Freelander ignition - delay when starting

debhen · Apr 1, 2015

Hi everyone

I hope I can describe this clearly - so here goes.

My Freelander (3 door 1.8 petrol Xei hardback 2005) has had a 'lazy' or 'sluggish' starter motor since I got it (compared to how my previous ones sounded).

Yesterday I noticed that there was a delay when I turned the key to start it. For a second nothing happened so I held the key in place and then the engine turned over, fired and started. During the day when I started the car again the delay then increased to more than 5 seconds before it turned over. This morning it is more like 10 or 20 seconds before it turns over. I am obviously concerned that:

a) this is not what it should be doing
and
b) it will eventually not start at all

Has anyone out there got any advice for me please - being a girly and all that I am grateful for any ideas.:high5:

Deb

Datatek · Apr 1, 2015

Check battery terminals and all earth connections especially from battery to body and engine to body.

Bojer · Apr 1, 2015

And check the little spade terminal on the starter motor - pull it off and give the terminal a clean and maybe squeeze up the crimp a bit .

debhen · Apr 1, 2015

Thanks for your replies.

I will try and check this out tomorrow - I don't really want to take the car into a garage and be charged a fortune if it is something I can perhaps figure out.

Just to be clear, when I turn the key I hold it in the turned position and wait for the car to turn over and fire. There is complete silence, no clicking sound or anything. Does this make any difference or point to anything more specific?

Thanks again

Deb

gstuart · Apr 1, 2015

debhen said:
Hi everyone

I hope I can describe this clearly - so here goes.

My Freelander (3 door 1.8 petrol Xei hardback 2005) has had a 'lazy' or 'sluggish' starter motor since I got it (compared to how my previous ones sounded).

Yesterday I noticed that there was a delay when I turned the key to start it. For a second nothing happened so I held the key in place and then the engine turned over, fired and started. During the day when I started the car again the delay then increased to more than 5 seconds before it turned over. This morning it is more like 10 or 20 seconds before it turns over. I am obviously concerned that:

a) this is not what it should be doing
and
b) it will eventually not start at all

Has anyone out there got any advice for me please - being a girly and all that I am grateful for any ideas.:high5:

Deb

as the others have said , don't know if the ign barrel could also be at fault

plus sorry to sidetrack how did u get on in the end with regards to ur key plse

was it ur good self who lost the key and had a nightmare

hope u didn't mind me asking

thks

debhen · Apr 1, 2015

Hi Gary

Yes it was me and I don't mind you asking about the keys as you were really helpful during that fiasco.

I did send you a private message about how it was sorted out back in January, sorry if you didn't see it. I found someone who would do it in the end and had to trailer the car to them, it cost about £150 to programme a key and a fob.

Now this problem has started which is a pain and sounds like a matter of elimination. Guess I will have to figure out what the culprit is.

Deb

gstuart · Apr 1, 2015

debhen said:
Hi Gary

Yes it was me and I don't mind you asking about the keys as you were really helpful during that fiasco.

I did send you a private message about how it was sorted out back in January, sorry if you didn't see it. I found someone who would do it in the end and had to trailer the car to them, it cost about £150 to programme a key and a fob.

Now this problem has started which is a pain and sounds like a matter of elimination. Guess I will have to figure out what the culprit is.

Deb

hiya

pleased u got it sorted out and not a bad price seeing what the main dealers were quoting u

sorry didn't see the pm

wonder if as the others have said with the ign on need to see if you've 12 v on the back of the starter motor

maybe get some one to flick the key on and off and another person to check the voltage to ensure the volts come to the starter motor every time or if possibly the ign barrel is worn

check ur earth and postive leads and see what voltage u have at the battery with the car off and running

should have around 12 volts min off and running around 14.4 volts

if u have continued voltage at the starter and by turning the key on and off its always there may have a bad starter motor , or bad earth lead ??

hope that helps abit

Ironworker · Apr 1, 2015

its probably the little black ignition switch box in the steering column, take it out and take it apart and cean the contacts inside, car will start good as new, someone had a good write up on here of doing it with pics, i think it was hippo, try searching ignition switch, its dead easy to do and takes under 30 mins

debhen · Apr 4, 2015

Hi
AA have diagnosed it as needing a new starter motor.

Deb

Freelander ignition - delay when starting

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Datatek

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Bojer

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gstuart

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