Request for help - Not starting.

Hi all,

Just when to go out this evening and my L322 4.4 won't start. It initially did, then died and wouldn't restart. The battery seems to be fine and I can hear the starter motor spinning fast, but the engine isn't turning over. It sounds as though the starter motor is spinning freely and perhaps like it may have detached itself from the main engine for something. This is my best guess though.

Does anyone know if there is a belt or some such thing attaching the starter motor to the engine which could have snapped or something like that? Or has anyone else experienced this problem before?

Any suggestions would be most welcome. I'm on the east kent coast, not my usual hangout, so if anyone is around here and an expert or knows a good specialist who might be able to make a home call tomorrow then that'd be great too.

Thanks in advance!

Voguely said:

Does anyone know if there is a belt or some such thing attaching the starter motor to the engine which could have snapped or something like that? Or has anyone else experienced this problem before?

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Sounds like the elastic band's snapped... :doh:

The starter motor engages with teeth to the flywheel. Think about it, your starter motor is turning the engine, all eight pistons compressing their cylinders etc, do you really think that a belt would do that? Sometimes the gear that drives the flywheel gets stuck, sounds like that. Generally a couple of taps with a hammer would sort it.

But in your case I'd suggest you join the RAC, wait 24 hours, than give 'em a call and say I've broken down.

Cambelt snapped? If you take the oil filler cap off can you see the camshaft? If so get someone to turn it over while you look at the camshaft... If the auxiliary belts turn but the camshaft doesn't then it could be your cambelt... Good luck

Remove starter and free off the bendix to slide up the shat easily

ovalandrover said:

Remove starter and free off the bendix to slide up the shat easily

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snigger!
or if you want to drive it to the garrage for them to fix- get someone to turn key and tap starter

If it initially started and then cut out why would the likely suspect be the starter?

Robbo5833 said:

If it initially started and then cut out why would the likely suspect be the starter?

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fair point I just read the starter part

Robbo5833 said:

If it initially started and then cut out why would the likely suspect be the starter?

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Because you said it sounded like the starter motor was spinning but the engine not turning over

I didn't say that, your confusing me with the original poster...
My point is that it could sound like the starter is turning over but not engaging, but what could be happening is that the bottom half of the engine is turning over without the top half... Hence the cambelt snapped.. If the original poster had said that it didn't originally start I'd agree with the starter diagnosis..

Have someone crank it over while you look into the open oil filler. If the rocker arms aren't moving, crank and cam are no longer connected by the belt.

I've had 2 cars throw a belt on shut down. Drove in and parked. Came out of store and no start. The engine does spin noticeably faster when the belt is disconnected.

Hello again all,

Well I feel a slight tit as it was, in fact, not broken at all! When it had stopped after initally starting, it had in fact just stalled (first time I've ever experienced this in 4 years of ownership, not sure what caused it - seems unusual for an automatic to stall), which led to a lack of compression in the cylinders. Thus when I was trying to restart it, it wasn't playing.

The next morning I tried again and with a bit of throttle it started again first time.

Anyway thanks for your ideas!

Why do you think that stalling would cause a lack of compression in the cylinders?
More likely the stall was caused by whatever caused the lack of compression.

Id say the throw out cog on the starter got stuck... probly will do again in next 6 months.

guys, acam belt... really?. its a chain on a V8. glad you sussed it out. my one stalled a couple of days ago. not done it since, so wouldnt worry about it.

mine has stalled in the past aswell ,never bothered me

wil2813 said:

mine has stalled in the past aswell ,never bothered me

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That BMW quality shining through again...

this thread is a pile o ****e

FFS, cam belts on an m62?? bottom half of the engine turning but not the top- er valves?? belt drive starters wtf :doh: :doh:

this forum has gone down hill

fett said:

this thread is a pile o ****e

FFS, cam belts on an m62?? bottom half of the engine turning but not the top- er valves?? belt drive starters wtf :doh: :doh:

this forum has gone down hill

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Strangely enough I don't know or care if there's a belt or chain on this type of engine, (its a range rover, therefore I'm not interested) but what I was trying to do (like some others) is help and point the original poster in a direction which might of helped him. Maybe if the rivet counters like yourself had come along sooner you could have explained to him that his auto had just stalled.

Forum going downhill? What where the less knowledgable could learn from shared information and experience? That's terrible that is

Robbo5833 said:

Strangely enough I don't know or care if there's a belt or chain on this type of engine, (its a range rover, therefore I'm not interested) but what I was trying to do (like some others) is help and point the original poster in a direction which might of helped him. Maybe if the rivet counters like yourself had come along sooner you could have explained to him that his auto had just stalled.

Forum going downhill? What where the less knowledgable could learn from shared information and experience? That's terrible that is

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Then why comment on something you know nothing about? Pick ya dummy up

Robbo5833 said:

Strangely enough I don't know or care if there's a belt or chain on this type of engine, (its a range rover, therefore I'm not interested) but what I was trying to do (like some others) is help and point the original poster in a direction which might of helped him. Maybe if the rivet counters like yourself had come along sooner you could have explained to him that his auto had just stalled.

Forum going downhill? What where the less knowledgable could learn from shared information and experience? That's terrible that is

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Ha ha lol , rivit counter who knows that a starter is not connected to the engine via a belt. Yes mate well done- keep up the good work

Im just off to turn the bottom half of my engine but not the top- I hope I dont hit any valves at all :hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi :hysterically_laughi