L322 Absolutely nothing on final (cranking) position of key Report post

I've had my current 2008 RR L322 Vogue 3.6 TDV8 since early April.

Love the car but it quickly became unreliable and now absolutely won't start.

Everything seems OK and working as normal when you put the key in and turn it as far as the run position, all dash lights and media system working but when you turn to the spring-loaded starter position there's no change apart from the radio going off until you release the key back to the run position. Absolutely nothing, no slow crank, not even a click.

I've seen a number of threads on other forums along with various videos but they're all for the earlier version with the ignition in the centre console next to the driver's knee where mines in the dash to the left of the steering column. A lot of them are also for foreign, left hand drive cars and everything is in a different place.

I've had all maner of green oval vehicle and done many major repairs on them but I'm totally stumped by this one. I'm not helped by the lack of workshop manual or wiring diagram.

Please can any one help me? Where do I get the technical info? Where's the starter relay? What inhibiter switches are there? How do I get the these?

Any help would be much appreciated as I have a caravan to trade in and collect the new one it a bit under 2 weeks so I have to sort it.

Sounds like your starter motor is fubar and dropping the volts too low for the radio to work at all.
BTW, how good is your battery? is it at least 12.7V or better when you go to try and start?
What's it like as soon as you turn to ignition position 3 (start)?
Download RAVE from here. There is probably an ETG for the L322.

Usually if the electrics drop off and dissappear the starter could be shortered out when the key is turned.
Hammer tapping time on the starter body.

Hmm, ré read... Earth's and positive cables.

Not in Drive, is it?

Thank you all for your thoughts.

The radio is the only thing that goes off, all the dash stays lit. The battery is brand new.
The first time it did this I ended up calling the RAC. It was a subcontractor that came out. He thought it was to do with either the ignition switch or an inhibiter switch but couldn't work out anything more, simply had us towed back to our campsite where the car started off the key as soon as it was unloaded from the recovery truck.

Raceyjas said:

Thank you all for your thoughts.

The radio is the only thing that goes off, all the dash stays lit. The battery is brand new.
The first time it did this I ended up calling the RAC. It was a subcontractor that came out. He thought it was to do with either the ignition switch or an inhibiter switch but couldn't work out anything more, simply had us towed back to our campsite where the car started off the key as soon as it was unloaded from the recovery truck.

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Tap the starter motor, then get a dvm and check the earth's to the chassis and the battery.

Mark Piercy said:

Tap the starter motor, then get a dvm and check the earth's to the chassis and the battery.

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I'd say earth too. Possibly engine earth, as it seems to be ghe biggest culprit.

I posted a link for the L322 RAVE the other day. The thread is still on the first page of this forum !!

pwood999 said:

I posted a link for the L322 RAVE the other day. The thread is still on the first page of this forum !!

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Not sure rave will cover 2008 will it? On my 06 I used the online manuals as I needed them.
I'm surprised nobody has suggested the shift position switch? If that's knackered or not giving park or neutral signal it won't start.
Also, as its a later model, might need brake pedal depressed to start so could be brake switch.

I don't know if it is called RAVE but the service manual I downloaded covers all L322s and no, you do not need to step on the brakes. Could be the shift position switch. Starter could be removed and tested at a shop.