need.

Yes the little coil symbol in the top right of the dash needs to go off. that is was is making my disco the kiss of death to not start. Battery is fine and then put the glow plugs on and it drops to 11 volts and dead!!! I need to let mine pre heat for about half the time then cross everything I have and hope it is enough to fire it into life.

Want to sell your battery??? I am in Cambridge 2 weeks into Jan on my way through to somewhere else

:lol:

lee celtic · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2007, 21:10:37 »

I'd keep the spare battery and fit it in the other battery tray as a backup

muddyjames · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2007, 21:19:34 »

I have a caravan leisure battery (70amp hour) that is on charge right now. will that be ok to jump start from tomorrow instead of having to ask unsespecting people for a jump start!?!? :lol:

Disco Matt · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2007, 21:23:15 »

Quote from: "muddyjames"

I have a caravan leisure battery (70amp hour) that is on charge right now. will that be ok to jump start from tomorrow instead of having to ask unsespecting people for a jump start!?!? :lol:

It should be fine - the main difference is that a caravan battery is designed to be slowly discharged over a long period rather than giving lots of juice for a short time. I'm reasonably sure that we've used a caravan battery for this before now, although this would have been to start a normal car rather than a Landy...

muddyjames · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2007, 21:37:26 »

will it ruin my caravan battery though?

Disco Geordie · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:22:16 »

I've been watching this thread with interest as mine has been doing exactly the same.

Changed the battery and glow plugs, still same. Changed stop solenoid still same.

Checked voltage to the glow plugs none!!!!!

Ran 12v directly to the glow plugs fired first time. Does anyone know what fuse it is or is it tracing an electrical problem.

muddyjames · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:38:05 »

did your glow plug light come on, on the dash?

muddyjames · « **Reply #20 on:** December 23, 2007, 15:02:38 »

Well I wanted to load my disco up today for the trip tomorrow and would it start? Oh no way was it playing ball. Jump started off 2 different batteries and even from my rover 620 and it was having none of it. The engine just about managed to turn over :twisted:

But a quick call to Muddy steve and he told me the good / bad news. Battery. I thought this but as I was jump starting from a battery I used yesterday to do the trick I thought maybe not.

Just been to Halfrauds and had a look in thier book at batteries. Recomended one is a 510a. Steve said get 700 or over. The 98-2002 disco takes a 710a battery. It looked bigger but I have given it a go and it JUST fits in the gap. It touches the air con pipes and air bag sensor. Very tight suqeeze getting it in around the wires to the headlights too. Connected it all up and it turned over so fast I was shocked and it fired straight up. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

So for now I am happy. Another pluss side is that in Halfrauds the battery I whould have got was Â£96 :shock: and this one I have now said Â£119 :shock: When I went to the counter they charged me Â£98 :D :lol: :D :lol:

This one has a 3 year warranty too. There wasnt an option for a heavy duty battery though. I was going to buy a carpet for my lounge with my tips money this year but now it seems I have got a battery!!!! :roll:

Fingers crossed it starts tomorrow now and this little epademic is over.

Disco Geordie · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2007, 15:51:09 »

the glow plug light does work.

Checked the voltage going to the plugs and nothing. Relay is clicking as expected, tempted to change it anyway.

News:

AuthorTopic: Now mine won't start either....... (Read 2347 times)

Disco Geordie

Disco Geordie