Disco 2 TD5 Starter Motor Help!

Hey all,

So the other day my Disco 2 just wouldn't start (after being driven fine for as long as i've had it, and starting first time every time) which was solved temporarily my hitting the starter motor with a hammer.

I've taken the starter motor out, replaced the solenoids with a repair kit and it's still not working. I currently have it out and on a test bench with the battery from my other car, and all that happens is the gear engages, but doesn't spin?

What's next? Is there anything else I can do or am I going to have to buy a new one?

Cheers,
Stephen

Having looked at some of the webinfo, I would say that unlike the old type starter motors which had a "Bendix gear" which was thrown forward to engage the flywheel by inertia, the Td5 starter is engaged by the action of the solonoid plunger mechanically pushing the gear forward to engage the flywheel.
This would indicate that the plunger is operating but the two electrical contacts either side of the plunger and the circular contact on it aren't making electrical contact.
My first action would be to examine carefully the installation of the solonoid repair kit and also the connection of the short cable between the solonoid and the motor.

Maybe of use.



Cheers

buy a new one,apart from motor the clutch in dog gear wears

Hi @brian47 and @neilly,
I have double checked and triple checked the solenoid repair kit installation, and can't see anything wrong - that video is actually the one I followed, as that's where my repair kit came from!
Noticed now that whilst testing, if I keep the contact on for longer, it does try and start to spin, but only moves about 1mm and that's it.

@jamesmartin oh dear, that's what I was hoping to avoid, they seem quite expensive if I open it up completely is there chance of repair?

Cheers,
Stephen

A couple of questions. Do you have a multimeter? What's the state of the battery you're trying to use to test the starter?
Connect the multimeter on Ohms across the two big bolts on the solenoid and use a wire from the battery to activate the solenoid, don't connect the battery to the solenoid yet. You should hear the solenoid click quite loudly, the gear should pop out and the multimeter should read zero ohms.
Next test which I would do is to put the multimeter across the two big bolts just as before but this time with the battery connected to the solenoid as it should be and the multimeter on the 12 volts range. Operate the solenoid again and the starter motor should work (obviously it doesn't) and the voltage shown on the multimeter should be zero volts.
The wire you should be using needs to be fairly heavy gauge even though it's just a test set up, I'd suggest something like 2.5 sq mil. Telephone wires just won't cut it.
The last check you could try is to connect a wire across the two big bolts on the solenoid to see if the motor spins up when you connect the battery.

Hey @brian47, did manage to find a multimeter but doesn't seem to be working properly haha.

The testing I've been doing was as instructed in the X8R video above, which is the same as your last suggestion. I've just ordered a new one, unfortunately I think this one must've had it!

Thanks for all the help,
Stephen