Disco 1 300tdi won't start in the cold

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Maat

Maat

Active Member
Posts
131
Location
International
Hello,

My 300Tdi won't start, battery full, clean connections but when turning the key I just get a single relay click and that's all. I tried a jumper cable from the negative onto the engine block and same thing. It's the first time it's happened. It was -22 degrees C today so all I can think of is a bad ground or maybe a loose connection on the starter since it's a bit cold? Any other ideas?

P.S.: battery was warm as I keep it indoors over winter on the days I don't drive.

Cheers,
Matt
 
Tax Dodgers said:
Dead starter motor or frozen electrics
Click to expand...
Tomorrow it will be a bit warmer and I expect it to start, but after that it will get cold again and I can't get stranded away from town. Which electrics could freeze? I don't mind bringing the whole relay box indoors overnight, lol, but if it's the starter solenoid than I guess a new one is the only solution?
 
Maat said:
Hello,

My 300Tdi won't start, battery full, clean connections but when turning the key I just get a single relay click and that's all. I tried a jumper cable from the negative onto the engine block and same thing. It's the first time it's happened. It was -22 degrees C today so all I can think of is a bad ground or maybe a loose connection on the starter since it's a bit cold? Any other ideas?

P.S.: battery was warm as I keep it indoors over winter on the days I don't drive.

Cheers,
Matt
Click to expand...
I always found 300 were poor starters when the temperature really drops, even with good cables/glow plugs and battery.
On the 200/300 disco you can fit a second battery on the spare tray on the other side, this helps quite a bit with cold starting.
 
Is the click from a relay or solenoid?
If the battery is warm and has a good charge? I'd go for a new starter.

~150 euros from aeromotors and ~180 euros from 4x4parts.
If getting it melting in next few days brings no help.
 
Maat said:
Tomorrow it will be a bit warmer and I expect it to start, but after that it will get cold again and I can't get stranded away from town. Which electrics could freeze? I don't mind bringing the whole relay box indoors overnight, lol, but if it's the starter solenoid than I guess a new one is the only solution?
Click to expand...
Could just be pour/dirty contacts in the solenoid.
 
So today, even though it was only -6 or so, it would still only click. So, out of frustration, and wanting to hear whether it was a relay or the solenoid, I clicked it repeatedly and surprise, it started turning!

The starter could do with a replacement or refurbishment at some point, its been turning somewhat slow ever since I bought the car.

lynall said:
I always found 300 were poor starters when the temperature really drops, even with good cables/glow plugs and battery.
On the 200/300 disco you can fit a second battery on the spare tray on the other side, this helps quite a bit with cold starting.
Click to expand...
I have heard people say that they should start on a quarter turn below zero even without glow plugs if the engine is healthy. Yes, I've been thinking of that for a while, and particularly fitting a second smaller alternator for that battery. But first I would have to fit a snorkel to make room for the battery.

Dervishi said:
Is the click from a relay or solenoid?
If the battery is warm and has a good charge? I'd go for a new starter.

~150 euros from aeromotors and ~180 euros from 4x4parts.
If getting it melting in next few days brings no help.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestions, it's always been costly importing parts here, and almost no used parts available.
 
Maat said:
So today, even though it was only -6 or so, it would still only click. So, out of frustration, and wanting to hear whether it was a relay or the solenoid, I clicked it repeatedly and surprise, it started turning!

The starter could do with a replacement or refurbishment at some point, its been turning somewhat slow ever since I bought the car.


I have heard people say that they should start on a quarter turn below zero even without glow plugs if the engine is healthy. Yes, I've been thinking of that for a while, and particularly fitting a second smaller alternator for that battery. But first I would have to fit a snorkel to make room for the battery.


Thanks for the suggestions, it's always been costly importing parts here, and almost no used parts available.
Click to expand...
No need to fit a second alt for the second battery, just link batteries together, basically you are just doubling the size of the battery, but you do need to cut down the air filter housing trumpet to get the 2nd batt to fit.

I had two 300 and neither were the best starters in the cold, 200 on the other hand.

A new or rebuilt starter motor will certainly help.

An additional battery earth lead to chassis and engine will also help, as the original 300 one is not the best
 
Maat said:
I clicked it repeatedly and surprise, it started turning!
Click to expand...
No surprise at all, that IS the contacts.
Had exactly the same on my D2.
Short term, take it off clean them and then put them back good and tight, long term buy a replacement contact set and fit them.
Stan.
 
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