Disco Won't Start!

[Downes]

Been away for two weeks with work, and just come back to find the disco (Mk1 200 tdi) won't start up- plenty of kick in battery, lights all run, but there isn't a single light on the dash shows up, and engine doesn't even try to turn. The immobiliser doesn't work anyway, so i doubt it's a problem with that. Anybody got any ideas?

[Newsreader]

I think it will be the battery. Very hard to say that it has any kick, if you are getting no current, no panel lights and nothing from the starter motor.

If you have another battery, try that, or jump from another vehicle. A slightly tired battery left idle for a couple of weeks at this time of the year can easily kill itself. Also check for loose connections at the battery terminals, loose earth etc.

Until you know you are working with a good battery, you could waste a lot of time and money on other options to no avail. Don't ask me how I know ... :o

[V8_Disco]

I would second what Bernie says its buy far the most likley cause, It takes a good bit of juce to get a Diesel going

Aidan

[Downes]

but it's got enough to run the head lights? Have checked terminals earth etc but i haven't got any jump leads at home- will have to wait ti i go get ones from the farm to double check, thanks bernie

[Downes]

and V8 disco!

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Then when its going put a voltmeter accross the battery at idle and then at fast idle, hopefully the volts will rise to around 14v to show your alternator is charging the battery well, as a dodgy alternator maybe leading to the battery problems.

[V8_Disco]

Headlights are relitilvey low drain ... and a constant you could run the sterio for a while as well

to turn the engine over there is a large chunk of power needed to turn the starter then think about glow plugs etc ... Rob is right to look at the charging side of things two but the cold (though its not that cold) temprates are realy hard on batterys ...

Aidan

[lynalldiscovery]

TDI earth lead goes from battery to inner wing then a seperate lead goes from passenger inner wing to starter motor, not sure if the same on v8 but worth a look, took an auot electrician hours to find this fault on my old 200.

Lynall

[Jon v8]

Have a look at the fusible link arrangement on the positive cable that takes power from the battery back through the bulkhead.It is a single cable that splits into several,it is encased in a sheath.You will probably find that the joints on the fusible bits have gone green and fallen apart,this explains why the headlights work but no dash lights come on.
Its now common on early disco's,esp when the inner wings rot out and allow water up in there.

[Downes]

Thanks Jon V8- sounds a bit more possible as a reason. Have run plenty of batteries right down before (best way to learn what not to do!), but never seen a car or tractor where there's enough power to run the headlights but not the handbrake light on the dash. I'll have a look in the morning- thanks everybody once again. Hope it is nothing more than a battery boost pack can fix!!

[Downes]

Just tried to jump lead it and got no where. ******. played with the leads on the fusible joints and got no joy... Not looking good..

[Newsreader]

IS there any way you could try and give it a push start or tow start?

[conkers]

you could also try putting the booster pack straight onto the starter motor and chassis. It got me out of trouble when I had trouble with the main battery cables on my SIII.(I still haven't cleaned the contacts so i'll probably be doing it again soon:o )

[TEMPL4R]

We've had problems with the ignition switches on Discoverys,ours are later 300s and TD5s, I can't remember if the 200s have the same problem.

Chris

[Downes]

it looks as if it's had a new ignition switch at some point (as there's a different key to the ignition from what's for the doors and the fuel filler). Again, sounds like a plausable reason. probably worth getting it to Lucas to have a look over, if i can get it started? Have to have a shot at hotwiring her tomorrow!

[TEMPL4R]

Take the wire off the stop solenoid so you don't get a back feed, put a feed wire from the battery.
Short the starter solenoid with a wire, don't forget to turn on the igntion key for the steering lock. ( I've seen it happen, was funny.)

You probably won't have brake lights and flashers, but you can live with that for a short journey.

chris

[Georgepaul]

Happened to me at Heathrow Airport. It was the fusable links. Headlights OK and some electrics working. Each fusable link drives different systems so all have to be perfect for all systems to work. Had to remove all the covering to check/replace links.

[NeilB]

Had exactly the same senario in my Jag. No dash lights and no starter but headlights OK. Turned out to be an inertia switch. The inertia switch turns off all the electricity if you have a crash so the petrol pump does not keep pumping petrol onto a hot exhaust.

Does the Disco have an inertia switch?

[paul vp uk]

well if mine was a straight forward earth lead fault.
the aa man put a new earth direct to the block from the battery and hey presto !!!!!!!!! working.
hope thuis helps paul vp

[Downes]

In all honesty i've not really had time to give it much attention- will be having a crack at it sat am to see what the problem is. thanks everyone- i'll keep you posted!

[NeilB]

I was under my dash this weekend because of lighting problems and I found the inertia switch - so I guess I answered my own question - Landys do have them.

In my 1996 3.5 V8 RHD the intertia switch is above the gas pedal. It is a small back box with a reset button top left. If the button has popped out then just push it down to reset.

In my Jag it is behind the left foot rest and quite easy to kick by accident.

[Downes]

Have checked all the fusible links (including the row of connections on the bulk head on the passenger side- presume these are the fusible links?!) and all seem to be in relatively good shape to be honest unfortunately. Jump leads have made no difference, so the next step will be to try and start her using a wire to the starter motor, and try to get her to somebody who knows what he's doing!

Anybody got any further suggestions?

[Downes]

the plot thickens.........

Wire to the starter motor causes starter motor to whirr like ******y, but doesn't connect with engine. From the looks of the car, plus the absence of a key fob, i think she's had troubles with the immobiliser/alarm in the past- could this be causing anything- in past expreieince of crap rover immobilizers the lights on the dash usually work- but not this time?

Am starting to think this thread should be in the work in progress forum!!

[ncooper]

The wire should go to the starter solenoid, ie the other end of the short cable,this throws the starter into mesh with the flywheel.Then you have to short the two smaller terminals to start the car,a screwdriver is best.
If your'e not sure ,don't try any more,you are messing with enough power to melt wires and cause a fire.
Regards,
Nick

[ncooper]

The wire should go to the starter solenoid, ie the other end of the short cable,this throws the starter into mesh with the flywheel.Then you have to short the two smaller terminals to start the car,a screwdriver is best.
If your'e not sure ,don't try any more,you are messing with enough power to melt wires and cause a fire.

and try to get her to somebody who knows what he's doing!

Maybe you should get him/her to come to the car?

Regards,
Nick

[ncooper]

xx

[TEMPL4R]

Wire to the starter motor causes starter motor to whirr like ******y, but doesn't connect with engine.
Which wire are you connecting to?

If you touch the main terminal with a jump lead, it will start the motor spinning. You need to engage it with the solenoid. You put a small wire to the small wire terminal on the solenoid and touch the other end to the battery positive.

If you are already doing that, the starter is Fked.

Chris

[Downes]

Expect you'll be pleased to know there's been progress!!

After playing with it a bit this morning, and disconnecting the ignition relay fixed to the bulkhead on the passenger side, and running a cable across the sockets the relay plugs into, i've managed to get some ignition lights. On the turn of the key she's sparked into life, and runs ok, so long as the connection across the relay socket is kept. Will be getting a new relay tomorrow- so things could be a lot worse!!!

Thanks everybody for your advice!!