Hey Everyone, long time lurker on this forum (advice, suggestions and tips have all helped alot). I've searched the forum extensively but cannot find an answer for the specific issue I'm facing now. Could have looked in the wrong spots though.

Ive been working to get my 1996 Disco back on the trail and up to this point, the one thing I always could rely on was it starting. Despite it's other issues, it always started for me. Several months ago, the truck failed to start at all. Single click only.

Things I've done:
- New ground from starter to frame (where battery earth is grounded)
- New starter
- Swapped relays in the right footwell with known good ones

Still nothing. I see the relay switching power (it lights up once the key is cycled) but still a single click and the starter doesn't engage. Does anyone have any other troubleshooting steps to take or things I should dig into? The only other portion I haven't checked in the circuit is the ignition switch. It's a loaner from another old Disco but has been pretty reliable since it was installed.

I appreciate any tips or advice!

 

try it in neutral? ( you probably tried that) try jumping it at the starter? usually a click and nothing else is a bad starter solenoid, seized starter, or bad cable at the starter.

 

Measure battery voltage, should be at least 12 volts, 12.2 volts better, 12.6 volts best.

 

I have had bad grounds body to engine where the cable is corroded or damaged. Try a jumper cable between the body to engine block.

 

Hey Everyone, thank very much for your advice. I was able to get it started and with the new starter, it fires up like new.

Hopefully someone can learn from my troubleshooting, and mistakes. After checking all connections, relays and ground points after replacing the starter, I decided I might as well sand and grind all of the battery post connections as well as the ground point again. I made sure these areas were shiny. I also replaced the bolts attaching the ground points with new ones.

It fired up almost immediately afterwards. The starter was definitely going (tested at a shop and it barely passed) but sometimes it's the easiest things that need attention, like cables....haha.

Thanks again everyone!

 

Glad you found the problem. At least you got some preventative stuff done. It is always good to hear what fixed the problem so we all can learn too!