intermitent starting

Hi
For no reason I can gather my 300tdi discovery 1995 year has had starting
trouble. The starter motor sounds like it is trying hard to turn over the
engine, it sounds like it manages about 1/4 of a turn. one turn of the ign
key in 10-15 results in the enginew starting. The starter motor has been
replaced today with a recon item. the battery is less than 18 months old and
appears fine because the engine does eventually fire. I can hear the
solenoid clicking away.
It is almost as if there is some form of resistance stopping the engine
turning over. I am at a loss????

Simon Foster wrote:

> Hi
> For no reason I can gather my 300tdi discovery 1995 year has had starting
> trouble. The starter motor sounds like it is trying hard to turn over the
> engine, it sounds like it manages about 1/4 of a turn. one turn of the ign
> key in 10-15 results in the enginew starting. The starter motor has been
> replaced today with a recon item. the battery is less than 18 months old
> and appears fine because the engine does eventually fire. I can hear the
> solenoid clicking away.
> It is almost as if there is some form of resistance stopping the engine
> turning over. I am at a loss????

Most likely reason is an intermittent bad connection somewhere in the
starter circuit. In my case (110) it was the earth strap between the engine
and chassis, and, as a result, burnt contacts on the starter solenoid which
continued to give trouble even after the original problem was fixed.

It is possible, but unlikely, that it is because the engine is abnormally
hard to turn, and the usual reason for this is a coolant leak into a
combustion chamber due to a leaking head gasket or a cracked head or block.
In this case you would expect to see dropping coolant level (although the
drop could be very small) and signs of oil or bubbling in the cooling
system, and signs of water in the oil. But the problem is more likely to be
the starter and its connections.
JD

Thanks JD
I Have just had another thought, two weeks ago the key snapped off in the
ign switch and was replaced with a new item. Could it be a bad coonction in
the switch?

Having replace the starter motor today I would have thought that just by
renewal that the contacts would have been cleaned by friction?

Do you think it may be worthwhile changing the Solenoid?

I haven't checked the coolant level since the new radiator was fitted a year
ago but oil consumption is negligible and the temp is ok, water usage is
also spot on.
Simon
"JD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Simon Foster wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> For no reason I can gather my 300tdi discovery 1995 year has had starting
>> trouble. The starter motor sounds like it is trying hard to turn over the
>> engine, it sounds like it manages about 1/4 of a turn. one turn of the
>> ign
>> key in 10-15 results in the enginew starting. The starter motor has been
>> replaced today with a recon item. the battery is less than 18 months old
>> and appears fine because the engine does eventually fire. I can hear the
>> solenoid clicking away.
>> It is almost as if there is some form of resistance stopping the engine
>> turning over. I am at a loss????
>
> Most likely reason is an intermittent bad connection somewhere in the
> starter circuit. In my case (110) it was the earth strap between the
> engine
> and chassis, and, as a result, burnt contacts on the starter solenoid
> which
> continued to give trouble even after the original problem was fixed.
>
> It is possible, but unlikely, that it is because the engine is abnormally
> hard to turn, and the usual reason for this is a coolant leak into a
> combustion chamber due to a leaking head gasket or a cracked head or
> block.
> In this case you would expect to see dropping coolant level (although the
> drop could be very small) and signs of oil or bubbling in the cooling
> system, and signs of water in the oil. But the problem is more likely to
> be
> the starter and its connections.
> JD

G'day Simon.

by replacing the starter motor, you will only be removing one of the four
connections between the battery positive and the starter motor. first lead
from battery to solenoid, second lead solenoid to starter. if any of these
connections are a little wonky, this would upset the operation of starter
motor.

if any of the connections to the solenoid (ie. through the ignition barrel),
are a little loose, this could cause similar probs.

Sam.

> Thanks JD
> I Have just had another thought, two weeks ago the key snapped off in the
> ign switch and was replaced with a new item. Could it be a bad coonction
in
> the switch?
>
> Having replace the starter motor today I would have thought that just by
> renewal that the contacts would have been cleaned by friction?
>
> Do you think it may be worthwhile changing the Solenoid?
>
> I haven't checked the coolant level since the new radiator was fitted a
year
> ago but oil consumption is negligible and the temp is ok, water usage is
> also spot on.
> Simon
> "JD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Simon Foster wrote:
> >
> >> Hi
> >> For no reason I can gather my 300tdi discovery 1995 year has had
starting
> >> trouble. The starter motor sounds like it is trying hard to turn over
the
> >> engine, it sounds like it manages about 1/4 of a turn. one turn of the
> >> ign
> >> key in 10-15 results in the enginew starting. The starter motor has
been
> >> replaced today with a recon item. the battery is less than 18 months
old
> >> and appears fine because the engine does eventually fire. I can hear
the
> >> solenoid clicking away.
> >> It is almost as if there is some form of resistance stopping the engine
> >> turning over. I am at a loss????
> >
> > Most likely reason is an intermittent bad connection somewhere in the
> > starter circuit. In my case (110) it was the earth strap between the
> > engine
> > and chassis, and, as a result, burnt contacts on the starter solenoid
> > which
> > continued to give trouble even after the original problem was fixed.
> >
> > It is possible, but unlikely, that it is because the engine is
abnormally
> > hard to turn, and the usual reason for this is a coolant leak into a
> > combustion chamber due to a leaking head gasket or a cracked head or
> > block.
> > In this case you would expect to see dropping coolant level (although
the
> > drop could be very small) and signs of oil or bubbling in the cooling
> > system, and signs of water in the oil. But the problem is more likely to
> > be
> > the starter and its connections.
> > JD
>
>

> I haven't checked the coolant level since the new radiator was fitted a
year
> ago

Wha?? I check mine every week. No wonder you get trouble with your motors!
TonyB