Good morning all. I've got a problem that seems fairly common among LR owners, however wanted to make sure I had a good take on things before getting started with the diagnostics.

Problem: Last week I attempted to start the vehicle. All lights, radio, AC, accessories work fine. Insert key, turn to start, and nothing but an audible "click" that seems to come from the passenger side. The next day I went to start and it started up just fine, and has for the last few days. This morning I started it up but forgot something in the house. I shut it off, and five minutes later went to start it up again and it happened again.

What I've done so far: Cleaned battery terminals and ensured tightness. I've attempted to start in neutral, but no change. I've also played with locking and unlocking with the key fob several times, but again no change.

What I'm going to check next: Check starter cables for corrosion / tightness; jumper from battery to starter; check relay.

What else should I do?

Thanks in advance!

 

Get your battery tested, it takes a lot more amperage to spin the starter than all your other accessories combined. (and have it tested by someone who uses a load type tester, I don't trust the electronic versions)

 

I would swing by your local Autozone or Advance and have the Battery ad Alternator tested. What do you have to do to get the Disco running when you hear the clicking? Check all that you mentioned first.

 

X2 on more drain. My D1 draws 285 amps to crank. Maybe just 85 amps running if stock accessory turned on (lights, AC, fan, wipers, radio). A small bit of corrosion can be on battery terminals, the spots where the negative terminal bonds to the chassis and frame, and the starter itself. Volts = Amps X Ohms. So at 285 amps, only a small fraction of an ohm is required to make a voltage drop of say six volts, and the starter will just not wake up. Like a lot of us, it needs a full power jolt to get moving. Head bolts that are not torqued cause problems, as do high current electrical connections. Loose electrical connections, with that corrosion resistance, can also make a nice compact electrical heater, generating enough warmth to melt insulation back from the connector.

 

check for a bad cable or corroded connection, if it started 5 minutes earlier it should have at least cranked if it was a battery or alt. problem.

 

There seems to be nothing I can do to get it started when it happens. I just wait until the next opportunity I get and then it seems to start up. The problem is that I don't know where or when it's going to decide to do it again. Luckily I've been at home every time so far.

When it does start it starts just fine, no drag on the battery noticed or lights dimming, etc. I'll have them tested just the same to rule them out though.

Thanks for the help all!

 

Follow the black battery cable.
It goes to the frame.
Clean that connection at the frame up.
Clean the connections at the battery.

Replace the battery.
It only takes one towing cost to exceed battery replacement cost

 

Mine did the same thing. Left my family stranded in a parking lot. When I went to look at it 4 hours later it started right up. Took it to the parts store and the battery tested bad. Installed a new battery and the next night it left my family stranded at a friend's house. I tested all of the connections and found +12V at all the right places. Whacked the starter with a hammer and it fired right up. Replaced it with a rebuilt from Autozone ($95, in stock) and it's been starting great ever since.

If the battrey and alternator seem fine, try a hammer on the starter next time it won't turn over.

 

If it doesn't struggle at all when it does crank over and fire up it may not be your battery or alternator, but hey, it's free to have checked so why not? That's just where I would start if It were mine. That and cleaning up and tightening electrical connections. X2 on the hammer idea. I had to do that a lot in my day. Never on my Disco though. It does work though. It seems to work better if you have two people to do it. One to crank on the engine and one to smack! smack! smack! smack!

 

Checked and cleaned all connections...Hammer FTW!

Time for a starter I guess. Thanks for all the help.