Lazy starting TD5 Defender 90

Hi all,

My friend has a TD5 which is very lazy to start and is now starting to P1$$ both of us off. Usually it starts with the flick of the key, but lately its took 3,4 5 turns to get it going. Sometimes when you try to start it its really slow at turning over, others it turns really quickly and will fire - very unpredictable just when it wants.
So far we've

Checked the battery output which is good (tested at Halfords)
Checked the terminals for a bad earth etc...
Thought we were on to something with the started solenoid as the contacts were worn, so bought a repair kit and today changed the very worn pitted copper contacts. Eureka!!!! we thought until we tried to start it again, and it just did exactly the same as before - turning over slowly sometimes then spinning over quickly and eventually starting.

I'm at a bit of a loss now, its as if there isn't enough 'power' to spin it over.....struggles, then if it just catches it will fire up. Only thing we haven' checked yet is the heater plugs but I ruled them out on the basis that they shouldn't prevent or hinder it from turning over???


Anybody any thoughts???

Try changing the Crank Sensor, my 110 was similar as you described. Changed the sensor and fires up like lightening now

bankz5152 said:

Try changing the Crank Sensor, my 110 was similar as you described. Changed the sensor and fires up like lightening now

Click to expand...

A quick question, why would the CPS cause the engine to crank /turn over slowly??? not start I can understand but not the slow turnover?

Cheers

Have you checked the earth straps from engine to chassis?

Its a power issue, go through the wiring again.

Marmaduke said:

Have you checked the earth straps from engine to chassis?

Click to expand...

Yes, did that whilst we had the starter off.

I'm possibly thinking starter itself maybe goosed??? But I believe they are supposed to be bullet proof apart from the solenoid issue???
Gonna swap the battery out for a known good other one just to satisfy myself (Halfords tested the one on it, but I'd have thought they would have jumped at the chance to sell another one if it were goosed). Cranksensor??? Dunno hy it would mke it turn over slowly??

neilly said:

A quick question, why would the CPS cause the engine to crank /turn over slowly??? not start I can understand but not the slow turnover?

Cheers

Click to expand...

I cant answer that one! Though on my 110 I changed the battery, had the starter checked, checked all the earths where good and the alternator was doing its job.

It started quite slowly, either with a delay after turning the key or more often slow to turn over. Changed the crank sensor and started as it should.

The 90 had a similarish issue where it would randomly cut all power, changed the crank sensor in that too and no issue after the fact.

Just an idea...

I had exactlu the same problem with mine not too long back, slow start, fast start and just a click all at random, I went through all the wiring and cleaned it all, inside the battery terminal clamps was badly corroded, earth strap to chassis needed removing and wire brushing and the terminal at the starter needed cleaning with emery paper. I had my battery tested and the testing said it was dead, it was only when I seen smoke from a battery terminal while cranking it that I realised it was a wiring issue, after cleaning everything it spins over like a new one.

If you suspect cps unplug it then crank it over, see of anything changes.

Checkong bad terminals wont show up an intermittent fault, remove , dissassemble and clean them.

Use a load pro on the circuit to perform a voltage drop test.

This will help you work out if it is the wiring struggling or the starter.

Is there any movement on the starter motor bearings, I once had a car that was like that and it ended up not starting at all, the bearings had that much wear it was allowing the starter to short out. Gave symptoms of a flat battery but battery was new.

Change or test heater plugs. Warm weather is instant start, cold is 3,4 or 5 turns.

Another thing, a bit leftfield but are your cables in decent nick? Earth straps for instance car wear out over the years, where the battery cables are crimped to the battery clamps can corrode and cause this kind of problem, can you use jump leads to bypass these crimped connections? I ended up replacing mine for ones that are held together by tightening screws so I can totally disassemble and clean them, last time I did it the corrosion between cable and clamp really was quite bad.
Landy electrics are relatively simple things and really easy to diagnose if you put some methodical thought into it.

Gmacz said:

Change or test heater plugs. Warm weather is instant start, cold is 3,4 or 5 turns.

Click to expand...

Heater plugs shouldn't slow down cranking speed, unless you crank while they are still on and the battery is dud.

The methodical way to do this would be to voltage drop test after every connection including earths from battery to starter while cranking, this should show up any resistance in the circuit..

***Update***

T'was the the actual starter motor itself, new one put on & it starts fine now

Jasonmichael said:

***Update***

T'was the the actual starter motor itself, new one put on & it starts fine now

Click to expand...

Classic