My 2000 Disco II wouldn't start yesterday. The first 2 or3 times I turned the key I heard the starter try to turn for a second but fail to. Then just nothing when I turned the key. No click, absolute silence. I climbed under it and jiggled some wires and hit the starter with a hammer. After that It struggled a bit but started up. Now it starts strong every time I turn the key. I got under it with a volt meter and it had plenty of power going to the starter. My wife drives this car so I want to make sure this does not happen again. Should I replace the starter or could it be something else? Thanks

 

The blow with a hammer is an indicator that internal contacts inside the starter (the solenoid) are compromised. SWMBO won't like crawling under there with a hammer. Replace, have a couple of long extensions and work from in front of the axle, remove heat shield (bolt in the engine mount?), spray out the allen head bolts so you can get to the bottom of them. Lotza fun.

 

Rule battery and alternator.

I just replaced my starter, looked factory w/ 175k miles on it. Not bad. I experienced a slow sluggish start for a number of mornings. I thought it was my battery but it was a year old red top. Then one day the it just started clicking then ultimately itit wouldn't even click.

Replacement was very straight forward if you've replaced a starter before. Search for a write up. You'll néed a long extension to get at the bolt on the engine side. I don't have an exhaust shield so I can't comment on that portion of the removal/install. Good luck. I ordere my start from Atlantic British. Be prepared the starters are a bit pricey. Like 2 bills +

 

My d1 (same type of starter) would do that when it began to fail. Dead silence, hit it with something and it would start right up. When I repaced it with a rebuilt, was when I realized how slowly the old starter actually was turning. It was night and day.

 

Thanks, I changed it out. I got a refurbished one from autozone for 100$. It was a pain but I pulled it off. Thanks for the advice, I just wanted to make sure I was addressing the correct issue. Starting like a champ now.

 

An early Mother's Day present.....

 

Some how I am sure she will not see it that way! LOL!