Starting woes - please help

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help?

Day 1
2001 Freelander td4 ES running perfectly

Day 2 - morning
Unlocked Freelander with remote fob, got in, closed door, inserted key into ignition, 1 click, 2 click (all lights on dash as they should be), turn to position 3 and......nothing.....try again, nothing....swear, get out, lock Freelander with remote fob and use alternative car to get to work

Day 2 - evening
Come home, unlocked Freelander with remote fob, got in, closed door, inserted key into ignition, 1 click, 2 click (all lights on dash as they should be), turn to position 3 and......Brrruummm....away she goes -started effortlessly......turned her off, got out, locked with remote fob.

Day 3 - morning
As per Day 2 evening = no problems.....went to work

Day 3 - afternoon - Part 1
As per Day 2 evening and Day 3 morning = no problems -finished work, got in, car started and drove home from work

Day 3 -afternoon - Part 2
Got home from work, reversed onto drive apron, parked / turned off engine, got out (did not lock car doors), unlocked drive gate, got back in car, closed door, inserted key into ignition, 1 click, 2 click (all lights on dash as they should be), turn to position 3 and......nothing.....try again, nothing....swear, get out, hoping it would fix itself.

Day 4 - Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - the "fix it fairies" have not done their job overnight!
I have read several articles on here about immobilisers, key fobs, starters, chipped keys etc but don't seem to be able to solve my problem -so far I have:
1) Removed additional keys from key ring
2) Tried spare key (key's are chipped by the way)
3) Tried spare remote fob
4) Tried new batteries in remote fobs / resynched etc
5) Disconnected / re-connected main battery (I thought this may reset something)
6) Checked all fuses (inside vehicle and under bonnet)
7) Removed steering column cowl and checked connections (purple wires)
8) Removed and refitted switch that interface with the key turning
9) Checked any connections I can find under bonnet
10) Drunk lots of tea and grrrrrrrrrr'd at it several times

As I rotate the key to position 3, the lights on the dash go out, the red and white wire that leads to the fuse box becomes live and the relay in the internal fuse box clicks but that's it.

Any ideas what I can try next without spending hundreds on garages/auto electricians??.....I'm thinking new key/ignition barrel if this is where the trasponder reads the key chip???

Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike,
The clicking relay you describe is almost certainly the starter relay actuating. This means that the relay is trying to activate the starter solenoid which also tells me that you do not have an immobiliser problem. Locate the starter motor on the front of the engine. Have an assistant turn the key whilst you tap the starter motor ( caution the engine may now start so ensure gear lever in neutral and keep your fingers away from anything which is likely to rotate) if the engine now turns over then you should consider having a new starter motor.
If nothing happens then check for a live feed down the thinnest cable to the starter motor, if no live feed then you will have to trace the wiring back to the clicking relay and if ok then try a replacement relay (there are lots of these relays in the box which do non-essential things e.g foglamps etc) I'm assuming a lot here as to your mechanical aptitude but good luck anyway. D..

One thing you haven't done yet is the starter motor itself & they are known for problems with the solenoid contacts. ebay usually sells kits for around a tenner to repair them.

Hi all,

Just a quick post to say thanks for the posts / suggestions......traced back to the starter motor and the Freelander is all back up and running again.

Thanks,
Mike >)

Mike333 said:

Hi all,

Just a quick post to say thanks for the posts / suggestions......traced back to the starter motor and the Freelander is all back up and running again.

Thanks,
Mike >)

Click to expand...

thats good Earthling , you had the manners to thank for the help, pity more dont do that

Hi guys. This is my 1st post.

Mike333 this is exactly what i'm going through right now with my 1.8 petrol.

I'm hoping that tomorrow morning the "fix it fairies"(fantastic description btw) will also have done their thing for me. I had to leave the damn thing at work tonight.

It's the third time it has happened this week but it had never shown any signs of not wanting to start before. And to top it all off it passed the MOT on Monday morning(this is Friday night).

For your info brand new Bosch S5(I think) Battery fitted about 3 weeks ago. Just a coincidence? Probably.

I replaced the fob battery on Wednesday(the dash warning light had been flashing at me for weeks) after the 2nd failed start and after looking through the Haynes and user manuals and that seemed to work a treat. Until tonight.
Really blooming annoying as it's so random.

I know you guys have given some good advice here so hopefully mine will be a similar case. Just thought i'd add my experience.

Cheers, Andy.

Well Earthling if yer got the same clicking no starty , then it could be the starter soliniod again :scratching_chin: . . . . . . . .

if you have not got any clicking this could be you ignition switch my wife had the same problem I took it off and cleaned the contacts this was a few years ago so sorry i can not remember which one it was but if you undo it slowly and yes it can be done and put you key into it and turn you will see the contacts closing together thats the one just get a bit of sandpaper and gently sand as I said this was a few years ago and it has not played up since to get the wife by I conected a piece of wire onto the starter conection and just touched the positive on the battery for temp mesure until I got around to doing it