Hello all,
I am on my 3rd day of Land Rover ownership and have a strange problem. First thing in the morning when attempting to start for the first time of the day I can hear the solenoid click but the starter doesn't turn. I pulled my truck up beside it and jumped it off on the first day. I assumed a bad battery and had it replaced. The next morning the same issue but Multiple cycles from off to start got it started. Third morning I opened hood to check voltage and was surprised to read 12.6 volts on the battery. However when trying to start the Rover it would not turn over again. I cycled the key several times and eventually got it to start. Once is starts turning it seems to have plenty of juice to spin the motor over.
In all three days once the initial start was done it started fine the rest of the day.
Any tips on where to start chasing this down? Removed and cleaned battery cables at the battery end. Haven't chased the wires to the other end yet. I plan to start there and try the shift in and out of park trick mentioned in the DII forum.
Thanks for the help
Jack

 

If you bang on the cold starter with a large hammer or such, it can make the solenoid internal connections make contact and start. Many times that goes first. You can get the whole LR shop manual in links below. One place to look is https://www.cubby.com/pl/LR3+worksho...System-%204.4L and it varies by engine.

 

I have the same or a very similar problem. Mine is intermittent, sometimes I can go for weeks before the problem recurs, other times it is back to back.

I am opting for what I believe is the cheapest fix; I am going to remove the starter myself and have it rebuilt.

LR offers re-manned starters for somewhere around $500, far too much for me to pay just to get new solenoid contacts.

The "cycling the key" thing seems to be working for me over the last few months, but it will stop working entirely soon enough.

good luck!

 

I agree with Buzz. You starter is going. Banging on the starter will work for a little while. You are going to have to replace your starter.

 

I agree on the starter, just went through this with my RR Classic and have seen it on other vehicles as well. Time for a new starter.

 

The starter contacts on the Denso seem to be weak and that is most likely the problem.

The LR part number for the Denso starter is NAD500310 and Lester number is 19019. Since to replace the contacts, one has to remove the starter, it is probably easier just to replace the starter.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I will look at pulling the starter and getting it rebuilt since there are several great rebuild shops in Memphis area.
It only does it in the morning when the engine is totally cooled down. Hope it will hold out until I get a minute to disassemble.
Jack

 

It took me a year to figure out my problem was the starter motor - figured it was the key fob, key hole, key charging system, vehicle charging system, anything but the starter.

Finally I threw a starter in and hey, no more problems. Replacing the starter was too easy a solution for me, (also the LR dealer figured the starter was OK); we all figured it had to be something else.

And yes, it was only on cold mornings and first start. If I kept a retainer on the battery overnight, (CTEK US3300), then I never a problem - go figure.

 

I had this exact problem and finally had the starter replaced. No issues whatsoever since then.

 

Replaced the starter and that took care of it. Started by replacing battery thinking maybe the old one was just too weak. Still would not start when dead cold. New starter seems to have solved it. Thank you all for the help.
Jack