Here's what's happening.

My Disco 2 was starting/running fine. Brought it home the other day did a few things then went to leave about two hours later and the car wouldn't start. All electrical systems worked fine, and there was a quick single click I heard toward the passenger side. The car would not attempt to crank. After scanning forums and threads I did all he easy things first, checking wires and fuses and cleaning terminals (making sure the car was in park). Reluctantly and obviously I went to "check" the starter. Being a novice pant wetting mechanic I don't have access/know how to bench test the starter so I hit it with a hammer. After that when I tried to start it, the truck would slowly crank then start running. SO MY QUESTION IS...

Is this just a starter problem, and I should order a new one or look around for to get it rebuilt? Or are there other causes that I should investigate before I start the slow process of self removal and installation of a new starter?

Thanks again in advance,

the guy with the (usually) stupid questions

 

I'd pull your battery out and take it to a local large chain auto store and have them test the battery. Often times you can have a battery put out enough volts, but it will fail under load (ie starting).

If this ends up being your problem, if the store is close I'd put the new battery in and drive your vehicle directly to the store and have them check your alternator as well just to make sure that wasn't draining your battery.

I wouldn't necessarily suggest your starter right away. The reason being it did try to start your vehicle when you hit it with a hammer, but the slow cranking points towards a battery.

 

If you think back did the engine ever battle to start? Maybe took 1 or 2 more cranks than usual? If not then it is most likely your battery, but either way checking the battery and alternator first is cheaper then replacing the starter.

 

1) Wire brush battery terminals.

2) Fully charge battery. IF it takes a charge on a 6 amp setting and settles down to 4 amps charge when all done after a day, then the battery is probably good.

3) Grounded wires to frame.
There are a number of thick wires to the frame. Take out the bonding bolt - clean it and the wire lug and the frame mount point.

Is really probably (3).
Don't beat on the starter. You will then break it.

 

Well sorry for the late response, but after I got my truck going with the old hammer the starter trick I just kept driving it. Needless to say I lucked out again when the thing died in my driveway, this time no hammer time would solve the issue.

I had tried all of your earlier suggestions with sadly no luck. I did order a new starter last week and put it in today. First off the starter bolts were a huge PITA, two hours of PB Blasting and Hammer tapping before they'd break. I can confirm that is an 8mm allen socket. I also was able to do mine with out a jack and without removing any parts other than the starter. Being a man of little stature (and strength) I can scoot under the car and bend the heat shield back to get at the starter. If you're planning on this route, know that it leaves little room to work with or move for that matter, however it provides a secure place to cry in frustration.

4 hours later the new starter was in and the truck started better than it ever has. While shopping for the starter I went ahead and bought some 8mm King wires and some Bosch +4 plugs to tackle tomorrow.

Again thanks for the help everyone.

 

Great!
I'm laughing at the "secure place to cry" comment! Under the truck, with no jack, is my place to curse up a storm (especially when I swapped the CPS.)

Enjoy.

-Anthony

 

Okay I'm at wits end. After replacing the starter it seemed to start right up and sounded great as well. about 3 hours later went to go give it a drive and nothing right back to the lights on, clicking noise and no attempt to crank.

When the car running a few weeks ago I did take it to an auto store and they tested the alternator and battery and both checked out. The car had a new battery put in in February, but also had these weird battery drains. That was solved after isolating the speaker circuit which had some sort of short. I just removed the speaker fuse and the battery stopped dying.

I just tried cleaning all the grounds, and the battery terminals, what am I missing? This couldn't be more frustrating!

 

You have a high current wire problem it looks like.
Check the braided wire from the driver's side head to the firewall.

Is that wire in place?

And, the thick ground wire from the battery - grounds to the frame somewhere.

My Discovery I - starter cranked slow.

Found out where that wire went on the frame.
Removed it. Cleaned the frame, the wire lug and the bolt
Attached the wire to the frame. No problems since - and that was 2 years ago.

Any wire that grounds the engine / transmission to the frame - will be helpful to evaluate and clean up.

You probably live in a Winter Salt on the road kinda place?

This will be harder on the wires than a place like Denver or Seattle or
California

 

if you have a clicking noise and lights, I have usually found it to be a bad connection or bad solenoid. But that is just general knowledge not land rover specific.