P38 diesel wont turn over

confusedp38 · Jan 28, 2015

Hi.
Any advice very gratefully received.
Year 2000 P38 diesel auto. Moved it yesterday without problems. Came to start it this morning and it wont turn over. All the dash lights etc come on as normal. Horn and lights work so battery seems fine ( new about 6 months ago). No sound of solenoid working just a faint click from a relay somewhere. Tried tapping the solenoid (hardish) just in case but assume that there is some inhibitor or relay or fuse somewhere which is preventing the solenoid/starter working. Have been having gear slippage in 3rd gear on change up for some time but assume this would not have anything to do with it ? Tried moving the gear lever between gears before operating the ignition switch but still nothing.
Searched all the forums but this doesnt seem to be a known problem ?
Many thanks for all suggestions

Datatek · Jan 28, 2015

You sure it was in P or N? Otherwise check the starter relay in the main fuse box.

wammers · Jan 28, 2015

Check master fuse 2.

confusedp38 · Jan 28, 2015

Thanks very much Datatek for reply. Yes definitely in P or N and I moved it in and out of the various gears (and low ratio positions) a number of times.
Will check the relay. Thanks.

confusedp38 · Jan 28, 2015

Thanks Wammers and Datatek. Just checked the fuses but there is no Main fuse 2. The other 4 look intact. No one has messed with the car to my knowledge so it would seem that there has never been a Main fuse 2. Is this likely to be correct ??
Cant identify which is the starter relay. I have the detailed Land Rover workshop manual but this is useless as I cannot find any plan of which relay is which - unless a page is missing from my copy !
There is a plan on the back of the fusebox but this is not very helpful. However I have swapped with others RL 2, 19, 15, 16 and 10.
Still wont turn over. Any more ideas please ?
Thanks.

wammers · Jan 28, 2015

confusedp38 said:
Thanks Wammers and Datatek. Just checked the fuses but there is no Main fuse 2. The other 4 look intact. No one has messed with the car to my knowledge so it would seem that there has never been a Main fuse 2. Is this likely to be correct ??
Cant identify which is the starter relay. I have the detailed Land Rover workshop manual but this is useless as I cannot find any plan of which relay is which - unless a page is missing from my copy !
There is a plan on the back of the fusebox but this is not very helpful. However I have swapped with others RL 2, 19, 15, 16 and 10.
Still wont turn over. Any more ideas please ?
Thanks.

Ok your car is 2000 missed that, look at fuse 40. 40 amp.

confusedp38 · Jan 28, 2015

Just checked fuse 40. Intact. Now mystified !
Can hear the relay near/in the ecu (under passenger seat) operating but cannot hear anything at the fuse box under the bonnet. Presumably that should tell me something !
Is there anything like an inhibitor switch for the gear lever position. If so. where is it situated please ?
Many thanks.

wammers · Jan 28, 2015

confusedp38 said:
Just checked fuse 40. Intact. Now mystified !
Can hear the relay near/in the ecu (under passenger seat) operating but cannot hear anything at the fuse box under the bonnet. Presumably that should tell me something !
Is there anything like an inhibitor switch for the gear lever position. If so. where is it situated please ?
Many thanks.

When key is turned to position III BECM should ground pin 2 relay 16 to make a circuit from pin 1 relay 16 fed by fuse 40. This should pull relay and power from fuse 40 should be sent to starter solenoid via pins 3 and 5 relay 16. Auto inhibit in XYZ switch.

confusedp38 · Jan 28, 2015

Thanks very much Wammers. Can I only get to the XYZ switch from underneath or is it easier from above. Do they often go wrong ?
Can they be taken apart and repaired as it seems that some of the earlier ones could be ?
Thanks very much

Datatek · Jan 28, 2015

confusedp38 said:
Thanks very much Wammers. Can I only get to the XYZ switch from underneath or is it easier from above. Do they often go wrong ?
Can they be taken apart and repaired as it seems that some of the earlier ones could be ?
Thanks very much

Be careful what you do with the XYZ switch, easier to check voltage at the relay.

wammers · Jan 28, 2015

As Keith says XYZ switch is not something to play with unless you really have to. If it is otherwise working, lights changing on selector tell tails and correct display on message centre leave it alone. Check the circuits before you think of looking at that.

confusedp38 · Jan 30, 2015

Hi
Thanks for all the help and will leave the XYZ switch alone. Thanks very much for the warning !
Everything at the fuse box/relays seems ok and therefore I wonder whether the problem is to do with the immobiliser and BECM. For a long time we have had the locking/unlocking door problem when driving along (or even when the R/R is stationary (engine off) but unlocked. I now understand that this can be an early warning of immobilser/BECM problems due to worn drivers door lock/micro switches ? I wonder if someone could please let me have the contact details of the expert(s) who I understand can modify the BECM so that the alarm and immobilser do not self arm thereby removing one more of the problems which can inflict the P38 !
Many thanks in anticipation of help.

tomcat59alan · Jan 30, 2015

Think you want a word with forum member Rick the pick

try a pm

eaglesalz · Feb 9, 2015

Did you manage to get this sorted, sounds like the same problem for me. I managed to get it started by removing the cover on relay 16 starter motor and turned ignition on and pressed relay contact and it started. It just does not start on the key so just have to find out what it is now.

Grrrrrr · Feb 9, 2015

Think you can switch it off with a Nanocom in the BECM section.

Datatek · Feb 10, 2015

eaglesalz said:
Did you manage to get this sorted, sounds like the same problem for me. I managed to get it started by removing the cover on relay 16 starter motor and turned ignition on and pressed relay contact and it started. It just does not start on the key so just have to find out what it is now.

If the relay does not pull, could be either the relay or the fuse box.

eaglesalz · Feb 10, 2015

Datatek said:
If the relay does not pull, could be either the relay or the fuse box.

Tried different relays and removed fuse box, stripped down, parted boards, remade joints all ok on boards, still no joy. So no idea now.

Datatek · Feb 11, 2015

eaglesalz said:
Tried different relays and removed fuse box, stripped down, parted boards, remade joints all ok on boards, still no joy. So no idea now.

So check the ignition switch.

eaglesalz · Feb 11, 2015

Datatek said:
So check the ignition switch.

When I turn switch I can hear relay clicking when turned to starter motor position.

Datatek · Feb 11, 2015

eaglesalz said:
When I turn switch I can hear relay clicking when turned to starter motor position.

But which relay? It's a simple matter to put a meter into the relay coil pins and turn the ignition to see if the circuit is intact.

P38 diesel wont turn over

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