Have an 02 Disco that wont crank on first try. It always manages to crank on the third. At times, like in the mornings on a cold start, It will crank on the first try. And if i stop, say at the store to run in and out, it will crank on first try. All this began a few weeks after replaced battery with new one. Worked fine with new battery for a few weeks. Any ideas? I could think of a few, but wonder if anyone had these same issues. Thanks!

 

did you have the charging system checked before and after you installed the battery?
When you try it the first time if you stick the key in on the number 1 position do you hear the fuel pump build up preasure?

 

Do you mean the starter is not engaging and the engine is not turning over, or does it turn over but not start. Your termanlogy mis making your question hard to reply to.

 

Next time it does it try to hit the starter with your tire iron and see if it cranks. I do not know your mileage so it may just be your starter going out.

 

Sorry. 120K on motor. Checked old battery before replacing. Dead cell. Car turns over and runs fine, just takes three tries turning the key and listening to the starter. Always after the third, crank, it finally turns over and runs normally. Yes, i can hear fuel pump build up. Maybe the fuel pressure regulator? Also, I bought the battery at wal mart, matched it with what their look up guide indicated, but once i placed it in the battery compartment, it was a bit smaller in size than the old one. Car was fine after about three weeks of battery replacement. Thanks!

 

While size of battery helps dictate cold cranking amps, your engine is turning over. Watching the fuel pressure (expect about 51 PSI) with a gauge would be good, but the location of the test valve under the corner of the top part of the intake is not so easy to reach. Fuel pressure regulator, if the problem, is part of the pump assembly, unlike the separate unit on the fuel rail for a D1.

Might want to check electrical connections at the pump, and the fuel pump relay in the underhood fusebox. Loese connections can have a mind of their own, and can change behavior from cold to warm. Connection problems might limit how much pressure the pump produces.

 

Thanks. I'll look into it.