M

mellors89

Member

• Apr 19, 2017

• #1

Hi Guys,

Defender 90 300tdi did a clutch change over the bank holiday weekend.

Now it is having starting problems, we have never had starting issues before.

The defender was stood for four months before we did the clutch change.
We have mixed some fresh diesel in the tank, and also fully charged the battery.

When you turn the key, the starter motor cranks but it just doesn't catch. Sometime it catches a little but then dies, any suggestions?

Cheers

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Apr 19, 2017

• #2

did you remove engine or gear box,does it crank fast or slower than previous

 

M

mellors89

Member

• Apr 19, 2017

• #3

Removed the gearbox and transfer box. Used an engine crane through the drivers door and dropped it down and pushed back about 10 inches.

The only wires we touched are the main earth from the battery to the exhaust mount bracket.
Then disconnected the handbrake switch wire.
There was two wires connected the the gearbox on the drivers side, just a ring connector. I don't know what these are for but we put them back.

There was a plug that was already disconnected, i am guessing for the reverse switch as that never worked before.

I'm not sure if it cranks faster or slower to be honest, as its been stood a while.
We kept turning it over and starting it every couple of weeks whilst it was stood.

Any suggestions?

 

M

mellors89

Member

• Apr 19, 2017

• #4

OK, so I had a quick look at lunch and I managed to get it to start.

I bypassed the battery earth cable (hooked up a jump lead from the battery to engine block)
This got it running.

After a few minutes I turned it off and it starts with the key like normal.

What I am guessing is because the engine has been stood a while it is struggling to start when cold as its not getting enough electrical power to the started motor. (I am guessing its a bad earth)
Once its warm it doesn't need as much power to start so even with the bad earth it is starting.

What do you guys think? Am I heading in the right direction?

The battery is only a few years old and it a Yuasa brand so should be up to the job.

Cheers

 

Al2O3

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Apr 20, 2017

• #5

That'll be why JM was asking if it was cranking slower than before. But, as you say, hard to remember after that length of time. Once it's got some warm oil through all the moving parts it'll take a lot less current to turn and start it. Nice clean earth should sort it from cold.

 

Marmaduke

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2017

• #6

Also there should be an additional earth from the block to the chassis which'll probably help if it's cleaned

 

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mellors89

Member

• Apr 20, 2017

• #7

Had another play with it the morning, cleaned all the earths up and got the multimeter out.

So when you turn on the ignition and wait for the glow plug light to go off, the voltage at the glow plugs is zero, then the light goes off and the voltage still stays at zero.

About five seconds after the light goes out the voltage comes back to 12.5v and the engine will be able to start. Still struggles a little.

I'm so puzzled! Any one got any suggestions?

Cheers

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2017

• #8

mellors89 said:

Removed the gearbox and transfer box. Used an engine crane through the drivers door and dropped it down and pushed back about 10 inches.

The only wires we touched are the main earth from the battery to the exhaust mount bracket.
Then disconnected the handbrake switch wire.
There was two wires connected the the gearbox on the drivers side, just a ring connector. I don't know what these are for but we put them back.

There was a plug that was already disconnected, i am guessing for the reverse switch as that never worked before.

I'm not sure if it cranks faster or slower to be honest, as its been stood a while.
We kept turning it over and starting it every couple of weeks whilst it was stood.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

there would need to be a main earth to the chassis usually the cross member top bolt and then earth cable to transfer box

 

Marmaduke

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2017

• #9

300tdi should start with or without glowplugs straight off the bat, my old defender never had them wired in til I came to sell it