Strange cranking issue - S3/300tdi conv

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
K

Kooda

Member
Posts
18
Location
New Forest
Sometimes when I tun the key the engine cranks and starts as it should.
Sometimes when I turn the key the engine doesn’t crank. The voltage drops down to 8v but otherwise nothing happens.
Try again later and it cranks fine-sometimes.
Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting the +ve terminal on the battery seems to do the trick, sometimes not.
Given the voltage drop I’d suggest that all the wiring is correct.

The only thing that springs to mind is an intermittent short circuit somewhere.

Any thoughts?
 
Yes take them off clean up wire brush/ emery cloth till bright and shiny including the earths , fully charge battery then try again , next stop,solenoid. Voltage does drop a lot when cranking not that much though
 
Had similar issue with my 2a, plenty of battery but would crank only slowly but start. If batt was down some it was very reluctant.
Having checked the usuals and fitted new earth from batt to block I then stripped the covering back on the positive cable to find black wire corrosion extending well down the cable. New cable battery to starter sorted it.
 
I used to get that on my 300tdi.
Turn the key and it wouldn't turn the starter.

Wait, turn the key and it started perfectly.
Sometimes i'd turn the key and the delay in turning over was a couple of second.
The votage would drop as the heater plug relay was activated,
Sometimes it just wouldn't turn the engine for ages .... then it would.

It turned out that I had a bad connection on the small 12V supply to the solenoid.
It's a wire running across the back of the engine to a spade connector.
Cleaned, new spade, always been good since.
 
Yip - that small 12v supply to the solinoid caused me the same issues. The spade connecter looks like it should have some sort of a bolt holding it in place as there is a hole in the centre of the spade connecter.
I bent mine as carefully as possible some time ago and all seems well still.

It is in a horrible place in terms of heat etc. to want to fail
 
Kooda said:
Sometimes when I tun the key the engine cranks and starts as it should.
Sometimes when I turn the key the engine doesn’t crank. The voltage drops down to 8v but otherwise nothing happens.
Try again later and it cranks fine-sometimes.
Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting the +ve terminal on the battery seems to do the trick, sometimes not.
Given the voltage drop I’d suggest that all the wiring is correct.

The only thing that springs to mind is an intermittent short circuit somewhere.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Check and clean / re-secure all earths and starter circuit connections, including the little exciter wire as the cables can become fragile and crack ...
 
D1Nut said:
Yip - that small 12v supply to the solinoid caused me the same issues. The spade connecter looks like it should have some sort of a bolt holding it in place as there is a hole in the centre of the spade connecter.
I bent mine as carefully as possible some time ago and all seems well still.

It is in a horrible place in terms of heat etc. to want to fail
Click to expand...
The proper female spade connector has a sprung loaded tang that locates in that hole in the male spade part, some just have a male circle that engages in the same hole, normal red/blue spades rely solely on the grip provided by terminal itself.
 
Possibly the blindingly obvious but you mention disconnecting and reconnecting the battery +ve terminal - in addition to all the other suggestions make sure both battery terminal posts and the connectors are clean and tightly secured.

If they are corroding, this may also extend to the cable connection with the battery connector so disconnecting the actual cables, cleaning or cutting and reterminating may cure this.

If necessary, new battery connectors and/or cables.

Greasing the battery posts helps but I can't remember if a specific type of grease should be used. I think I just used Castrol LM last because it was handy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Help please! Electrical issue with 1995 Defender 110 County, 300 tdi
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
Oliverryan96
O
N
1.8 Freelander cranking but not firing
Replies
1
Views
1K
niccage
N
C
Rebuilt Defender 110 Td5 SW WON’T START
Replies
11
Views
2K
adseybear
adseybear
D
P38A Strange no-start issue, immobiliser related?
2 3 4
Replies
61
Views
6K
pete12345
pete12345
O
Strong crank but no start
Replies
14
Views
4K
Easysteam
E
Back
Top