Help Needed - Not Starting Properly And Brake Warning Light

Hey,

First post but sadly its a problem with my 200tdi defender 90.

Firstly when i go to start it up, i allow everything to warm up then turn to start up and nothing happens except i hear a click which sounds like its coming from engine bay and the warning lights for handbrake/ brake system and battery stay on. I then again warm engine up and try to start - sometimes it starts with no problem or does the above problem again. It may do this several times anytime of the day with or without me driving it first. Any ideas people? My uncle thought it could be water in the starter motor? Not so sure tho.

The second problem is when i am braking heavily sometimes the handbrake/ brake system warning light comes on but not for more than 10 seconds then flickers on and off then goes. Sometimes it comes on when braking but not always. Any ideas?

Would these two problems be anyway related. The only recent problem which i fixed was the front window wipers would not switch off at all even when i had the lever set to stationary. That was down to an exposed cable which i fixes and so far has sorted the problem.

Sorry if not in anymore detail just quickly put as much as i could

Many Thanx

Andrew Rutherford aka Vinylman23

Engine not starting, possible causes, easy things to check first:

Loose battery terminal connection
Loose/dirty wire/connector block onto starter motor
Cracked/split insulation on wires to starter motor
Starter motor stuck - try giving the outside a whack with a plastic mallet
Excessively worn bushes or serious corrosion in starter motor

Dashboard lights, things to check first:

Fluid level in reservoir should be closer to MAX than MIN, if this is ok remove and clean the connectors to the level sensor on the top of the reservoir cap.

If the level is low, check the condition of the front brake pads BEFORE you top it up - you will need to remove the road wheels to do this properly. Check both inboard and outboard pad condition and replace if they're low. Then adjust level of brake fluid in reservoir. FWIW, changing the pads is approximately a 30 minute job per side if the calipers are in good condition and you really make a meal of it.

Hope that helps,

Ditto adz...

also clean the contacts on the batt terminals and where the earth strap meets the chassis. if all your connections are fine then its likely to be the starter motor.

good to start here: Land Rover FAQ - Repair & Maintenance - Series - Electrical - Reference - Starters

and if you need an overhaul, look here: Land Rover FAQ - Repair & Maintenance - Series - Electrical - Reference - Starters

hope this helps.

G

Bluddy 'ell, can't add to either of the above. Got it covered I reckon. ain't we good on here?

Ow do Vinyl. yeah wot they all said.