I have an 02 Disco with starting issues. Twice now it has failed to start with no fore warning of an issue. It was tekn to dealership three weeks ago and I was told it was the battery cables. They were replaced. It started just fine for a few weeks then after sitting in the parking lot all day it would not start. I took the battery out the next morning and had it tested, battery was good and less than two years old. Re-installed the battery after testing and tried it again for giggles. It started but did not turn over very quickly. I also smelled something burning. I could not see anything smoking so I drove it home where I could work on it. Killed the car when I got home and it would not start again. A few hours later after returning hoem from work I tried to start it and it would not start. I again disconnected the battery and the reconnected the battery. I had another labored start, but it started. At this point i reasoned starter as the cables had been replaced and the battery tested. I took the starter out and had it tested, it test out to be ok. What now???? I also would like to note that both times this occured it was noted that smoke came out of the center console where the window controls are??? I have had car three months and need some help, Thanks in advance!!

 

Go to your local auto parts store, have them do a load test on the battery/alternator to make sure all is well. If that is OK, then test the starter to see if it is starting to fail, drawing too many volts.

 

Had battery and starter tested an they are good. I will try to get it restarted for the load test. Any ideas on the smoke issue or beurning smell? Smell like plastic burning and smoke comes out of the center console.

 

Smells like burning wires, is one of the cables shorting to ground(i.e., touching the engine block)?

 

I went home last night and re-installed the starter, reconected the battery, and tried to start the car. Car turned over slowly and would not start. I am having the battery recharged today as I probable drained it trying to start the car multiple times. We could not recreate the smoke or burning smell. It has been suggested that it may be the starter relay (R2 SM) I pulled it last night but as far as I can tell there is now way by looking to see if it is any good or not??? I will keep you posted as to the results.

Thanks for all your help guys it is much appreciated.

 

If there is a electrical short it will draw amps from teh rest of the system, meaning that the starter will not have enought amps to turn over fast.

 

Thanks, I am a new excited LR owner but how would I test that out?

 

You are going to have to find all of the body grounds.
The wiring will ground out at different points on the body/frame and you need to find them.
One of them is by the parking brake drum on the back of the transfer case. That is one that I have heard of shorting out and making the parking brake handle get really hot.
You need to find the short before you set the truck on fire. Oooo,ooo, maybe thats the fix, let the short start the truck on fire and insurance will buy you a new one.
Seriously, I do not know where all of the electrial grounds are on a DII. But I do know that there is one around the transfer case somewhere.

 

Poor engine condition can also lead to the starter drawing excessive amperage ashigher mechanical resistance leads to higher electrical resistance, higher current draw. Perform a voltage drop test across the starter cable and then across the starter itself. The cable shouldn't drop more than about one-tenth of a volt, the starter should consume the rest of the voltage though. Ensure the battery connections are good, clean(do not coat with protectant as it can prevent current flow from the post to the cable ends), and tight as well.

 

I am making arangement to do the volt test. But I have a new twist to add to the issue. I reconnected the battery again in an effort to start car to try an get it somehwere to do load test. Turned the key and turned slowly and only about a half a turn. The kicker is the hazard lights turned on by themselves and will not turn off without disconnecting the battery???? A torach and a gallon of gasoline are looking good to me right now [:@]