Series 3 How to start!! Red key

honolulujoe said:

series 3 wiring isn't difficult to do though, most/all of what you need is in the manual and you can easily get pointers from peeps on here, I did mine from scratch knowing jack about auto electrics (and my electrics were well bodged as I found out), its just a question of following the wires and making sure they all go where they are supposed to as per the manual, taking out anything that doesn't belong. It just takes time, quite a bit of time too . But you will know how your electrics work by the end of it.

I would take the red switch out and get it to standard too, once its all working you can put an isolator in and do it properly and know it has been done right.

and the manuals are free to download off the net, haven't got the link anymore but they are there

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mpage23 said:

hi thanks for this it gives me hope.... the bottom of the dash looks ok to remove and then work from there. i goes there fues box if any is the small panel under the steering wheel housing?

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Land Raver said:

For sorting out your other intermittent electrical problems you are best checking the common earthing point which is under the bonnet slam panel - simple grill off job and remove and clean the bolt securing them all.

Mine has a starter button which works in the same way as your red switch. I turn the ignition on, turn against the spring for glow plugs and after a few seconds release and press the starter button.

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honolulujoe said:

yes that should be the fuse box, 4 in there, if people have been fiddling you may find the odd in line fuse in the loom, I did.

most of my dash was off iirc from when I swapped the bulkhead out, nothing worked afterwards so I had to go through the electrics

getting the ignition connected right was the first thing I did, then just did one thing/circuit at a time, as you get each bit working it spurs you on

worst bit was getting the tape off the loom to follow the wires, had no choice as some colours would go into the taped up bit and not come out, and some colours came out that hadn't gone in

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Blackburn said:

The large black wire underneath the green and yellow should be going to the starter motor if your battery is above the solenoid to left of your pic.
ie the left hand terminal going to the battery the rh to starter.
Can you post a pic from further away showing where the other black wire goes.

The Right hand terminal also looks to have been burning on the solenoid discolouration at the top.

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Blackburn said:

Ok take the nut off the one that has the green and yellow connected pull both wires off.Cut the green and yellow and tape the end up .
Touch the black lead to the other terminal with black lead on starter motor should turn the engine over.
If it does reconnect the black lead and then try a piece of wire from the battery to the small spade terminal between the two connections on the solenoid to see if energising the solenoid will turn the engine over.

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mpage23 said:

so to start it you have to turn the ignition key to clicks so the dash lights are on then you turn the red key to to turn over the engine but once started you have to turn off the red key or the starter motor will keep turning.

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boguing said:

If this is right, then the red key isolator is being used instead of the'start position' on the original ignition switch. Probably because it has failed, as we all know that they do.

It's a horrific way to do it, but if that's all you had lying around on a Sunday, you probably would do. Marginally better than dabbing two wires together.

Get rid of it and the replacement wire, and buy a new ignition switch and connect to the original wiring.

And if there's any more of that green/yellow on the car, buy a fire extinguisher.

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mpage23 said:

thanks for that. I have just brought a new ignition switch as wont do any harm. as it does click round twice but the final turn to start it does not seem to feel right anyway. am now looking to see if there is a good clear beginners guide to the basic connections behind the dash board as hoping removing that reb switch will not be too much problem. its knowing the right size cable to to purchase so as not to melt cables etc. thanks

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