Freelander 1.8 not starting

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minilandie

Member
Posts
11
Hi everyone, I'm new here and need your help. I have recently got a 2002 1.8 es Freelander and this morning drove to my Mums about 17 miles away which I do on a regular bass with no problems. Drove there with no issues and went to start up around 10 hours later ad nothing. It's not the battery as all lights on dash come on as normal, can hear the fuel pump, radio and electric windows wirk. Green light also on battery to show it's OK. It doesn't turn over or fire, there js no noise at all, like it's not connected. Is it an imoboliser issue?? I hadn't had the doors locked.
 
I have the same car so will be interesting to know what it is. I had an Astra van that did that I use to give the starter motor a tap and it would fire up. Maybe worth a try.
 
Thanks. I'm a clueless female and please don't laugh, but where do I find the starter motor and terminal and is it safe to touch without going up in smoke!?
 
Looking at the engine from the front of the car its the silver lump around 8 inches long thats attached to the back of the engine quite far down on the right hand side. If you stand on the passengers side and look behind/under the big black plastic air filter section its under that and should have a red electrical cable going to it.

You might find the motor has started to stick, which means the brushes inside are most likely worn down to the point where they wont turn it. Getting someone to try starting the car as you tap it with something (mine got so bad i had a rubber mallet in the door pocket as it stuck every 2-3 engine starts) will get it going if thats the case.

It wont shock you or go up in smoke unless someone turns the key while you're touching the power lead going to it. I had mine in and out several times wiithout disconnecting the battery.

Taking it apart and cleaning it can get it running a while longer. Second hand ones on ebay are around 30-40 quid, though their life expectancy isnt known. Brand new ones were over 100 when i checked a few weeks ago so i took it to a local electrical motor specialist who serviced it for me and replaced the internals for £30 :D
 
Thanks for your in depth instructions! However, I tried again this morning with the spare key and she started 1st time. Have tried original key since and starts with that too, so don't know what the problem was! Don't trust that it won't happen again though! Anyone want to swap for a TD5??!!!
 
Sounds like either a bad connection or dodgy starter motor as already suggested. Should be a simple fairly cheap job for any competent mechanic.
 
Did it again this morning, so as suggested on here, I tapped the starter motor with a hammer and hey presto started 1st time! My Dad who has been fixing his own cars and tractors for years says it's due to the brushes sticking in the starter motor as Krisboats suggested. He's going to spray some WD40 on them and I'll let you know if it's an easy and quick fix!
 
Last edited:
minilandie said:
Did it again this morning, so as suggested on here, I tapped the starter motor with a hammer and hey presto started 1st time! My Dad who has been fixing his own cars and tractors for years says it's due to the brushes sticking in the starter motor as Krisboats suggested. He's going to spray some WD40 on them and I'll let you know if it's an easy and quick fix!
Click to expand...

Those brushes are probably quite worn and need replacing. WD40 will help you to get started to drive to the workshop to have them replaced!
 
htr said:
Those brushes are probably quite worn and need replacing. WD40 will help you to get started to drive to the workshop to have them replaced!
Click to expand...

Yeah, mine were worn to the point where two of the 4 brushes were barely touching the copper contacts inside the motor. The brushes needed replacing and the contacts in the solenoid were shot. There was an awful lot of dust in there when i stripped my starter motor down (really easy by the way) and cleaning it out did reduce the motor sticking for a couple of weeks, but eventually it needed redoing as it went bad again and gradually got even worse than it was before. It'll need replacing or rebuilding, a clean out will only last a few weeks at best. :(
 
I agree this is probably a worn starter motor - but when it fails though, if the radio is on when you turn the key, does the radio go off? If the radio stays on it may be the ignition switch/barrel - ie its not actually switching the starter on at all. These are known to fail regularly on Freelander.
 
minilandie said:
Did it again this morning, so as suggested on here, I tapped the starter motor with a hammer and hey presto started 1st time! My Dad who has been fixing his own cars and tractors for years says it's due to the brushes sticking in the starter motor as Krisboats suggested. He's going to spray some WD40 on them and I'll let you know if it's an easy and quick fix!
Click to expand...

That's the get you home fix. Not the trouble free for the next 5 years fix.

Get a new or recon starter motor and fit it.
 
GrumpyGel said:
I agree this is probably a worn starter motor - but when it fails though, if the radio is on when you turn the key, does the radio go off? If the radio stays on it may be the ignition switch/barrel - ie its not actually switching the starter on at all. These are known to fail regularly on Freelander.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Not done it since but if it happens again will experiment!
 
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