This morning, in the rain, I went out to the car as normal to do the school run. All I get is a click and nothing more. I was under the impression that the starter doesn't just give up; it usually shows signs of failure before this.

Haven't yet plugged in to get any codes or checked the battery voltage (though everything else seems fine) as it's still chucking down.

Is this most likely to be the starter? Having spent about 3.5k on her over the past 1.5 months I was hoping for some trouble free times or is it just her time of the month?  2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - 'Black Betty'
2000 4.0 P38 HSE - 'Green Goblin' - Gone.
Audi..Mini..BMW..

Bit of a known issue that one. Loads on here.

Folks have tried a few things from new batteries, starters and even upgrading the cabling.

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic58152.html?highlight=click

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic46418.html?highlight=click

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic50836.html?highlight=click

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic53347.html?highlight=click

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic53272.html?highlight=click

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Ta mate; have had a read through of those.

What's a 'good' voltage of the battery while it's sitting with the ignition off?

I don't know the history or health of it so that might be the cheapest place to start (pardon the pun) before doing the starter which is considerably more expensive.

I could hook up a booster pack I guess and see if that makes any difference. Just need to find the jump points under the bonnet. 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - 'Black Betty'
2000 4.0 P38 HSE - 'Green Goblin' - Gone.
Audi..Mini..BMW..

According to resident Guru 'Sir' Camtec -Craig it's a bad idea to jump start these cars with either another car or a booster as you can fry the ECU. Although others have done so without problems you have been warned! The advice is to charge the battery off the car rather than jump unless you can avoid it.
Although it's not entirely reliable it should be over 12v cold. If the battery is original it's worth getting a new one anyway for peace of mind as they are not 'that' expensive. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

If you get a click and nothing else it's likely to be the starter.

Quite common on the 4.4 TDV8.

Easy job to change though - less then an hour. You don't need to remove anything other then the under tray to get it out.

Denso starter used to be around £350 from Euro Car Parts.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

I can hardly wait for mine to fail so I can do a job on the engine myself......  2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

dhallworth wrote:

If you get a click and nothing else it's likely to be the starter.

Quite common on the 4.4 TDV8.

Easy job to change though - less then an hour. You don't need to remove anything other then the under tray to get it out.

Denso starter used to be around £350 from Euro Car Parts.

David.

it should start at 12.2v. Mine would start at near 11 volts on the old battery. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Standing voltage should be 12-13.2V with ignition off, on the lower side when the ignition is on.

Voltage whilst cranking shouldn't drop below 10V, even in cold weather.

Voltage when the engine is running should be 13.5-14.5V. The alternator regulates the charge voltage irrespective of engine revolutions but does have some range in it's ability to do that.

First step is fully charge your battery. Even a knackered battery should at least give you 1 proper start. Second step is a visual inspection of the cables and spade connectors and check the resistance - use a phone camera with the flash on or whatever and a multimeter.

If the battery and cabling is not the issue, the starter motor is almost guaranteed to be. The clicking suggests the starter motor is getting engaged but not cranking so, points to battery or the starter motor itself. It certainly wouldn't be the first 4.4 TDV8 to need a new starter, that's for sure! 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

Last edited by garyRR on 22nd Aug 2022 12:22pm. Edited 1 time in total

I'm thinking at this point it's the battery.

Unlock car, get in, close door. Press ignition on then, foot on brake, press to start and nothing, ignition turns off.

Repeat and sometimes I get what sounds like the starter trying to engage but immediately stops and back to just 'acc' position as it were.

Have tried the wiper 'trick' but makes no difference. If only it was to access and whack it with a hammer like the good old days. 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - 'Black Betty'
2000 4.0 P38 HSE - 'Green Goblin' - Gone.
Audi..Mini..BMW..

if your symptom is a slight click sound, and the screen immediately shutting down, and its intermittent... i had exactly same issue. i changed the starter, twice, and it was still there. although less infrequent. even tried dismantling and cleaning old starter motor to find out the issue. it turned out in my, and a few others' similar stories, that the STARTER MOTOR TRIGGER CABLE FROM THE STARTER RELAY (in engine fusebox) TO THE STARTER MOTOR, goes high resistance. and any slight surge of current that tries to go through that high resistance, prompts a shut down of the screen, and thus ends the chance of starting. sometimes the fault is more prominent in hot engine, or repeat starts, others its cold starts. the solution, was a simple 'parallel wire' modification, basically a 1 metre length of similar sized cable, routed from the starter motor relay, out of the fusebox, run direct to starter, trigger terminal, soldered at each end, and it went away. cost, about a £1, and about 30 mins to DIY. read the back story here, and the solution, kindly posted by 'SHAUN' is what i used, and problem gone! (solution on page 6)
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic31909-75.html

I'll maybe try that, just need to find a supplier for the cable.

My problem isn't intermittent though, it seems to be permanent as of this morning as nothing else I try will make it work.

It's a total pain as I was out in the car yesterday without even a whiff of problems. 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - 'Black Betty'
2000 4.0 P38 HSE - 'Green Goblin' - Gone.
Audi..Mini..BMW..

Have decided I need the car sooner that I can get under it..

hoping home start recovery can bodge me a temporary fix. Will soon find out! 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE - 'Black Betty'
2000 4.0 P38 HSE - 'Green Goblin' - Gone.
Audi..Mini..BMW..

Got the battery on a smart charger to see? 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

MartinD wrote:

I'll maybe try that, just need to find a supplier for the cable.

My problem isn't intermittent though, it seems to be permanent as of this morning as nothing else I try will make it work.

It's a total pain as I was out in the car yesterday without even a whiff of problems.