Was given a 2000 Discovery w/ 120000 miles on it. Had it hauled to my house as it would not start. Charged battery and it now has 13.5 volts across the terminals.

1. Found broken solenoid wire at starter. Replaced terminal and it still did not start.
2. Verified continuity of wire, good.
3. Applied 12 volts to this wire but to no avail.
4. Main power cable from battery to starter terminal shows 13 volts.
5. When turning the ignition key to start, .2 volts shows up on the solenoid wire.
6. Previous owner said the vehicle ran and starter was replaced about 3 months ago.
7. Even tried jump starting the vehile but to no avail.

On GM products, if you apply 12 volts to the solenoid the starter engages. Do Land Rover starters have a different system?

 

All 12v starters with integrated solenoid are like that. If you have 12v battery feed to the large terminal on the solenoid, have a good ground, and apply 12v to the small solenoid connection, then the starter will turn, if it's good.
How exactly are you checking for voltage at the starter?

 

I crawled under the vehicle and used my Fluke meter. The main power cable at the starter reads 13.5 volts. Had my son turn the key to the start position and measured voltage on the 12 gauge wire going to the solenoid. It read about .2 volts when key was in the start position. Otherwises it read zero. Though maybe the anti-theft device was engaged so I closed the hood, doors, and locked-unlocked the vehicle. nothing though

 

Where are you attaching your meter ground?

 

Finally figured out my problems. Didn't know what "SM" in a circle meant but the fuse was blown. After I changed the fuse, I had 12 volt power going to the solenoid. But still it wouldn't start. Dropped the starter and verified it worked via jumper cables. Found out there was another terminal lug on the solenoid. Hooked up solenoid wire to it and it started. Engine runs a little rough, "service engine soon" blinks on the dash.

 

If the service engine soon light is flashing that means SHUT IT OFF!!
Read the trouble codes, probabaly multiple mis fires which means new plugs and wires.

 

Ah, you didn't mention the solenoid to starter feed was disconnected. How did that happen?

 

solenoid wire was disconnected from starter when I obtained the vehicle. I repaired the wire and pluged it into the wrong lug on the starter. Found correct lug when I took starter off to verify condition. 1/2 day troubleshooting and a comedy of errors but at least it runs...well sort of

 

Doh! I never connected
Had it hauled to my house as it would not start.
with
Previous owner said the vehicle ran and starter was replaced about 3 months ago.
I was, obviously incorrectly, assuming they'd driven it since the starter was replaced and for some other reason it wouldn't start.
Sorry about that.