Discovery 300tdi won't start. Went off roading at the weekend and on the way home it decided to over heat. The battery light came on, speedo stopped working, Rev counter stopped working and then over heated. Now it won't start. Just a clicking noise when I turn the key. If I bump it it runs like new. Anyone any idea as to what the problem could be? Cheers
did it actually overheat? ie. did you pop the bonnet and hear it gurgling and having a hissy fit? have you checked your exp tank to see if it still has water in it without crap in?
just if you shorted something out and drained the battery, then your leccies could have went funny showing it overheated when it possibly didn't.
just if you shorted something out and drained the battery, then your leccies could have went funny showing it overheated when it possibly didn't.
Marmaduke
Well-Known Member
You need to check the output of the alternator as it should be higher than 12v with the engine running
robbh
Crazier than a box of frogs on acid
Agreed. My disco reads at 14v at idle.
TheMunster
Active Member
Excellent timing LRTV has just uploaded a video showing how to test the alternator on a 300tdi defender.
Kwakerman
Well-Known Member
Sounds like either a poor cable issue as everything that failed has an electrical supply associated with it or flat battery. Alt light and rev counter could be alternator related. Clicking starter could be the result of high resistance battery cable (supply or earth) or discharged battery, 12v on a battery = discharged. Suggest you try charging battery overnight and try again. If it starts ok then your issues are probably a result of alternator failure.
davethsparky
Active Member
Battery should be around 13V with no load and around 14V with the alternator running
ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90
Active Member
When I had an earth issue on my 300tdi. It overheated on the gauge every time after 50mph. Nearly replaced the whole cooling system untill I was prompted to check the earth's.
It now runs perfectly. And other electrical problems have disappeared. Try the earth's. They are the cheapest
It now runs perfectly. And other electrical problems have disappeared. Try the earth's. They are the cheapest
NeilB
Active Member
Is the alternator run by the same belt that drives the water pump?
Over heated, no charge = broken or loose drive belt.
The clicking noise is the starter solenoid working but with not enough current to drive the starter motor. Turn your lights on high beam and try to start the engine. If the lights go out you have a flat, or near flat, battery.
Over heated, no charge = broken or loose drive belt.
The clicking noise is the starter solenoid working but with not enough current to drive the starter motor. Turn your lights on high beam and try to start the engine. If the lights go out you have a flat, or near flat, battery.
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NiallRussell
Well-Known Member
i had something like this on my discovery. checked the battery and voltage was fine. But when I put the volt meter on the clamps rather than the battery studs it said no voltage.
Took the clamps off and cleaned them and the studs. started fine. worth checking.
Took the clamps off and cleaned them and the studs. started fine. worth checking.
I had similar symptoms of gauges doing funny things and failure of the starter to turn and it turned out to be where the main cable bolted to the side of the alternator. The nut was lose. Well, by the time we found it, it had welded itself to the stud, but that was where the problem was. The charging light hadn't come on because that is powered by a separate wire on the multiplug on the back of the alternator.
