HELP!!! Starter problems!

Hi,

Just joined your wonderful site and really need some advice.

We bought a H reg defender 90 200 tdi late last year up until a few months ago everything was running perfect. On the way back from a week in wales (some cracking off roading!) engine started to over heat, the fan belt knacked up so AA was called and they fitted a new one.

That appeared to sort the problem but then a few weeks after this it developed a starter problem. When the engine is turned it makes a noise which sounds like a whir/machine gun.

We took the starter out connected it to the battery and all seemed well soleniod activated and gearing spun up. So we gave it a good clean and put it back in only to be faced with the same problem.

Any ideas on what to try next?? We're running out of ideas!

Welcome to Land Rover Zone!

It came out and all seemed fine, well thats a good start, was the solenoid giving a good push? Its different when its out lying on a bench.

When you had it off did you manage to try and get a look at the flywheel? It sounds like the starter is not properly engaging on the flywheel, and it giving you the noise you describe, could any of your off roading knocked something?

Soleniod is giving a great push put your fingers in there and it'll have them off.

We were thinking the flywheel but weren't sure what to look for.

Our off roading experience is pretty limited so we were with a v. experienced off roader who made sure we never knocked anything and we have gaurds in place to hopefully prevent damage.

I would try and get a look down in at the flywheel, look for damaged teeth, check the casing surrounding the area.

Is the battery in the Defender ok?

The battery is brand new it was only bought in Oct old sodbury

Hi, Only today i have the same problm!!! Fan Belt snapped 2 weeks ago and the AA were called and this morning i had to take the starter motor out (What a pig of a job!!!) my gearing looks fine on the bendix too.
How much of a job is it if the flywheel needs replacing???

Engine out job. Mind you, not as bad the the gearbox out! Well in my case anyway, and I don't think you could do the job if you took the transmission out.

Well we put another battery in last night and its still the same problem.

While we were starting it we had a look at what fan belt and alternator were doing. It looks like every time we turn the key it moving about 5 degrees and thats it.

Is there any way to get a look at the flywheel without removing major parts of the engine e.g. a timing slot or access plate?

If there is where abouts on the engine is it?

200tdi has a blanking plug in the base of the flywheel housing this allows you to insert the special timing tool, as far as I can see this is the only place to view the flywheel without removing the engine, I'm not sure how much you'll be able to see through a relatively small hole though!

Remove the starter again - then you'll get a good view of the fywheel ringear.