1996 Disco 300TDI crazy!!! start problem

[caplem]

Bought disco in sept 2008 problem started in dec 2008.The van starts
when it feels like it, when you turn the key all you get is click and no
starter turning. I have changed the starter ( brand new one installed)
start relay, and battery all checked good. Now the wiring is a whole other
problem I have heard of some spider unit that works with the immobiliser
system that causes this starting porblem, so I built a new start circuit
so as to work around this spider problem, nil fix so I have taken the
spider unit out of the equation. When the van goes into no starting
mode the only way to start it is to bridge the low current side of the
solenoid to the high current side right at the starter if you run a
wire directly from the battery to the same low current solenoid wire
all you get is the same click as if you were trying to start the van
with the key. however if the van can start with the key the wire from
the battery can also start the van
could a ground problem cause this kind of behaviour???
need help it driving me bonkers

[ComicalEngineer]

Welcome to the forum.

check the battery to engine earth and add an earth strap. Check also the battery earth to body.

HTH

[thebiglad]

Sounds like an earthing problem to me.

Check and clean all major earths ie battery to body/chassis/engine, starter motor earth etc.

[caplem]

ok wil try
also is there any known work around of the spider???

[thebiglad]

ok wil try
also is there any known work around of the spider???

Yes, there is an LR part no ?, which is called a "spider bypass plug" with this the spider is, surprisingly, by-passed:biggrin::biggrin:

[caplem]

AMR4956 found the p/n now does anyone know someone who has actually istalled this item and it was a final fix???/

[Fuzzy's Series3]

I didn't use that item, but I did remove the spider and re-solder the dodgy joints (two of them) It has been fine ever since, drove to Paris and back last week and it started absolutely fine on each occasion.

Thanks-Simon

[caplem]

I guess myweekend is all planned now thx will let you know how it pans out

[caplem]

well sorry it took so long to reply the spider unit took 30mins to replace no problems since it was changed in jan 2009 I used the bypass harness from landrover cost 13£ to buy it and get it to jamaica

[HarryD]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stage1v8/TechnicalSpider.htm


Just in case anyone else needs it.

[spandit]

Just done this myself - not actually that bad, if you can find all the screws (I couldn't get the damn coin pocket out and ended up snapping the plastic behind it, but there were 2 large solder joints that didn't look very good on the board so hopefully once I get my other problems fixed, at least we'll be able to drive the damn thing to the scrap dealer!!)