First ever freelander - issue with starting

Freelander occasionally doesn’t start - Even when it’s been running a while so don’t think it’s the glow plug but I have no idea to be fair. It’s a 2003 freelander diesel.

Occasionally it won’t start, just makes a loud whirring sound. So I Give it a few mins and it starts after I’ve tried the ignition a few time’s.

I know I’m meant to “heat the coil” with diesel cars and wait a few seconds before starting the ignition and I’ve been told it’s the coil what needs sorting, but I’ve also been told it’s not the coil as the wether is to warm and it occasionally happens when the cars warm.
It sounds like the start motor is working but nothing else, the whiring sound isn’t the engine I don’t think. I don’t know a lot about cars internals to be fair.
When I lifted the bonnet up with the key turned all the way to “electrics on” I heard a very slight noise then it stopped and as soon as that very quiet noise stopped I turned the ignition all the way and it started. What would this very quiet noise be under the bonnet?
Any help would be appreciated.

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Freelander 1 and 2:
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/land-rover-freelander.9

Sounds like the bendix gear on the starter isn’t engaging with the flywheel. The old trick is to smack the starter with a stick to free it. Otherwise a new starter or refurb the old one. If it is that, hard to be sure without listening to it

Unless there are some teeth missing on the flywheel or starter motor.
In which case you need to turn the engine by hand to move the fly wheel. you can put it in gear and push the car to turn the engine. Only needs a bit of movement or rocking.

ronsealdeath said:

Sounds like the bendix gear on the starter isn’t engaging with the flywheel. The old trick is to smack the starter with a stick to free it. Otherwise a new starter or refurb the old one. If it is that, hard to be sure without listening to it

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Be lucky nowadays to have room to swing anything in most engine bays