Landrover

[Boromir]

Works Landrover when you turn on the ignition and go to start the engine, its like its got low battery power and struggles a bit. Everything else seems fine although the oil level was low before I filled it up.

 

Anyone know what it could be? I was thinking starter motor but not sure.

 

Edit: its a 4 year old Defender

Edited October 17, 2011 by BFG

[mrwabbits]

Personally, I would go with a new battery 1st and progress from there if need be .

Same battery 4yrs on ? - its coming to end of its durable optimum performance + life span ide hazard a guess dude

Cold nights are drawing in + that soon saps the go-go out of a battery from cold start.

 

Nice new one - Heavy duty / high amperage should sort the old girl out.

[Boromir]

Fitted new battery Last week and it still has the problem. Its worse when you start it up for the first time.

[spanielchris]

Is it diesel?? Might be the glow plugs??

[hodge911]

check there is a good earth between engine and chassis/battery

[Boromir]

Yes its a diesel. How do you check the earth between the engine and battery?

 

It is service yearly so dont know, we'll give it a few more weeks and put it into the garage as it is still under warranty if it carries on.

[hodge911]

get a good quality jump lead ensure good contact on engine put the other end to the negative side of battery or to a clean part of the chassis again ensure good contact and try to start see if fault cured

[Paul223]

as above use a jump lead from the batt negative to the gearbox metal work, wiggle the clips around a bit to ensure good contact, don't bother trying to earth to the chassis

 

the 'earth' lead (batt neg lead) goes to the rear of the box, they can sometimes go green and corroded, if look above the handbrake drum to the left, it's up there usually on the ring of 6 or 7 bolts

 

could also be a lazy starter or loose terminal on the starter

[stokie]

Check the large red wire on the starter motor . Make sure it's tight with a spanner as it can work lose . Small tip don't touch the spanner onto the body as you do it because it's live .

[Paul223]

a better tip would be to disconecct the battery first, saves catching spanners and setting things alight , but seeing as it's covered by warrenty let someone else do it

[Gav912]

As you've changed the battery already I'd take a look at the glow plugs next but it does sound like a lazy starter to me as we've had the same problem on another vehicle. I have heard of starters failing on the early tdci Defenders off a mechanic friend of mine so definately worth checking

[tinytim38]

its under warranty, get the dealer to sort it .....does sound like a starter motor though

[bigjohn]

The glow plugs wouldn't affect the speed the starter turns the engine over, merely the time it takes to actually catch, in very cold weather.

 

If you've changed the battery, this really just leaves something to do with the starter itself. Cleaning up the corrosion on all the connections to it (including the chassis end of the earth strap) may help. Most likely it's your starter giving up the ghost. It could be the solenoid, which is available seperately.

 

Having gone through the same before (and wasted money on a new solenoid, in hope), and having found it was the starter motor itself, I'd just bite the bullet, and fit a new complete unit, especially as the problem is going to get ten times worse, once the temps are in the minuses, and your oil is like treacle, and the battery is sluggish.