Freelander 1 Immobiliser Relay

Td4 has a simple starter motor circuit. The relay on the immobiliser has to energise then this energises the starter relay and applies power to the starter solenoid.
I am tracking a very intermittent (like once a week) failure to crank.
The immobiliser relay can be heard to click, but no click in the engine bay so am thinking I may not be the usual suspects of starter motor contacts.

Has anyone had the immobiliser relay operate but the contacts fail to make contact??

Haven't been able to fail it whilst monitoring. Only other thing I can think of is fixing a lamp on the starter relay contacts or coil to see if the immobiliser circuit is working correctly.

Thanks...

Hi Andy.
Have you checked the contacts and plunger in the starter, also the single wire to the spade on the starter, it could be a break in the wire contacting now and then?

Thanks. Spade cleaned and tightened. Contacts are next on the list, but I would have thought that you would hear the solenoid click if the contacts in the motor were not making contact. Only click heard is the immobiliser relay behind dash.

andyfreelandy said:

Has anyone had the immobiliser relay operate but the contacts fail to make contact??

Click to expand...

Not on my cars, but a relay does have a finite life. As they wear, the contacts begin to burn, giving occasional high resistance, which increases in frequency.

Mine exhibited exactly the same symptoms....which gradually got worse...it was the contacts in the starter motor relay.

Sometimes you heard a click from it ..sometimes you didn't

I thought it was the immobiliser but putting a voltmeter/bulb onto the relay connection proved it was getting power .

Thanks, that is helpful. I can't see why the starter solenoid doesn't click just because the contacts powering the motor are worn out.
If I can't pin it down exactly I will do the contacts in the solenoid, it is a fairly low mileage car so that could mean more start ups for short runs !! And more wear on the high current contacts.

Kevm said:

putting a voltmeter/bulb onto the relay connection proved it was getting power .

Click to expand...

Where did you monitor power? At the starter relay in the engine bay??

Yes, the small lead connected to the solenoid.