Disco 2 Potentially back in the game

After regretfully selling my 2001 D2 last year Ived got the bug again and going to view a 1999 td5 tomorrow.

One known problem is that when you turn the key… the engine starts on the second position instead of the 3rd and then the starter motor stays engaged with the engine turning over.

I’ll start with the simple stuff first…

starter fuse and relay.
Starter solenoid
Earth connections
Ignition switch

with the ignition switch… is it a mechanical/electrical unit that is changed all in one? Or does the barrel and switch element separate?
Any got any advice firstly on the engaging starter and then the ignition switch change

Thanks in advance

ps: it’s good to be back lol

https://www.roverparts.com/resources/videos/replace-ignition-key-barrel-discovery-ii/

Switch comes off the barrel.

MikeDISCO said:

I’ll start with the simple stuff first…

starter fuse and relay.
Starter solenoid
Earth connections
Ignition switch

Click to expand...

For the symptom you described start with the ignition switch first cos your problem is most probably with the electrical side rather than the barrel, the relay or solenoid would not do anything without getting feed and it's not supposed to get any voltage to that circuit untill the switch is in crank position(3)... uness it's a short circuit in the interior fusebox between pos 2 and 3 on the PCB which is also possible, check for corrosion under that brown plug which is in the front cos that's the ignition harness

I agree, it's going to be a faulty switch, on the end of the barrel. Same happened to my Transit. Just showing that it does detach from the barrel.

Ok thanks both…

so… remove the barrel and replace the wiring harness? Is that readily available?

had a quick search on here and on YouTube but can’t find anything related

thanks

sierrafery said:

For the symptom you described start with the ignition switch first cos your problem is most probably with the electrical side rather than the barrel, the relay or solenoid would not do anything without getting feed and it's not supposed to get any voltage to that circuit untill the switch is in crank position(3)... uness it's a short circuit in the interior fusebox between pos 2 and 3 on the PCB which is also possible, check for corrosion under that brown plug which is in the front cos that's the ignition harness

Click to expand...

Would this do the trick and just take the switch and harness off the back?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38539763...lgPEfBKRgq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

MikeDISCO said:

Would this do the trick and just take the switch and harness off the back?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38539763...lgPEfBKRgq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Click to expand...

Yes, as long as thats the fault

Great thanks v much for information!

I’m going to view it tomorrow afternoon/evening so I’ll keep you posted

Well I did it! Back in the game lol

Ok… replacement ignition switch fitted and still the same issue… starter and engine firing on position two.

whilst I had it all apart I changed the barrel as well and still the same problem.

connections underneath the brown plug look fine

Any other advice greatly appreciated

Further more…

I found that none of the electric windows are working, so I had another search and found this thread
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/starter-engages-when-ignition-switched-on.236117/

The floor/carpets are damp and I suspect sunroof leaks which I will be removing headliner and repairing/sealing hopefully this weekend.

I will disconnect the battery and inspect the BCU for water ingress

many other pointers in the mean time please shout up!

Ok bcu off
some Slight condensation/water droplets on the outside black casing when I removed glove box, I thought of here we go!

removed all 5 connectors and all of the ones at the bottom look clean and dry

Side connected brown connector had small amount of moisture on the connector itself but inside connections look clean and dry

Opened up the bcu itself and some slight corrosion on some of the pins where they drop down and connect with the pcd/circuit board, not sure it’s that something that can be cleaned/saved or a new BCU is in order?

Also it’s saying I don’t have permission to post photos?

The BCU has nothing to do with the starter staying on it could eventually stop it from cranking nothing else in that area, it can affect only the windows in this case... replace the fusebox

Replace the entire interior fuse box?

Yes, it's the only way to rule it out

Seems abit extreme but I’ll bow to your knowledge

is that for the windows problem only?

many pointers for the starter problem?

It's not extreme at all, very common and it can be the root of the windows fault too unless you have a problem with the BCU too but as i said the BCU won't keep the starter running, unfortunately for such faults you must rule out the main suspects one by one and if you are unlucky it can be the engine bay fusebox too but not so common and that one would not affect the windows... for the interior fusebox important is to be from a same modell (pre-facelift), disconnect the battery negative lead before the swap and after reconnection turn ignition on 2 and let it so 5 minutes before you crank it

Ok thank you

only problem with that is that when I turn to position 2 the starter fires and engine

It means that somewhere after that brown plug there is a short circuit between the aux pozition 2 output of the ignition switch and the crank position circuit and first suspect in this case was the switch which was ruled out next is the interior fusebox which can affect the windows too and if that's ruled out too remains the engine bay fusebox unless you are unlucky enoug to be a short in the harness which connects the two fuseboxes, unfortunately if you are not skilled enough to troubleshoot this based on the wiring and connector diagrams the only way is to change the suspect parts ... i was hoping it was the ignition switch now let's hope it's the interior fusebox