Starting problems after towing

Hi all
Have owned my disco 300tdi for over a year now with no troubles regarding starting.
Recently I have towed a trailer (3 occasions over 2 months) and each time once I have turned the engine off it will not start again, after turning the key nothing happens. Last time this happened I checked the voltage at the starter and I was getting a 12v feed when Turing the key so I'm assuming it's a starter motor fault.
However when I'm not towing anything it starts fine. Has anybody experienced this before?
The first time this happened I left the car overnight and it started fine the next day, the last time it happened the car was pushed in gear (by accident) and after that it started straight away.

My by starter started failing when the engine was hot, was fine when left for a few hours, strange about the towing thing but could be coincidence?

Does it do it if you tow with the electrics unplugged?

As said, sounds like the soloniod on the starter is seizing with the extra heat of towing

My 300tdi D1 has done the same thing twice (also when towing), it'll start again once left for a while.
It must be something to do with heat for the engine working harder.
If you ever find the answer please let me know.

Mine eventually got worse and failed when I stopped for petrol (v8), had to push it out of petrol station and eventually got it to start with help of a spanner across the terminals, changed it after that as I couldn't trust it

Have not tried towing with the electrics unplugged. I am going to take a look at it over the next few days so will update if I find anything.
Think it must be heat related as mentioned,I may go for a new starter if everything looks ok and see if that cures it.
Thanks

matt101 said:

Have not tried towing with the electrics unplugged. I am going to take a look at it over the next few days so will update if I find anything.
Think it must be heat related as mentioned,I may go for a new starter if everything looks ok and see if that cures it.
Thanks

Click to expand...

Hi Matt, just a thought but it's very rare for the actual starter motor itself to fail - it's much more common for the solenoid component of the starter to fail.

Why is this important? Because you can buy a solenoid repair kit off Ebay for about a tenner ! Dead easy job to do as well.

Here's a list of suppliers:
Discovery TDi 300 starter solenoid repair kit | eBay

Cheers
I have had a quick look today, I found a small heat shield broken from the manifold so I'm guessing this maybe causing the starter to get too hot.
I will replace this and test it, if it still occurs I will go for the repair kit.
Thanks

That repair kit is for a TD5, I can only find one for the 200tdi not 300.

markSX said:

That repair kit is for a TD5, I can only find one for the 200tdi not 300.

Click to expand...

If you contact one of the sellers, you'll find they all do kits for TDi 300 as well. It's just a starter motor remember.


Dave

Before you do anything check its not just a bad connection on the starter motor spade connector. Very common fault. Lights on dash but just a click when turn key,

rollin danny said:

Before you do anything check its not just a bad connection on the starter motor spade connector. Very common fault. Lights on dash but just a click when turn key,

Click to expand...

I changed that after the last time, but I'm towing again tomorrow so should find out it that was the problem.

Quick update to this, i repaired the heatshield and after a long 3 hour drive towing I have had no issues starting the car so looks like the cause of my problems was down to the heatshield
Hope this may help others
Thanks for your help