Turn key and nothing! Help.

Thought I was stranded on the supermarket forecourt. During the day when I turned the key nothing and then turn again and all's well. Didn't think that much about it, just another defender quirk.
10 mins ago repeated turns and nothing then at last she fired into life. Thought the breakdown boys needed a call.

Does this sound like a new battery or something more ominous?

do dash lights light up , do you get a click

lordtwotter said:

Thought I was stranded on the supermarket forecourt. During the day when I turned the key nothing and then turn again and all's well. Didn't think that much about it, just another defender quirk.
10 mins ago repeated turns and nothing then at last she fired into life. Thought the breakdown boys needed a call.

Does this sound like a new battery or something more ominous?

Click to expand...

check the earth wire on the starter motor isn`t a sloppy fit,same symptom on a rover 25 I once had.

Cheers I will go and check.

Won't bloody do it now! All good.

I just know tomorrow morning it is going to play up. Feel it in my water.

I know the radio light didn't light up and can't remember if I heard a click.

If I do get a click what would you guess James?

td5nut, will check starter motor earth tomorrow.

if it clicks when you turn the key , you will probably need a starter solenoid kit

No click and dash lights stay on then check spade connection on small wire going to starter solenoid,common problem.

Thanks James.

Definitely check smaller wire connection on the starter, mine did this, just cleaned up the connection and a year later no repeat probs.

SmileySteve said:

Definitely check smaller wire connection on the starter, mine did this, just cleaned up the connection and a year later no repeat probs.

Click to expand...

Check the wire continuity and tightness of spade connector ...

Will do guy's. 2003 - 46,000 miles do you think that the solenoid would have worn out in that time.
I understand that it depends on the number of times the key is turned but thinking about it I wonder if the wear would be that excessive.
Will check the connections.

easy could do

Had the same thing on my 110, it was the ignition switch.

If you are going to have a crack at fixing these things your self get a multi meter and read up so you have an understanding of your vehicles electrical system and how to diagnose it, ''I turned the key and nothing happened'' could be any number of things. If you had a multimeter it would be easy for someone here to tell you what to check and how to check it.
There is a procedure to fault find electrical systems but without a meter to test things you may as well be shooting in the dark.