electrical problem????

Hi Folks,
some help needed please,
i have just started and turned my discovery 300tdi round on the path to load with rubbish for a visit to the tip,on getting back in my disco i heard clicking noise for about 10 seconds on passenger side then all lights went of and then nothing ,wont even turn over and no lights are coming on the dash cheers Tony.

I have been looking through the site my very limited knoweledge has me thinking it could be the preheating system timer could be fecked,any second opinions please

Battery, battery connections, earth connections/straps, starter connections, ignition lock wiring/connectors, Alarm/immobiliser.

Lots of wiring/electrickery stuff to look at before deciding what it actually is ...

Hi. Most of my electrical problems came from the ECU, a small card behind the glove box. Its about the size a a cigarette packet. I had to secure mine as I thought it was shorting on the brackets, now no problems. Not an electrical expert. Ian

Try connecting a jump lead from the battery -ve terminal to a bolt on the engine block and try and start the engine.

could be ****ty connections on battery! disconnect your battery and clean the terminals and then check the earth lead especially engine to body.like NICEDAYFORIT says try a jumplead from your battery to the engine.

Hang on... before you rewire it, you say you heard a clicking sound from the passenger side? well on a 200 TDi there are relays situated behind the plastic skins on the footwell sides, both drivers and passengers sides, my first thought is, Did you hear one of these relays playing silly buggers.. If you have a diagram it may tell you whats in that side, but I would just have a look in there myself...

nicedayforit said:

Try connecting a jump lead from the battery -ve terminal to a bolt on the engine block and try and start the engine.

Click to expand...

Cheers for that,
i done this and it started straight away,i let it run for a bit then switched it of and on again but while waiting for the preheating light to go off the clicking started again{passenger side footwell} dash lights and all power went again,like martinl says i can just see some wires and relays down there,will pull the panel of and try and find the source of the clicking and poss fault when i have daylight and time on my side tommorow.
Thanks again.
Tony.

You need to clean some earth connections
Main body earth, behind battery, black cable from battery -ve terminal, looks like a cable clamp to body. unbolt and clean surfaces to bright metal and reassemble.

Earth strap from battery -ve terminal to chassis, unbolt chassis end and clean surfaces to bright metal and refit.

Earth strap from chassis to mounting bolt on starter motor. Unbolt earth strap connection from near nearside engine mount, clean surfaces to bright metal and refit.

Connection to starter mounting bolt isn't usually a problem.

Clean both battery terminals and clamps.

You could also fit an additional earth strap from battery -ve terminal to a bolt on the engine if you want to be sure.

Hope this is of use

Wot you found??

Hi Folks,
due to work commitments i havent had much time to investigate properly,and to be honest i dont know enough about wireing,relays and diagrams to know what fault i should be looking for.I have cleaned all earths and battery terminals,cleaned and greased the clamps and last night i took it for a spin,i get really bad interferance on the radio when i stop at lights etc,but once moving again it stops,also using the eleccy windows,indicating left or right causes the dash and head lights to flick on and of quickly.The clicking is still there passenger side,that also causes all the dashlights to flick on and of {each click}while am waiting for preheat light to go out.Any one got any other pointers,and does anyone know any good auto elecs on merseyside who wont have me keks down...
cheers.
Tony..

If you can drive it down to Cannock i'll sort it for you. Any day next week so long as i know first.. www.mlovatt.co.uk

Couple of more earth points you need to look at.
Remove the plastic side panel in each front footwell and look on each side wall for a bolt sticking out about 250mm from the floor with a number of black wires bolted on. These are the earth points that earth almost everything in the dash area. Undo the nut on each bolt and remove all connections, and clean to bright metal. Also clean the bolts with a wire brush till they are bright. Reassemble the connections.
If you can it is worth running an additional cable between each earth bolt and then back to the battery -ve terminal (or a bolt under the dash) to ensure a good earth. This should ensure you have good earths to all the bits in the area.
Lets know how you get on.

If you can get to barnsley or want to pay for my fuel I will glady bring my test gear and have a look at it for you can't garantee a quick fix but should be able to tell you wot its not. I only ask you to pay fuel atm cos am well skint as only managing to get a little work @ the mo.


sorry didn't notice that offer had already been made bad bad me
offer still stands though

Thanks for the offer of help lads,
but i have someone closer to home looking at it for me tomorrow,i will post what he finds soon as i know,
Cheers,
Tony.