Help - Not Starting!

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hbweb

New Member
Posts
17
Hi,

My problem:

Land Rover Freelander, ES (Automatic), 2000 (x reg), 76,000 miles.

The bloody thing won't start! - It goes like this ...

Unlock the car with the Fob, the 10 sec beep for the fob battery, sounds - sometimes.

Just ordered a battery for it ... however ...

I turn the key to Position 1:
I think this is where the security immobiliser thing kicks in with the clever chip thing in the key and the clever immobiliser thing under the bonnet??? (I thought this, coupled with the battery in the fob might be the problem).

I turn the Key to Position 2:
All usual dash lights go on, except the Glow Plug lights.

I turn the key to Position 3:
Nothing, except a click ... no glow plug lights still.

Now, I usually get out, lock, unlock, kick the tyres, curse a little, get back in, turn the key ... nothing.

I have 'reset' the fob + immobiliser by clicking it 5 times quickly. I left the key in the ignition, and clicked the fob. I've unlocked the car with the key in the door. Clicked the fob, waited 30 seconds, and all of this does nothing.

The lights are on, so I'm thinking it 'aint' the battery?

Loud clicking noise, so the starter motor is working? (Or does that mean it's dead?).

In the past, it has just suddenly worked, without any hesitation - literally without any coughing or spluttering.

The glow plug lights concern me. Is this connected with the immobiliser?

Just to make things even more complicated - I'm in Poland, where the temp is -20 at the moment. Been like that for a couple of days, and no prior hiccups with the car when starting. The same thing has happened in the past, in much warmer temps (+2, +6 etc). So I don't think it's the weather ...

Sorry for such a long and problematic post. Any help is truly, greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mat

P.S. Thanks to the forums for helping me try to narrow down the faults - as you have probably guess, I'm no mechanic :)
 
Not yet ...

I guess that might get me to the nearest Land Rover garage.

Or revive me after seeing how much Land Rover will charge me.

Any other ideas? ...

Thanks
 
Battery may still operate lights but have nowhere near enough power to turn over the starter motor. Could still be the battery. OR may be the starter solenoid. Try a jump start as "Lofty" says.
 
My L series does this occationally. What has happened is your starter solenoid contacts have fried. The solenoid pulls in as you hear the click, but the contact is not made to power the motor. It is possible to get the solenoid apart and bodge it up, but ultimately its a new motor assembly. Doesn't explain the glowplug light though, thats another issue.
 
Darmain said:
My L series does this occationally. What has happened is your starter solenoid contacts have fried. The solenoid pulls in as you hear the click, but the contact is not made to power the motor. It is possible to get the solenoid apart and bodge it up, but ultimately its a new motor assembly. Doesn't explain the glowplug light though, thats another issue.
Click to expand...


... I thought something as bad as that. The click really is loud. If I 'tapped' it with a hammer, would that help me get to the garage?

I thought that maybe as the fob was playing up, it was an immobiliser problem ... 79p battery and all my troubles would be over. Bugger.

I only bought it a week ago - would the garage have been able to hide this? I mean, I started it a few times, and no problems.

Thanks for the quick reply and your help.

Mat
 
The easiest way to get it going is to get someone to tow start you, but its an automatic so you can't...... Bugger.

Plan B. When you try to start it, try pulsing the key between the run position and the start position. Make the solenoid rattle. The contacts is two fixed copper pegs with a large copper washer that is pulled down to bridge them. The washer can rotate to spread the contact area. You might be lucky and the contact spins enough to find a connection.

If that fails then its a case of taking the starter motor out and either bodge up the contacts or get it replaced.
 
hbweb said:
... If I 'tapped' it with a hammer, would that help me get to the garage?
Click to expand...

It might help the washer rotate but take care as the starter assembly isn't designed for abuse like this. Also you risk shorting the battery live feed to the engine block, which I saw someone do once, it was an impressive engine fire that followed.

:flame2: :Cry: :Cry: :Cry:

hbweb said:
I only bought it a week ago - would the garage have been able to hide this? I mean, I started it a few times, and no problems.
Click to expand...

I doubt it was hidden. Mine is intermittent. It can go for weeks with no problems, then start playing up again. One time I had to push start it to get home, then strip the contacts out and a reshape them to get them to close properly.
 
Darmain said:
The easiest way to get it going is to get someone to tow start you, but its an automatic so you can't...... Bugger.

Plan B. When you try to start it, try pulsing the key between the run position and the start position. Make the solenoid rattle. The contacts is two fixed copper pegs with a large copper washer that is pulled down to bridge them. The washer can rotate to spread the contact area. You might be lucky and the contact spins enough to find a connection.

If that fails then its a case of taking the starter motor out and either bodge up the contacts or get it replaced.
Click to expand...

Thanks Darmain, appreciate all your help and advice. I'll give it a bash in the morning -22 out there now!

I'm kinda thinking the Automatic was a bad idea. Although it is nice and lazy.

I wont risk an engine fire. Although if I can't get it started, at least I'll be warm(er).

Bloody cars!
 
Warsaw, Poland :(

I got the car picked up by a 'Land Rover' dealership ... they had to put it on a trailer because it's automatic.

Just spoke to them, and they said it's the battery ... even though I just drove 1200 miles a week ago???

I know the cold affects batteries, but the headlights didn't dim when I turned the key, and the alarm etc works ...

Thanks
 
Hummmm!!

I hope your problems are now solved, but if the headlights didn't dim out when you tried to start the engine then the battery can not be the problem. I'm sure you will find out soon enough.

Good luck.

Dave
 
Update: 07/01/09 @16:31

Went to the Land Rover Dealership in Warsaw, they said the starter motor is fine, and that the battery was low.

They gave it a 'supercharge' (not sure if they are referring to the recharge, or my bill).

And it works fine.

One thing I noticed, and not sure if it will help others, the windscreen wipers, were a little 'juddery' before, and now they seem smoother.

Part of the battery problem?

Just took the battery out, and a 'mechanic' gave it a charge with the screws off the distilled water.

Will report back tomorrow, when I try and start it in -18 (weather's improving).

Thanks again for all your help.

x
 
Darmain said:
Hummmm!!

I hope your problems are now solved, but if the headlights didn't dim out when you tried to start the engine then the battery can not be the problem. I'm sure you will find out soon enough.

Good luck.

Dave
Click to expand...

The headlights will not dim if the conntacor is not powering the starter motor.
 
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