Freelander 1 02 petrol 1.8 not cranking after new clutch fitted

Hi,

Just hoping someone will have some clues before I take a hammer to it.

Had a new clutch fitted last week, also a leak from the transfer box, all in all £573.00 including recovery and delivery back to me. Hopefully that was all I was needing to spend this side of Christmas on it. Car was running great, smooth clutch and acceleration. Been out and about in it since, started each time, no issues.

Went out last night to put the car on the driveway, turned the key, it's dead. Dash lights were lit as normal, not a click, sound, clatter, nothing. Total silence. Managed with some help to bump start it and put it away. Tried it today, still dead. Had the battery on charge for a few hours today, tested battery with multimeter, it is well in charge. Tapped the starter motor to see if it was stuck, still didn't crank. Checked leads as far as I can see, all intact. Spade fitting on the thin wire on starter motor feels a little loose but looking at it, it's not corroded. Checked starter motor fuse in dash facia and also the one under the bonnet. Both in good order.

Why would it just stop working just like that? Anyone any ideas what else it could be? I'm at a total loss as to what it could be. Someone said something about clutch plate dust getting in the starter motor and possibly clogging it up?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks, Tom.

I presume it is not immobilised because you can bump start it - but when you turn the key does the alarm LED on? Its the one that blinks when you lock the car with the remotes. If that light it lit, the starter will not engage (but I think it will also cut fuel to the engine).

I would check that the starter solenoid is getting power when you turn the key. If it is - and there's no activity - then the starter is fubar.

If there is no power, the first thing I'd check is the starter relay - in the engine compartment fuse box - I'm not sure if there is another one you can swap it over with to see if its faulty - maybe the fuel pump relay? Others may know. If the relay's working, check fuse 5 in the passenger compartment fuse box. Make sure it is OK and also getting a feed when you turn to 'crank'. If it does not get any feed, then the ignition switch (plastic encased switch on end of ignition barrel) is probably faulty.

For a full description of the starting electronics, I suggest you have a look in the Rave workshop manual. There's info on downloading and running it from here...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rave-disk-maintenance-manual.260227/

I don't believe the links in the first post still are live, but the links further down are. You need a Windows PC to install it on and it is downloaded as an ISO image - so you need software to use it - see the post for info.

In the "Electrical Library" there is a full description of the starting electronics/components in the "Description and Operation" section.

Good luck.

Starter 15 Amp lucar connector is the most likely problem. Second would be the starter itself. Third would be the ignition switch. Fourth would be the immobilizer ECU.

The starter will have been disconnected during the repair so probably not reconnected correctly.
Probably just needs re secured so take it back to the garage that did the work pronto

check electrical connections

Thanks for all the hints and advice, unfortunately nothing has helped. I've done the dirty deed and got full breakdown cover today. They are coming out to look at it as I'm absolutely flummoxed. Trust things to happen at this time of year, it's been absolutely Baltic in Manchester for the last few days, needless to say, my hands have been pretty oily but mostly blue and then, a strange shade of orange, which must be just short of hypothermia.

Really appreciate the help, love this forum to bits, it's helped me so much with lots of issues. And against all advice and sarcastic comments from people, I refuse to get rid of my Freebie, I'll run it into the ground. She still looks lovely, hopefully I'll manage to post a pic if I can work out how to do it.

I'll let you know what the diagnosis is. Let's hope it's not euthanasia.

Cheers, Tom.

Have you been able to tell how far power gets when you turn the key to "crank"? ie fuse 5, starter relay, starter solenoid? I feel that will be the answer to this problem.

TOM1972 said:

Thanks for all the hints and advice, unfortunately nothing has helped. I've done the dirty deed and got full breakdown cover today. They are coming out to look at it as I'm absolutely flummoxed. Trust things to happen at this time of year, it's been absolutely Baltic in Manchester for the last few days, needless to say, my hands have been pretty oily but mostly blue and then, a strange shade of orange, which must be just short of hypothermia.

Really appreciate the help, love this forum to bits, it's helped me so much with lots of issues. And against all advice and sarcastic comments from people, I refuse to get rid of my Freebie, I'll run it into the ground. She still looks lovely, hopefully I'll manage to post a pic if I can work out how to do it.

I'll let you know what the diagnosis is. Let's hope it's not euthanasia.

Cheers, Tom.

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I had 2 K series Freelanders and loved them both. Good luck with it.