URGENT HELP 300tdi Starting Problems!

Hello..

I'm hoping forum members can help me with an issue I've got. I'm currently traveling through Spain to Morocco in an R Reg 2.5l 300tdi Manual Disco 1.

I've had a serious amount of work done to the vehicle by a friends garage to get it ready...but here's the problem.

Before it went in for the work I wasn't really using the vehicle it was sat on the drive but when I did go to start it I had a reasonably regular problem as follows:

On trying to start the car, all electrics come on fine, coil heats, wait for it to go out then fire ignition and I would get a very short clunk and nothing, it does not fire or turn over on the starter. I would come back to it at some point and it would start first time. We assumed the starter is sticking etc and replaced it although not with a brand new one (decent salvage part). I have a 1000CCa 90ah hour battery on it which is brand new and all other electrics work so I don't think it's battery drain as the winch etc works (on isloater switch...not sure that's relevant!)

Since the service it's been OK but has now developed exactly the same issue. It's only happened twice but I'm now on a 15,000k round trip to remote parts and I'm obviously nervous about it. Same thing go to start, it has a short clunk and is dead, luckily re-turning the key got it started both these times but in the past this has not worked, coming back to the car a day or so later etc and it has started???

I've got lots of tools (and haynes manual!!) with me but only a basic knowledge of diagnosing problems. I can of course try and find somewhere in Rabat to see if we can get it sorted before we head south for Western Sahara. Knowing what the problem might be will definitely help in a situation where language barrier is going to be an issue.

If anyone can help with advice on the problem, solutions and fixes this knowledge will really help me!

Ultimately my own fault for driving such an old car....but I can't part with my beloved disco!

Hoping someone can help....thanks!

Sounds like either starter has gone, bad earth some where, have you tried rocking it in gear then try starting again?

I'd also suggest a bad earth given you've already changed the starter motor.
Definitely worth checking the earth strap.

Carry jump leads. If it does it again try a lead from battery -ve to engine block (earth problem). If that doesn't help try from battery main +ve to starter (main feed problem....bad contact/corroded cable/damaged insulation).

If neither helps then the only other possible problem is the exciter wire/ignition switch. Can be bypassed with a length of cable with a spade connector from the starter solenoid and touch the other end to battery +ve (with ignition on).

Intermittent starting problems are a pain because you can only fully diagnose when it's choosing not to start but a jump lead and a length of wire with spade connector will get you started every time so long as the issue isn't the starter/solenoid itself

also park on hills and bump it if needs be

Thanks for all the replies and the detailed one from blue beasty. Like you say at this point it's intermitant which is a pain and we thought we'd solved it, given the change of starter etc my money is on an earth or ignition switch problem like you say.

I'm not next to the vehicle (or haynes manual) as they are currently in the ferry hold but can someone direct me to the location of the earth strap so I can make a note while I've got internet access?

Thanks again!

can't exactly remember on the disco. try the lt230 to chassis. engine to chassis and iirc the disco neg is under/around the battery holder and that place gets rusty.. like bb says jump leads will help identify a leccy problem and get you going.

trax said:

can't exactly remember on the disco. try the lt230 to chassis. engine to chassis and iirc the disco neg is under/around the battery holder and that place gets rusty.. like bb says jump leads will help identify a leccy problem and get you going.

Click to expand...

The one that goes from the neg terminal on battery to under the A/C unit on the inner wing (OS) ... a known rust habitat ...

It might be the spider..... I had a similar problem which was resolved once I had replaced it

Mine does this and I've found if it doesn't start lock it wait about 10secs the unlock it and it starts,hope this helps.