Starter or immobiliser problem?

Couldnt start my discovery 1 (1995 300tdi) when ready to leave the supermarket last night.
Heres what i did:
-Plug on little immobilser plug
- turn key, wait for ignition coil light to go off
- turn key to start and nothing.
Repeat several times with same effect.

I was initially thinking starter motor problem as a few times recently the start has been ever so slightly delayed in key position III.

In the end i got a push and bump started with no problem, so does this rule out the immobilser as the cause and point to the starter? The immobiliser lights were working as normal during the process.

Im pretty sure the battery is good but i will test over the weekend.Any thoughts, or ideas what i could check to get more ideas?

Check tightness and cleanliness of the little wire going to the starter solenoid.
If it still does it then check you actually have voltage at that wire whilst someone holds the key at crank position.
If you don't have the correct voltage then bad wiring/ign switch faulty or immobilizer fault.
Check engine to chassis/battery earth's too.
Did the starter click at all? or did you just get silence?
Do these thinks suffer from the spider issue? I've heard about that but have no experience of what to do but do recall it's an easy fix.

Flossie said:

Check tightness and cleanliness of the little wire going to the starter solenoid.
If it still does it then check you actually have voltage at that wire whilst someone holds the key at crank position.
If you don't have the correct voltage then bad wiring/ign switch faulty or immobilizer fault.
Check engine to chassis/battery earth's too.
Did the starter click at all? or did you just get silence?
Do these thinks suffer from the spider issue? I've heard about that but have no experience of what to do but do recall it's an easy fix.

Click to expand...

There was a click from the solenoid when you turn the key. It started up first turn just now aswell to make things more annoying.
I will check continuity of all earth wires back to the battery neg terminal from engine/starter motor/chassis this weekend. Main bond is solid but needs a good clean so i can properly inspect it. If the immobiliser was at fault i dont think i couldve bump started and drove home normally do you reckon?

If it helps narrow things down- mine has a plug with 3 wires on top of the fuel injection pump- not entirely sure how this works but i think the immobiliser directly cuts fuel at the pump?

I know nowt about the immobilizer on them tbh but I would expect it to cut the fuel and the starter circuit. The starter side of the immobilizer unit may be dodgy but best to check voltage at the starter motor in crank position first if it does it again.
You need to remove the earth's and clean/inspect thoughly.