Turn the ignition, nothing..sometimes..

Lately, warm or cold when I try start my automatic 2001 TD4, I turn the key, the ignition and all the other expected dash lights come on, but no click or life from the starter. If I try again a while later, often as not it starts fine.

Can more experienced Landyzoners suggest the most logical way of trying to identify the problem with these symptoms?

Thanks in anticipation.

Probably a loose or crappy connection on the starter.

Thanks. Do you know where the sensor is that tells the car it is in 'P' ( automatic Parked) as I know it won't start unless it knows its in P but I' stumped whete to find it

Hippo is yer man when it comes to the auto boxes.

Probably that ****e spade connector on the starter motor signal wire, I've had that problem and I assume it blights the TD4 as much as it is a pestilence on the 1.8.

dampsox said:

Thanks. Do you know where the sensor is that tells the car it is in 'P' ( automatic Parked) as I know it won't start unless it knows its in P but I' stumped whete to find it

Click to expand...

The switches are on the top of the gearbox. Does the dash show P on the display?

As above could be loose connections on battery or starter motor. Inhibit switch to only allow you to start it in Park or Neutral is located by the auto lever. This feeds up to the rear of the ignition switch. Also uses the electrical signals to know what position the lever is in.

Also could be the switch on the rear of the ignition. I had this recently - starter didn't work but if I left the key turned for a bit it would suddenly start. Randomly wouldn't start sometimes. Cleaned the contacts on the switch. Problem solved. Had it before - caused reverse and brake lights to fail, only when the engine was running but ok with the engine oft. Could be the same thing on yours.

Not sure about the td4 auto as mine is a v6 but I guess it's the same setup.

Disconnect battery
remove plastic cover around steering column - 2 screws underneath
take plastic cover oft - splits in 2 parts - remove rubber ring round ignition key hole first
remove switch on the rhs - 2 screws
...make sure you don't let the silly white plastic thing jump out
...it's the auto gearbox position pin thing which only allows you to start it in P or N
...don't move the gear lever at this point or the plastic thing will fly oft
...that pin is spring loaded towards the clip - it's a sod to put the plastic think back if it fly's oft

take plastic cover off rear of switch - push clip things
clean contacts - may need to turn switch with a screwdriver to access some pins
...pins are the circular pattern at the top of the switch
put back together in reverse order



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Another good hippo write up

mjrimmer said:

Another good hippo write up

Click to expand...

Thanks.

That switch annoyed me for some time due to intermittent faults. Before the reverse and brake lights wouldn't work with the engine running, but were ok with electrics on and engine oft. Must be the excessive resistance across the contacts when it fails. I kept getting the orange brake fail light but restarting would clear it. sometimes wipers would fail too. Changed the switch last time. This time round it was the starter motor connection part of the switch.

my wife had that problem some years ago ,but it was her ignition switch itself, easy way to tell if it is or not, get a wire from you positive side of the battery and with ignition switch on touch the contact where the spade connector is on the starter. hope this helps