[Newbie]: TD5 starting problems

Hello all. Newbie to the forums so please let me know if I violate etiquette. Thanks.

I have a 1999 110 TD5 CSW. It has 2 starting problems:

1. Sometimes the starter doesn't engage on the key.
2. When it's cold, it takes a lot of cranking before eventually chugging into life. It starts instantly when warm and is fine once running.

From reading around, I think these are unrelated. The first seems consistent with the solenoid relay problem (see e.g. this thread). If that's true then the fix seems reasonably straightforward: buy and fit the refurb kit.

The second I'm less clear on where to start. Given it's fine warm, I wonder if it's glow plugs? However it could also be fuel. It had a new fuel pump not that long ago and, when the pump comes on, there's a definite change in pitch over the first few seconds. I can imagine that might be air in the system, but having never heard what that sounds like before, I don't know.

I'd say I'm reasonably mechanically minded but have never worked on a TD5*. No problems putting into a garage if that's the right thing to do. But keen to learn a bit if it's in the realms of almost-competent amateur territory.

Hope that makes sense: thanks for any suggestions.
--
* The last major mechanical work I did was replace the engine in my mum's mini, but that was 30 years ago...).

You can purge air from fuel system by turning key to ignition 2, pump throttle 5x and let it do its thing. A light will flash on the dash meanwhile, can't remember which

Does the glow plug light on the dash come on with ignition?

1988smithy said:

You can purge air from fuel system by turning key to ignition 2, pump throttle 5x and let it do its thing. A light will flash on the dash meanwhile, can't remember which

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Engine management light I think.
Starter motor repair kit is cheap, even a Denso starter motor isn't unreasonable.
Welcome and keep us updated.

Anaconda said:

Engine management light I think

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That's the badger, been a few years since I've done it

I should mention I had a fail to start in Waitrose carpark, just a click as if battery was dead.
I fitted the repair kit confident it would fix it, no luck, turned over and over and eventually started. Bought a new Denso and perfect, quick flick of the key and started like a dream.
Stripped the starter down further and it was full of dirt and rust.
It makes you think it's a fuel issue but the dodgy starter affects the cps.

wow, thanks everyone. I'll order the solenoid kit and try the air purge at the weekend. The glow plug light on the dash is working as expected, so I'll see where I get with the other two first.

Will post back here with progress.

Just a quick one, was the replacement fuel pump genuine/vdo?

Just a quick one, was the replacement fuel pump genuine/vdo?

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Pretty sure it was genuine though it doesn't say on invoice from garage. How would the answer affect things?

Cheap pattern pumps can fail pretty quickly.

Sounds like it could potentially be low voltage battery, so when it's warm it's fine and as the temperature dips it struggles, this happened to me a few years back, fitted the biggest battery that I could, no problems since!

Also when I plugged mine into the lynx diagnostics I had a faulty glow plug relay, which obviously didn't help!

Have found two possible starter solenoid refurb kits:
1. Red Bison one on Paddock spares. £45, says it's for Denso starter motor
2. Unbranded on fourby. £20, doesn't say which starter(s).

Firstly, does anyone know if the solenoid is starter-specific, or will the same refurb work on all? Don't know which starter is on mine (or how to check).

Secondly, any experience with either kit? Don't mind paying more for the Paddock one if it's worth it, equally happy t o save £25 if the fourby one will do the job.

Thanks.

I'd go for thr Fourby one.
Paddocks tend to either (suddenly) not have it in stock or send you a chinesium one

There are several on the Bay of E for around £10 which look awfully similar.

welcome to the club! im about 3 years into my Defender journey. I'm in eastern Canada with cold winters, and my rig is my daily. I installed an oil pan heater for winter (bonds to the oil pan, easy and cheap) to help with cold morning starts, I may install a block heater this winter as well. If you battery is old or weak, that will make colder morning starts a nightmare... im actually buying a new battery today. I also run a diesel de-gel liquid in my fuel during the winter... google it, it's a thing.

hope this helps on the hard starts in the cold.

Pretty sure they will only fit Denso starter motors. I bought one of Ebay for about £15, looked as good as any.
Although it didn't fix mine it's wasn't the fault of the kit.

Hello again all. It's been a while for several reasons but I've an update (in case anyone is interested ). So:

1. I have, I think, resolved the first problem (starter intermittently clicks but doesn't engage) by fitting the Fourby solenoid refurb kit. This was pleasantly straightforward, helped in no small part by their helpful instruction video. Note to anyone else doing this: remember there are *2* positive wires that need to be re-connected to the solenoid. Apparently it doesn't work if you forget to re-connect the live feed from the battery. Oops .
2. The unwillingness to start when cold remains. I tried to run the purge process 1988smithy described but couldn't seem to get it to work: no flashing lights on the dashboard, and no obvious improvement. There is a marked difference in the fuel pump noise when it comes on and I could easily convince myself that it's consistent with the sound that it would make if there was air being drawn in/compressed. That changes after a few seconds but the fuel pump remains loud, even when running.

I'm thinking this might be a job for someone with more time and competence than me. As I understand it, getting to the fuel pump means dropping the tank (or cutting a hole in the floor, not so easy with the CSW carpet in place).

Does anyone have recommendations for good Landy garages in the Edinburgh/Central Scottish Borders area perchance?

Thanks again, all, for help so far.

Engine 710 at South Queensferry.

Engine 710 at South Queensferry.

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Thanks, yes. Used them before. V good, just difficult to get to for me. Should really have said south side of Edinburgh.

Try the easiest thing first charge your battery or replace it for a heavy duty truck battery, TD5's require a good battery to spin them over fast enough to start in cold weather, once started they are fine, classic battery issue.