Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
Disco 3 starting issue
Just bought a 2005 disco 3 2.7 tdv6 hse 4 days ag and it's had to be left parked up for the last 3 days due to a starting issue. Basically I drove to the shop. Come out of the shop and went to start car but all I got was ignition lights. It would not crank over. I though maybe it was immobilized issue so I sorted other transport to take me home and get spare key. Went back to car and it fired up with spare key. Next day done a 30 mile journey with a few stops along the way and once again turned the key and nothing apart from ignition lights. I have worked out that the starter motor relay is clicking but the starter motor isn't doing anything. So I hope I'm right in thinking the starter motor needs replacing. Has anyone else had any experience of this problem. Any help or advice would really be appreciated.
21st Oct 2018 7:40 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4626
New battery, and buy a good one! yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
21st Oct 2018 7:54 pm
Walky76
Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
Do you think it could be battery? I've got ignition lights etc and I've used a jump pack to no avail.
21st Oct 2018 7:58 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
You can only guarantee a battery fault if the dash lights dim
If u just poped out the shops it should be charged.
I would swap the relay with the rear fan one in the same box.
It’s easy, in case the contacts are bad
21st Oct 2018 8:02 pm
Walky76
Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
Thanks Pete but I've tried swapping over relay. It's weird as I went to it first thing this morning and it fired up. I turned it off again and left it for 2 hours then once again it wouldn't start.
21st Oct 2018 8:05 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4626
Might need to have the codes read, but a duff battery can play a lot of electrical tricks!yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
21st Oct 2018 8:21 pm
Walky76
Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
I put a pretty basic code reader on and it didn't come up with any fault codes but yes probably could do with being on a decent code reader. Surely though if it was battery then the jump pack would have got it going again?
21st Oct 2018 8:25 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4626
You would think so unless the battery charge state was too low. A chattering starter solenoid is a typical symptom of a discharged battery, but a Pete says it could also be the relay. If you have swapped it over that should rule it out. So a decent diagnostic kit is going to save you a lot of cash if you're intending to run a D3. You could try charging the battery first, and also check the earth strap as they can sometimes come loose at the body!yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
21st Oct 2018 8:35 pm
Walky76
Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
At the moment the car is 30 miles away so I'm going to go and try it first thing in the morning as it did start up first thing this morning. If I get it back home then I will check earth straps as I have read about corrosion etc. I may have been a bit premature but I have ordered a starter motor which should be here Tuesday. I've got a LR specialist just up the road from me so it would be an advantage to get it to him to do the diagnostics on it. If I can get it back home in the morning that is.
21st Oct 2018 8:42 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4626
yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
21st Oct 2018 8:50 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
Check earths
And then fit starter if you can do it yourself
21st Oct 2018 10:27 pm
Walky76
Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
Member Since: 21 Oct 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 7
It is the starter motor. Had rac out and previous history for the vehicle came up on his computer from September. They were called out for a starting issue and it was a sticky starter motor. They managed to free it for him and advised him to get it replaced. Which obviously he didn't. Starter motor should be here in the next couple of days and the car is now at my local LR specialist who says it will take him about an hour to do. Rather him than me. Very fiddly job.
Thanks to all who replied and I hope this thread can help someone in the future. I'll update this thread when the car is back on my driveway.
Glad you know what the problem is now and hope it will be sorted soon.
Thread already helped me! Got a call from my wife yesterday whilst I was at work to say our MY2005 D3 wouldn't start - cue and Got searching on this forum after work yesterday evening and found this thread. Was at home today anyway so checked:
Battery voltage - Ok
Earth - Ok
Relay - Bingo!
After swapping out the starter relay for the heated front screen relay (as per Pete K's suggestion) she started straight away Sourced a replacement from a local 4x4 specialist which I'll pick up tomorrow so all good now!
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Got searching on this forum after work yesterday evening and found this thread. Was at home today anyway so checked:
