1996 Defender - troubles starting - possible wiring issue with Earthing??

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RobM

New Member
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Guys... (hoping this is a common issue)
I'm trying to track down a starting issue with my '96 Defender 110. For the past while I've been having intermittent starting issues. I've just been bypassing the starter relay to get the engine running but its becoming a PITA. From research I thought it was the ignition switch so I ordered one & I have recently replaced it, but since then it is still randomly doing it (ie: Have dash-lights,etc but nothing when I turn the key to try & start) and now sometimes it has been getting worse in that when I turn the key on there has been no accessories or dash-lights coming on. At this point I used a test light to test for 12v and I was getting a "dull" light which to me indicates a "Bad Earth" somewhere. I'm thinking that it has to be a bad earth between the vehicles body and the battery itself because when it does start, the engine turns over quickly which indicates to me that there cannot be a bad earth between the engine and the battery due to the high currents involved when starting, which only really leaves a bad earth between body & battery.
So... can anyone tell me the locations of the Earthing Points on a Defender between the Body and battery? Is there many or just one main earthing point? Do all or most earths go to one central earthing point?
Also, where is the earthing point for the dash and also the starting relay next to the fuses inside the cab.
(BTW: I have replaced this starting relay and the problem still exists)
Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated....
 
Jump start cable battery negative to engine and test the starting.
You can never have to many earth leads.
 
Guys... (hoping this is a common issue)
I'm trying to track down a starting issue with my '96 Defender 110. For the past while I've been having intermittent starting issues. I've just been bypassing the starter relay to get the engine running but its becoming a PITA. From research I thought it was the ignition switch so I ordered one & I have recently replaced it, but since then it is still randomly doing it (ie: Have dash-lights,etc but nothing when I turn the key to try & start) and now sometimes it has been getting worse in that when I turn the key on there has been no accessories or dash-lights coming on. At this point I used a test light to test for 12v and I was getting a "dull" light which to me indicates a "Bad Earth" somewhere. I'm thinking that it has to be a bad earth between the vehicles body and the battery itself because when it does start, the engine turns over quickly which indicates to me that there cannot be a bad earth between the engine and the battery due to the high currents involved when starting, which only really leaves a bad earth between body & battery.
So... can anyone tell me the locations of the Earthing Points on a Defender between the Body and battery? Is there many or just one main earthing point? Do all or most earths go to one central earthing point?
Also, where is the earthing point for the dash and also the starting relay next to the fuses inside the cab.
(BTW: I have replaced this starting relay and the problem still exists)
Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated....

The main chassis/engine earth should go through the battery box, to a bolt on the chassis, then onto the back of the transfer case. Clean all of these.

The bulkhead usually has one or two main earth points, on the top, between the heater box and steering column. To make sure you don’t have any more earth troubles in the dash area, connect the earth points back to the main chassis earth. If you don’t have a heated screen, then 4mm or 6mm will be fine, but up it to 10mm if you do have a heated screen.

All of this assumes a basic TDI electrical setup.
 
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