my disco wont start help

[robert francis]

hi al, my disco 200tdi has been a lazy starter for a while, i took the starter off and took it to be reconed,  and they said it was fine, but it was still lazy. i just tried to start it and it just clicks, has the starter dead and can i get it running to move it, cheers

[ben_haynes]

is it hard to start all through the day or is it just first thing?

knackered glow plugs, low battery, poor connection to battery or starter

[robert francis]

hi, its hard in the morning or after a short run, but will still start after leaving it a few days normally. its a yellow top battery and been fine only a couple of years old, the glow plugs are about 3 months old and the connections were all ok and cleaned when i took starter off 2 montha ago, my battery tester says the batterys ok. ?

[robert francis]

when i started it this morning i was suprised it started 1 turn, just went to start it i clicks, ive put a snap on starter pack on it and it still just clicks

[ben_haynes]

have you checked continuity of the battery cables to the Starter, and check all your earths are free from Corrosion and are connecting correctly

when i started it this morning i was suprised it started 1 turn, just went to start it i clicks, ive put a snap on starter pack on it and it still just clicks

sounds like an earth fault to me

[waveydavey]

If it is just going click you are away off glow plugs and stuff.

Before (and after) you start can you put main beam headlights on and loads of other electrical stuff? It doesn't mean the battery's good but if they dim it shows it's duff.

Personally I would be looking at the heavy duty leads and connections, including the engine earth strap and battery earth strap.

If you are brave and careful you can try jumping it straight to the solenoid if that goes with then you know the starter and battery are good.

[robert francis]

hi all, the lights dont dim. whats the continuity thingy, and i cleaned all the conections up 2 months ago, they all looked good then, there all still tight.

[extreme90]

ditto on the eart
run a jump lead from the negative terminal to the engine timing case then try it again
if its fine
you got a rubbish earth to chassis, chassis to block
had it on my 90 a few weeks back and its got twin opti's on, it still didnt like starting

[robert francis]

i just ran a earth cable from the earth battery terminal to the engine and it still clicks at me, i hate it when things try my paitents, i have non .lol

[stewy1984]

sounds like mine (200tdi disco) what sort of clicking is it? just one click or continuous clicking when trying to start it?

mine will sometimes start first turn, or wont start at all and needs bumping. i believe its just a sticky solenoid due to offroading (lots of mud and water)

mines latest trick is sticking on once the engines started, which makes a horible noise and sometimes runs withouth the key even in  :lol:

pull the heatsheild back at the top and give the solenoid and good hitting with a stick, then try starting it in 5th

[robert francis]

hi, its just 1 hell of an annoying click, ive smack the starter with a hammer from underneath, ive got an auto so i cant jump it.
its 1 of those clicks that saying [bollards] im not starting. lol

[glaggs]

OK, basics 1st - just because your battery tester says your battery is fine doesn't meen it is. Most battery testers just check the voltage, not the ampage. Go to a reputable auto electrician and get the battery tested. They should be able to 'drop' test it i.e. check it is producing enough amps to crank a cold Diesel engin into life. If the batteries fine then check charging systyems etc. Another way is to borrow a battery you know to be good and swap em over. Don't just use jump leads - if the original battery is goosed it could draw the power from a piggy back battery but not conduct it to where its needed.

I have a similar problem with my Disco but if I charge the battery for 12 hrs its good for a couple of days - mine ain't holding its voltage.

REMEMBER KISS - keep it simple 'stupid'

[ben_haynes]

hi all, the lights dont dim. whats the continuity thingy, and i cleaned all the conections up 2 months ago, they all looked good then, there all still tight.

the continuity is the amount of resistance (flow) in the cable, get a volt metre turn it to Ohms and disconect the cable both ends and check it has no resistance i.e. it goes to 0.00 on the gauge / display it it goes OC or has a high resistance it has a fault in the cable

[Range Rover Blues]

When I was checking our TDi I found that during crnaking I was loosing about 1 voot across the earth and about the same across the positive/solenoid etc so the starter only sees 10 volts at best.

[robert francis]

hi, i cut the heat sheald away and tapped the solinoid and she went, thanks fudge! so i think i need a new solinoid, but atleast i can drive it just take a hammer with me thanks to all who gave me some advice,

[waveydavey]

You said you had the starter reconditioned?

The solenoid is an integral part of the starter; if that is playing up I would go back for a chat with the people who did it.