Delay in starting...

Hi Guys & Gals.

I knew things were too good to be true when I went several weeks without anything going wrong with the Freebifter. Anyway, this weeks new trick is to not start. I unlock her with the remote and everything appears OK, apart from when I turn the key to start she is acting like the immobilser is on. If I release the key and return it to position II and try again she strikes up without delay. Also on the first attempt if I hold it in position III long enough she does everntually strike up but this can be after 10 seconds or so.

Any ideas?

um. . . .wot model is it un year un colour un has it got heated leathers. . .

She's a 2000 (W) XEI Hardback. She does have leathers which I fitted myself some time ago but they are not heated. It's a bit of a strange one this one really!

Reet then middy in cab fuse box yer have two fuses ta check fer good connection un no corrosion take em out un clean the blades f19un f6 both 10a i fink double check . . .yer other bits that i fink are more than likely to be yer culprits are in ya engine fuse box 3 off relays 1= main relay 2= fuel pump relay 3=starter relay find these and mark them and change wif known like fer like, it is possible that your ingnition switch contacts are shot ,however this is very unusual ,relays is always first option. . . .see how ya git on earthling. . . .

Thanks for the advice Ming, I've had a look at the fuses and they appear in order. With the relays I've swapped them around where possible based on their rating and again this hasn't made any difference. Could it be the starter motor? I tend to think not as when it's not working it doesn't even sound like it's getting to that stage, i.e. no noise from the starter.

After more investigating I've found that the thing with trying to start her straight after she fails doesn't actually make any difference. When she is having a moment nothing makes any difference she just seems to jump into life as and when she feels like it. Last night it was about five minutes of various things before all of a sudden she just started.

Anymore ideas. Need it fixing as I've just posted her for sale on her and on E-bay.

check the contacts under the fusebox.

well you've checked the easy bits . . .so now check your engine battery is A1 un no corrosion on terminals and that you have a good earth to your engine as opposed to the chassis [this catches a lot er peeps out] if all good then it is very possible your starter solenoid is intermittent [u/s] this is all in the starter motor itself. . .if your a clever earthling, then get out yer volt meter or 12v indicator and with care un use of an assistant find the o/p signal to the solenoid to see if yer gettin that, if no then yer have to look back so to speak, if yes then if its not startin then yer solenoid or starter is fooked. . . .try it ,un let us all know,the cable that gives the signal from yer starter relay is brown un red , the one that fires the starter motor is permanent poss from batt an that is red. . .best oh luck. . . .

Aye, I've checked all the basics and removed fuses that could be the issue but finally she has just given an indication of what could be the problem. Whilst messing about with her I heard a little click as I tried to start her. Def a click from the starter as if it's stuck. After repeated attempts with sometimes a click others not she started to turn over but then nothing. It was only brief but long enough to work out the started was going but then cut out. I think it's gonna be a duff starter motor but would like a second opinion before I shell out on a recon.

Got to move quick on this one!!!

And the more I think about it, the problem started very soon after she was serviced. I trust my mechanic as he's a good friend of mine. Could it be that something has been knocked during the service?

try un **** the starter motor wiv er hammer then try it [this is known as the mondo test] . . . .

Looks like this one is sorted thanks Guys. After stripping down the steering column I found that if I waggle the ignigtion switch i can either fix or unfix the problem. I'm 99.9% certain that's what it is and at 12 quid plus VAT for a new one I'm happy to give it a go. Oddly enough when I rang for prices, both dealers had them in stock stating "we get through a few of them"

Had a similar thing with my previous freelander.

Garage thought it was immobiliser fault and wanted me to spend a lot of money.

Just like you I went thru process of trying everything.

Turned out to be, and please correct me if im wrong, the LT lead to the starter. (the thin single wire that connects with just an ordinary spade type connector)

It was bent, corroded, loose and full of crap !!!

cleaned it and closed the connector up with the pliers, put it back on and heey presto !


Middi - you posted whislt I was typing so please ignore this !!