Disco won't start

[blueduncan321]

Just bought my first disco, year 2000, TD5...love it! Wouldn't start this morning....turn the key, all ignition lights come on. glow plug light goes off..turn the key...nothing..no clicks..grunts or groans!! Did all the checks...with the ignition key turned..no power at the stater motor solenoid. Ran a power lead direct from the battery and it fired up. Took it for a run..and it's now all OK..starting fine with the key. Would like to get to the source of the problem....any ideas??

[grantc]

They are quite sensitive to low battery voltage. They tend to react by immobilising the engine. Either the battery is getting a bit low or a bit old!

[littlelegs]

Or could be a starter switch, relay or solenoid playing up. Manual or auto? In park or neutral? I take it that you flashed up the solenoid terminal only not the starter motor terminal.

[blueduncan321]

It's manual and in neutral, battery voltage was good. A voltmeter gave no reading at the feed to the solenoid from the ignition circuit when key turned to crank..it started when a feed was taken from the battery to the solenoid. Once running I was able to stop and start it with the key.

[listerdiesel]

What was the battery voltage under cranking conditions? or just before you started it?

There's also other things in the chain of command that have to work before the starter gets the go signal, like fuel pressure etc.

I'd go for the battery personally.

Peter

[blueduncan321]

I have had the battery properly tested and it failed.....now been replaced. All OK so far. Thanks for the help.