Single Click, Not Starting - 2.25 Petrol

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thspeller

thspeller

Active Member
Posts
118
Location
London
Hi Team,

I’m a new Landrover owner and hoping my knowledge will grow over time. For now, my 1973 series 3 won’t start when I turn the key. There is a single load click when I turn the key but no turning over at all. The lights seem bright when I turn them on. The landy was stood for about 4 weeks when I tried to start her (longest ever been left) and I don’t know history of battery.

If anyone can give me an order of checks and some likely causes, I’ll try getting my hands dirty!

Many thanks and merry Christmas.

Tom
 
Switch the lights on and try to start. If lights stay bright there is a poor connection to the starter some where. If lights go dim then battery does not have enough power to turn motor.
Either way clean battery connectors. Do you have a volt meter?
 
Seconded. Clean battery terminals, because its been standing there's a chance the starter is stuck too. Give it a couple of sharp wacks. If its a petrol it will push start easily. That may free the starter.
 
Thanks both. I don’t have a volt meter but sounds like a good investment. If I did have one, I assume I need a reading over 12v? When you say battery connectors, are you just referring to the poles in the battery itself or other connectors in the wider starter linkages? Thanks as always
 
Start with the battery terminals. Reading 12v or close is good,down at 10v bad. With engine running a reading of 13.5 to 14.5 tells you alternator is working. Basic LED scale battery tester by DRAPER is easy to use,find it on the fleabay.
 
If all of the above fails, look at the starter solenoid. The + cable goes to it from the battery. It is possible to short it out to get power directly to the starter but it's not for the faint hearted.

Col
 
can't you stick a set of jump leads battery to starter - with the ignition on - to see if it is a connection issue?
 
The starter solenoid could be sticking or dirty.The solenoid both engages the starter pinion with the flywheel and makes tge electrical contact for the motor. If the solenoid contacts are dirty then the solenoid will move over (hence the single clunk) but won't power up the motor. Likewise, if it's sticking then it won't move over far enough to close the contacts.
 
his starter shouldnt have a solenoid that should be secured to the bulkhead, but contacts can still fail as can the starter itself
 
Thanks all. So, I’ve had a long afternoon with the car trying all your suggestions. I purachsed a multimeter and have 12.8v across the battery and at the solenoid when the ignition is turned (I deduce that the problem can’t be battery or terminals (which I cleaned for good measure)). I also tried cleaning a few other connections (i.e. the solenoid terminals) but since there was 12v at the solenoid, I believe that rules that possibility out as the source of the issue. As you can imagine, I tried the ignition many times and on a few occasions it began to turn over. When it did, engine fired into life beautifully but I couldn’t get the starter to crank routinely. Even after a long drive, I’d turn ignition off, try to restart but I just got the hard click but no turn. The only thing that might have been linking my success was hitting the starter with a mallet. Which makes me think the problem is likely the starter sticking? Could this make sense and if so, are there was to check and/or fix? For info, I do have a starter with separate solenoid attached to it. I think it is a Martelli?

Thank you to all who’ve helped me so far!

Tom
 
Sounds like sticky starter brushes. You can do a "roadside" fix; slide the steel cover back (it should have a clamp screw) and squirt a load of WD 40 in. Take the plugs out and motor the engine on the starter. for 30 seconds or so. There not much load so it spins a lot faster and cleans itself up a bit.
 
Thanks both. Just been looking through the manual - if I have a starter with solenoid attached (i.e. side by side - see attached). Does this mean I have a diesel starter motor installed on my petrol engine or where the starters designed to be inter changeable? Assume it’s not a problem.
 
thspeller said:
Thanks both. Just been looking through the manual - if I have a starter with solenoid attached (i.e. side by side - see attached). Does this mean I have a diesel starter motor installed on my petrol engine or where the starters designed to be inter changeable? Assume it’s not a problem.
Click to expand...
a 1973 3 bearing petrol should have a 2 bolt bendix type starter with a separate solenoid ,the ring gear teeth face different ways for the later pre engage starters with solenoids, diesel have 3 bolts
 
That’s very interesting jamesmartin. I’ve uploaded a photo of the starter. See what you make of it - I assume you’re saying that the engine probably isn’t original to the car therefore. I’m new to landy’s So god knows what I’ve bought (). The starter is a Mirelli M78R. I’m going to try pluck up the courage this weekend to take it out and try see if I can find the problem. Thanks again
36E50F70-4ED1-436A-A473-88846039B01E.jpeg
988C2C2F-C092-4C51-80FC-E1AB739958FA.jpeg
 
That is not a standard 2.25 petrol starter for a 73 engine. More pics of the engine may help us work out if yours is a later engine.
 
This is getting interesting - I’m fascinated to know what I’ve been sold! Here’s hoping I haven’t been totally mugged! The guy at the parts shop reckons it may be the wrong starter fitted (needs inertia type) and is getting jammed as teeth arrangement are slightly different. Not sure if that resonates with you. If anyone has the experience, I’ve attached some engine pictures and would be fascinated to know what I’ve actually got!
D37E461A-76AE-4BE2-8BD7-D456F9848903.jpeg
60032319-C482-457B-9105-AFCD73E85F7E.jpeg
7456B1A0-F9C5-4AC0-8AAD-9DEFB92F46EE.jpeg
DCF1C856-1891-4591-8796-C143FC664B04.jpeg
15CDFEC7-326F-478A-AC41-D8BB1AD6DBA8.jpeg
BA4A9D21-114F-472E-A314-4E108425B1E8.jpeg
B31057A0-5D67-4072-8997-0EE6A968F998.jpeg
365A553B-5557-465B-ACAD-85E59A501A34.jpeg
12564BBA-BA0F-45D4-86D7-AF404F1ED694.jpeg
 
Could be a later 5 bearing engine. Mine is the original 3 bearing 1977 petrol, 2.25 with the starter and separate solenoid bolted to the bulkhead. I don't know if they had different starters on newer engines but I would doubt it.

Col
 
Thanks Col. Most signs are indicating that I have a later 5 bearing 2.25 (2.3) petrol. It appears as if it has been incorrectly fitted with a pre-engaged defender style starter (M78R) which, due to incorrect teeth alignment is getting jammed. The solution therefore is to remove the starter and replace with the old style of inertia starter and install a separate solenoid. I presume this is quite straight forward. I should then wire battery to solenoid and solenoid to starter with wire from ignition clipping to third terminal on solenoid. Sound a good bet? If so, I’ll order the parts. Tom
 
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