Dropped in the drink, now it won't start!

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eltax91

eltax91

Active Member
Posts
129
Location
Loughborough
Hi folks

I went to my first play day at Sibbertoft on Sunday in my 200TDi Disco. Inexperience saw me stuck in the drink for about 2 minutes. The water was (roughly) up to the top of the wheel nuts, the disco has a 2" lift.

Anyway, the old girl soldiered on for another 4 hours of off roading, plenty of stops and starts during that time - around 10 i'd say for various reasons. Lunch, jet wash etc etc

So, it's now two days later and is dried out, I have gone to move it this evening and it won't start - procedure as follows:-

Car opens/ closes on the button no worries - so we have power
Turn to "position 1" - all dash lights come on, glow plug light goes out
Turn to "position 2" and NOTHING, no turn, no attempt to even cough, just silence...

So, any thoughts? Have I goosed the starter? Or the immobaliser? Blown a fuse?

Any thoughts greatly received. I'm not scared of a spanner, but electrics are not my bag. :D
 
Thanks for the rapid reply. Are the Solenoid and starter separate items. Is there any way to test them/ service them before I for out £80? The disco is not a daily driver so doesn't have to go anywhere quickly!!
 
Do leccy windows work? We recently had a problem where a friend bought a 200 disco and after a few hours of offroad adventures it wouldnt start and the windows wouldnt work. Fusable links/fuse lines. Follow the positive leads from the battery and look at the one that goes towards the bulkhead, it will have a section (about 12" or so) which is wrapped in fabric stuff, inside are legnths of heavily corroded fusable links, unattatch them and they will be full of green powder. My money is on them.
 
U can check with a strong wire......give a (+) directly from battery to the solenoids feed contact(the thin one) first....if no joy +up the starter motor's clamp(the big one)....according to what happens u'll know which is gone.

During this dont let it in gear.
 
To clarify what these guys are saying if you look on the starter there is a small thin wire, its usually a spade connector type fitting, not a nut. Put a live to that and it should turn over. If it does and youve checked all fuses check what i said above. I still reckon its what i said though :p
 
Or u can go and check feed with a multimeter beginning from the starter backwords to relay/fusebox (while somebody turns the ignition of course)
 
Thanks all for the responses, I will try all of the suggestions. Those talking of running a wire from +ve to starter to see what happens, what wire do I need to get? I don't have anything to hand so will need to scavenge/ buy. :D
 
bananahead said:
Do leccy windows work? We recently had a problem where a friend bought a 200 disco and after a few hours of offroad adventures it wouldnt start and the windows wouldnt work. Fusable links/fuse lines. Follow the positive leads from the battery and look at the one that goes towards the bulkhead, it will have a section (about 12" or so) which is wrapped in fabric stuff, inside are legnths of heavily corroded fusable links, unattatch them and they will be full of green powder. My money is on them.
Click to expand...

The windows work perfectly! Would this rule out said links? I will have my laptop on hand and have a good check of them anyway!!
 
I would check them anyway. The post before, if you look on the starter there will be a hefty cable going onto a connection held on by a nut, and on the solenoid there will be a little wire going onto a spade connector. Get a small bit of wire/screwdriver/spanner and bridge them two. The engine should turn over.
 
bananahead said:
I would check them anyway. The post before, if you look on the starter there will be a hefty cable going onto a connection held on by a nut, and on the solenoid there will be a little wire going onto a spade connector. Get a small bit of wire/screwdriver/spanner and bridge them two. The engine should turn over.
Click to expand...

OK, will do! In terms of wire to test with, do I need to buy something, or can I use a pair of old jump leads and rip them to pieces? Or is that too heavy duty?
 
eltax91 said:
I will be trying this, ONLY when the starter is proved non servicable.... :)
Click to expand...

Not lived mate :)

Common when starter motor bushes come to the end of their life they can stick in there holders and not touch the comutator. As they are spring loaded a sharp tap with a stick, stone, dead cat, what ever, can be enough for the bushes to make contact again and get you home ;)
 
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