I'm pretty sure my starter in my 00 Disco II is done for. I got stranded a few weeks ago when my car wouldn't start at all. I ended up going back to it and got it to start again, took it to the LR shop and they told me it was the battery, though that didn't make sense. So I replaced the battery and have still had issues with the car being hard to start or needing a jump but I've had the new battery tested twice now and it's good. Now it won't start at all, so I am trying to remove the starter and have it tested, but the piece of sh*t heat shield won't come out. It has a bolt which is easy enough to remove, but it's also riveted to the metal in the motor mount...what British dumbass thought that was a good idea?!?!

So...wtf do I do? I can't get to the top bolt to remove it. I need all of the helps!

 

I'd suggest using the LR manual reference and use a good light. You can DL the manual here: land rover service factory manual RAVE download land rover resource, service manual, workshop factory manual, download, rave, vehicles including discovery, series, defender, range rover, freelander, LR3, Handbooks, Catalog, Catalogue, Land Rover Inte
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10mm bolt access at the front of the motor mount, releases the shield.

im guessing it's your cables and they are not tight on the battery.

 

Once you get it off, looks for a starter/alternator repair shop. Even most small towns have them, and they are almost always cheaper than any other option.

 

if you say the car starts when jumped try taking a meter to the battery, then the charger to see if you find a fault. Definitely try checking your connection at the battery. I know it sounds pretty stupid and obvious but if it happens on and off even without a jump try to replace your starter relay.

When it doesn't start try to give the starter a little love tap and see if that helps crank it. If the starter was checked and the bump to it doesn't work chances are it's not the starter.

 

Heat Shield isn't that hard to get off (it's strange but compared to the 2 8mm starter bolts it's a breeze).

I've never had a starter rebuilt, but I did replace the starter on my 98 D1 with a 99.00 D2 Starter from Auto Zone. I've had it for two years now with zero issues and it turns over my D1 flawlessly.

Check all your Battery, Starter, Alternator connections, and make sure they aren't corroded.

 

lol, I actually have that downloaded already and totally forgot to check it.

 

The jump start worked one time a few weeks ago, but isn't working this time. I did give the starter some whacks with a rod and hammer while a friend tried turning the key. It would click once but sounded like it's stuck.

 

Ok, so it's all done. The heat shield was the worst part. For anyone else having this issue, that bolt that holds it on is pretty hard to find, tucked inside the motor mount cross member. I'm attaching a pic from the manual. I'd have never found it without. It's a 10mm. The bolts holding the starter on are 8mm allen, and the nut holding the positive connection is the same 13mm as your battery leads. In addition to jacking the front end up, I removed the RF wheel, it made getting under and having more light a lot easier. I didn't detach the exhaust pipe. Installing the new starter was easier than removing the old one. The heat shield a bitch that had to be bent a bit to fit back in, but that wasn't a big issue. She starts again and avoids the scrap yard...for now. Be patient, take deep breaths, curse real loud and you might just avoid a big bill at the garage.

I took the old starter in and got it tested, it was not only a massive fail, but was also arcing and siphoning power. I picked up a delco refurb with a lifetime warranty at Auto Zone for $78 after core credit. Not too bad.

 

Thanks for the info.
What was the part number for the refurbed Delco starter?