Hi,
I have a defender 300TDI. Recently I have had an intermittent problem with starting in that when you turn they key there is a repeated clicking noise but the starter is not engaging.

I needed it fixed in a hurry so took it too my local garage who told me the starter was knackered and replaced it. It didn't solve the problem (I won't be going back there again).

I thought it might be a grounding problem so I cleaned up the connections on the earth wire from the battery to the chassis to the gearbox. That fixed it for couple of weeks but now it is happening again.

It is not the battery because that is fairly new. It is now definitely not the starter as that is brand new. So I assume there is a bad connection somewhere.

Any suggestions? I see from the haynes manual that some models have a earth connection from the chassis to the body of the starter but mine doesn't seem to have that. Might that help? (although it has worked for many years without it so I presume the problem is something else)

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers
George

R you shure there isnt a problem with the new starter

Had the same problem. I dismantled the ignition barrel, cleaned it up & fitted a new battery. Problem solved