This problem has probably been discussed on this forum before, but I couldn't seem to find anything so please excuse if this is a repeat.

I have a 1999 Disco 1. Over the last few months it was starting to have issues starting but they seemed to be issues with the battery. If it wouldn't start i would jump it with my truck and it would start fine. I finally got sick of jumping it every couple days and i broke down and bought a new battery from Auto Zone.

After installing new battery, it seemed to start fine for about a week. Then early this week it would kick over very slowly, but start. I went out this morning to start it, inserted key; turned and nothing... lights on dash are on, blower for heat/ac work, over head lights work. So there is for sure power to the battery. I even tried jumping it with my truck and nothing. When I turn the key I hear a click under the passenger side foot area.

I'm sure this is some type of electrical problem but I have no idea where to start. I've read that it could be alarm system. I don't have a key fob and I actually never even lock the car or use the alarm.

A couple things I've noticed since trying to diagnose this...

-Flashers some how came on when I was taking off the cover for all the electrical components on the passenger side. Only way to get them off is unplug them from the green box

-When I insert key into driver door to lock car only driver door locks and about 20 minutes earlier when I would lock driver door all the doors would lock.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank You

 

tested the alternator yet?

edit: tested starter too?

 

I kind of ruled out alternator because even with jumper cables hooked to battery it wouldnt crank over.

 

What about the connections on the battery or starter and the cable itself or the ground cable from the battery? Corrosion can cause bad connections.

 

im thinking the alternator is bad or the wires on it because your battery keeps draining. Youre not getting anything either because the battery is dead or the starter is dead from over cranking with weak amps. I would fiddle a little bit maybe even take something and tap the starter. Check all wires like stroke said and all connections. Hope its as easy as these 4 issues. Might be a relay

 

hey try to start it in neutral...

 

There is a green box under the dash in the passenger footwell. It has a motion sensor in it and if you disturbed it the truck thinks you just went over a massive bump and turns the flashers on. I guess this is some kind of odd safety feature, I don't know.

If you banged it around hard enough, the truck thinks you have wrecked and shuts off the fuel pump. There is a large button looking thing under the hood, on the passenger side mounted high on the firewall. Press it a couple of time to reset it just in case.

It's not your battery, most likely it is your alternator, maybe your starter. But you need to troubleshoot with a multimeter. If the battery plates are touching inside you have a dead short, and Nicola Tesla himself couldn't pump enough power into that engine to make it start. And under or overcharging will kill a battery right quick.

 

Experienced similar not too long ago.
Can't tell you exactly which one but I KNOW it was one of the grounds. I first noticed the new starter ground strap I put on wasn't bolted all the way down to the body. It appeared to be from my original angles but upon reinspection it clearly wasn't. To cover my bases I also ground off the rust and build up on the screw posts for the battery cable and the one on the passenger side inner fender in engine bay. Then remounted everything.

No problems since then. I should mention the lack of grounding was so bad and inconsistent I fried my optima battery. Probly the result of repeated drain outs?
Thank God it was under warranty!!!

 

I'm guessing grounds or the starter. Is the starter the original?

 

I think I am having the same type problem. I installed a new battery. Instantly the flashers blink through a series of flashes. They then stop flashing.
The Key FOB is controlling nothing. Put the key in and turn it to DII all of the lights come on. The M and S begin to flash, the Red alarm light flashes. Try tot turn the key and no start. The M and S continue to flash, yet the Red light slows down to roughly a flash every 2 seconds. Thinking I may need a new key FOB.