Starting Problem

So having replace the distributer and ignition coil, i thought everything would be rosy however its not...
Got a very strange problem, sometimes the car when warm starts almost before you have turned the key, then other times it really lazy and takes forever before turning really fast and catching..
I am thinking starter motor or bad earth connection somewhere??
Any pointers folks??

forgot to mention, i got these with the new kit Land Rover V8 Blue 8mm Performance HT leads Land Rover V8 Blue 8mm Performance HT leads [L8B] - £15.80 : Electronic Ignition, Home of the Powerspark electronic ignition and electronic distributor, I take it that would not be the issue rather than the lucus OEM leads???

wot v8 we talking bud

Sorry rover 3.5 on carbs

It could be that you are not loosing you direct 12v feed to your coil under cranking
my old Sd1 engine was feed off a terminal on the starter solenoid
I think landys can be fed from the ignition barrel when in the crank position (which go faulty when worn )
I have wired my feed via a rocker switch

i was think maybe dodgy earth? I am sure i saw a puff of smoke from the battery when i had it cranking over for a while, whats strange is sometimes it starts almost without turning the key!!

Do you mean the starter doesn't crank when you say its being lazy?

Have you had it out on the road since installing everything and hows it running?

Starter is very slow, almost like the battery is flat but its not, then it will be fine and turnover really fast and start, out on the road is great lots of power now I have the new distributer

i don't understand what you mean by it starting before turning the key.

when it's slow is the starter very hot?

trax said:

i don't understand what you mean by it starting before turning the key.

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Sorry turn of phrase, I mean it catches as soon as the key is turned, not check how hot the starter got but the positive lead in the battery was hot

forever said:

Sorry turn of phrase, I mean it catches as soon as the key is turned, not check how hot the starter got but the positive lead in the battery was hot

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is this after cranking it for a long time? if not then it sounds like your starter solenoid is shorting out.

Around about 10-15 seconds, but sometimes it starts in under a second..

forever said:

Around about 10-15 seconds, but sometimes it starts in under a second..

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i meant the pos getting hot. it will get warm if you crank for a long time.. but it does sound like it's too hot and is shorting out.

i'd take the solenoid off and have a check.

Sounds coincidental and not related to the work you've done.

Unless you loosened an earth strap :-\

or left a spanner across a couple of terms

Lol hope not , got to love a defender , probably because I have a more powerful coil it might be exposing the next weak pt..

Further update today, cleaned all the battery terminals, and it seems only to have a problem when starting from hot, cold no issue...

i'd take your starter off, strip and see what's up.. or try another

Yup that's the next mission