Help with my series 3 please...

Hello fellow Landy lovers. I've got an issue with my Series 3 she won't start! Just clicking. Battery is good, starter motor good. Wiring awful! There's an after market alarm that was installed by previous owner, could that be the issue? Thanks for any ideas you may have.

Lollipop said:

Hello fellow Landy lovers. I've got an issue with my Series 3 she won't start! Just clicking. Battery is good, starter motor good. Wiring awful! There's an after market alarm that was installed by previous owner, could that be the issue? Thanks for any ideas you may have.

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Is it diesel or petrol? sounds like if the starter motor is good then its turning over? bit more info will help, if its turning over then it is unlikely that its related to your after market alarm, unless that has some form of immobiliser or fuel cut off, which in an S3 i doubt!!
without knowing more info theres no way of really knowing
But you say clicking, meaning if you turn to start it clicks and nothing happens, which is either no battery juice or another reason the starter motor cant engage!

Hi, it's diesel. The whole vehicle is now dead but the battery is good? The starter motor wasn't turning over, there's no power going to the starter motor? Thanks so much for your help.

Check the solenoid and the ignition wire to it.... fuses in the fuse box under the steering column often require corrosion removing from them AND the spring contacts they sit in.
earth leads can also be temperamental.

Lollipop said:

Hi, it's diesel. The whole vehicle is now dead but the battery is good? The starter motor wasn't turning over, there's no power going to the starter motor? Thanks so much for your help.

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Got ya, are you sure the battery isn't to blame? just gotta make sure as its the easiest and most likely problem. How do you know the battery is good? A good battery still goes flat
Also check your terminals and electrical contact points, many times my battery looks good but its not even connected!
Keep firing info the more the merrier
like mister ice says things like fuses etc.
Has it suddenly stopped starting or has it been problematic for a while?

mistericeman said:

Check the solenoid and the ignition wire to it.... fuses in the fuse box under the steering column often require corrosion removing from them AND the spring contacts they sit in.
earth leads can also be temperamental.

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I've checked the fuses - all fine. Earth leads are all fine. Just going to check the solenoid now - Thanks for that. The whole vehicle is now dead although the battery is fine.

when I, say check the fuses.... check you have power both ends NOT just that the fuse, isn't blown (not unusual for the wire inside the fuses to become detached from the end caps.

RyanDay1 said:

Got ya, are you sure the battery isn't to blame? just gotta make sure as its the easiest and most likely problem. How do you know the battery is good? A good battery still goes flat
Also check your terminals and electrical contact points, many times my battery looks good but its not even connected!
Keep firing info the more the merrier
like mister ice says things like fuses etc.
Has it suddenly stopped starting or has it been problematic for a while?

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Thanks for that Ryan. I had the AA man out this morning and he confirmed its not the battery. This is the first time it has done this. I have tried another battery but it doesn't make a difference. Poor love, it's like she's dead!

Lollipop said:

Thanks for that Ryan. I had the AA man out this morning and he confirmed its not the battery. This is the first time it has done this.

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Now, when I turn the key, the charge light comes on and the ignition light, then I wait 15 seconds for the glow plugs, turn the key and it all goes dead.

Give the starter solenoid a sharp tap on its side

Got any jump leads?

take the earth (black one) from the - post on the battery to a good clean metal surface on the engine (one of the lifting eyes is ideal if fitted) making sure you have good contact with clean metal....
then try starting (rules out bad earth)
then check positive terminals on battery/both sides of solenoid and starter motor for tightness and being clean and none rusty.

Lollipop said:

Thanks for that Ryan. I had the AA man out this morning and he confirmed its not the battery. This is the first time it has done this. I have tried another battery but it doesn't make a difference. Poor love, it's like she's dead!

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The AA fella give up then did'ee? don't worry she aint dead, just cant be bothered, this happens, luckily youre only dealing with the not so complicated starting issue of a no crank diesel so could be worse! is the alarm you mentioned of any significance? not confident it would be the problem but its good to rule it out so what ya know about it, whats it wired to whats your normal process etc.?
With that in mind dis and re connecting the battery hasnt changed anything?

OMG! Thank you! It worked (Black jump lead on battery terminal and clean metal). She's purring beautifully. Now what does that mean - bad earth? What should I do now?

Awesome nice one mr ice!

You can check that earth now check it from terminal to engine, any corrosion damage, looseness or anything, might be worth replacing

RyanDay1 said:

The AA fella give up then did'ee? don't worry she aint dead, just cant be bothered, this happens, luckily youre only dealing with the not so complicated starting issue of a no crank diesel so could be worse! is the alarm you mentioned of any significance? not confident it would be the problem but its good to rule it out so what ya know about it, whats it wired to whats your normal process etc.?
With that in mind dis and re connecting the battery hasnt changed anything?

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He was very sweet but the moment I reminded him that he hadn't connected the battery, I kinda lost faith! He thought it was a bad earth and that the wiring was poor. He's not wrong, the wiring was pretty bad. She's roaring away now, after the black jump lead on battery and bare metal tip from mistericeman. Clearly there's a bad earth, I just need to know where to look. Thank you so much Ryan for your time and support, it's my first time on here - what a fab experience!

Lollipop said:

He was very sweet but the moment I reminded him that he hadn't connected the battery, I kinda lost faith! He thought it was a bad earth and that the wiring was poor. He's not wrong, the wiring was pretty bad. She's roaring away now, after the black jump lead on battery and bare metal tip from mistericeman. Clearly there's a bad earth, I just need to know where to look. Thank you so much Ryan for your time and support, it's my first time on here - what a fab experience!

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Welcome aboard, thank Mr ice, it took me a year and a half to find out why my s3 diesel wouldnt start, and fix it, you're lucky enjoy!
got any pics?

I will check this now. Again, really appreciate your help Ryan and Mr Nice . So good to hear Betty roar again! THANK YOU

RyanDay1 said:

Welcome aboard, thank Mr ice, it took me a year and a half to find out why my s3 diesel wouldnt start, and fix it, you're lucky enjoy!
got any pics?

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Wow! I am lucky. I love the S3 but to be honest, she's s bit beefy for me. I've just bought an S2 which is much better (for me). The S3 is the blue one in my profile pic. Will upload some pics later, light is fading fast! Cheers!

Happy to help ....
earth lead will usually be a heavy cable (similar size to that from battery to solenoid ) OR sometimes a metal braided strip from memory on a standard series 3 it goes from the - on the battery to the battery tray mounting Ideally landrover would have fitted one from one of the bell housing bolts to the chassis too as otherwise there isnt really a direct earth as the engine is sat on rubbers and relies on other metallic connections for earthing .
Earth cables are available from Halfrauds or other car spares shops in pre made lengths if you need one in a hurry .

mistericeman said:

Give the starter solenoid a sharp tap on its side

Got any jump leads?

take the earth (black one) from the - post on the battery to a good clean metal surface on the engine (one of the lifting eyes is ideal if fitted) making sure you have good contact with clean metal....
then try starting (rules out bad earth)
then check positive terminals on battery/both sides of solenoid and starter motor for tightness and being clean and none rusty.

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THANK YOU SO MUCH! If ever you are down this way, I owe you a beer!

Lollipop said:

THANK YOU SO MUCH! If ever you are down this way, I owe you a beer!

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Careful I love beer ....



Thats one of my FFR's with two hand pumps and 144 pints of real ale on the go at our annual charity show in Wakefield ..."Leafers at T'pit"